By Chris Oddo | Monday September 4, 2017
There is symmetry between Venus Williams and Arthur Ashe in more ways than one. Both are legends of the sport that came from humble beginnings and used a pioneering spirit to bring change to professional tennis. Both speak softly but carry a big racquet. And, they share an anniversary as well. Venus Williams made her U.S. Open debut 20 years ago, the same year that the USTA christened Arthur Ashe Stadium—the world’s largest tennis venue.
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Williams spoke of Ashe on Sunday in New York after she powered past Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain to book her spot in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open for the 12th time.
“Yeah, he's a total legend,” Williams said. “He played during a time where he couldn't just focus on the tennis. I'm very blessed to be able to focus on my game. But he had to fight because of the color of his skin. It was a complete different time. So I can't even imagine the pressure he was under during that time.
“To come out of it with grace, as a champion, it's incredible.”
Williams is coming out of a rough patch of her career with grace as well. She played a pivotal role in bringing equal prize money to all four Grand Slams for women, a fight that was won over a decade ago, and since then she’s had to deal with a fight of her own. Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, a sapping autoimmune disorder in 2011. Many left her tennis career for dead at the time and in the years that followed, but the now 37-year-old was betting on herself the whole time.
She has emerged from a dark professional period to become one of the forces in women’s tennis. Williams has now reached the second week in seven consecutive majors and she has already reached two major finals this year, bringing her career total to 16.
As a player that knows a thing or two about perseverance, Williams recognizes the players on tour that are exhibiting special character. She was quick to comment on the heroic nature of Petra Kvitova’s comeback to tennis after a career-threatening hand injury.
“What she's gone through is unimaginable, unreasonable,” Williams said of her next opponent. “The world we live in is just shocking. So for her, I think to be playing well is such a blessing. To be able to come out here and do what she needs to do, to clear her head, it's such a beautiful thing to see. What else can I say except I'm glad to see her back.”
Turning the conversation back to herself, Williams discussed what exactly she possesses that has enabled her to have so much success so deep into her thirties, despite the aforementioned obstacles.
It’s about belief.
“I think that's the biggest thing that I've learned,” she said. “In the beginning, when everything is easy, you're healthy, it's easy to play when you don't have those odds against you. But when you have the odds against you, it's hard to find that in yourself every day.
“I think over time I've learned that I can push myself a lot further than I thought I could,” she said. “I do have to push myself a lot.”