By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams used her experience under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium to book her place in the third round once again.
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The ninth-seeded Williams faced off against 20-year-old Oceane Dodin of France on Wednesday night. Despite the massive age difference, it was the veteran Williams and her experience that saw her through the Tuesday night second round match.
“The match isn't over until you shake hands, as I certainly know. The best thing about tennis is that it there's always an opportunity to do it again,” Williams said right after the win.
Each player attacked the ball as they sought to end points early with a winner. The 37-year-old Williams managed to jump out to a 5-2 lead, but had trouble keeping her momentum. Willams could not convert on a set point and, soon enough, the 48th-ranked Dodin fought her way back to 5-all.
Williams eventually took the set 7-5 when Dodin netted a forehand while down set point.
Williams showed lapses throughout the match as she alternated between hitting winners and making uneccessary errors.
Williams, in the second set, jumped out to an early lead. But Dodin with her own power hitting managed to stay in touch with the 2017 Australian Open and Wimbledon finalist. Williams served for the match at 5-3, but double faulted down break point.
Williams didn’t let that momentary lapse stop her from closing out the match. In the next game she raced ahead to a 0-40 lead on Dodin’s serve. With a forehand return winner, Williams sealed the closer than necessary 7-5, 6-4 win to reach the third round.
After the match, Williams made an appeal to the crowd to support relief efforts in Texas for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey this week.
“It’s devastating," Williams said. "One of the greatest players in the game, Zina Garrison, is from there. We’re all brothers and sisters here and there’s a lot of people in need in Houston.”
Next up for Williams is Maria Sakkari of Greece.