Two-time former US Open singles champion Venus Williams was back at her home grand slam at Flushing Meadow, creating more history.
After the American legend crashed out in her Round 1 singles match this week, she joined 22-year-old Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in a new partnership for the women’s doubles, thus extending her US Open stay to the delight of her fans.
The American star accepted a wild card to partner with Fernandez just two days before the doubles tournament was due to begin.
Off to a winning start
This year’s US Open has been an eventful one for now 45-year-old Williams, who had also teamed up for the revamped mixed doubles with compatriot Reilly Opelka at the pre-tournament event.
The Williams-Fernandez partnership got off to a great start, as the pair won their opening round match against sixth-seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Ellen Perez of Australia, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
The winning pair are well matched – both showcasing their strong net and groundstroke skills.
Fernandez showed impressive hands with her approaches to the net, whilst Williams showcased her signature powerful baseline shot making.
The former world No 1 has had an impressive doubles career in addition to singles, having won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles with sister Serena Williams.
‘So happy’
For Fernandez, the opportunity to pair with Williams was, she told reporters, “Like a kid on Christmas day just jumping around. I was so happy.
“I don’t think I stopped smiling for the whole night and even in the morning. I was just super happy and excited”.
At their post-match press conference, Williams spoke of their synergy.
“Our energy really matched each other in terms of determination, in terms of not giving up, in terms of really still just focus and dialled in on every single thing.
“That felt amazing, because I never really played with a partner, outside of Serena, obviously, who had that kind of mentality.
“So, it was really fun, and I think we can just hopefully continue to get better.”
Fernandez’s swift hands at the net can be attributed to her ambidexterity. Whilst the Canadian star plays tennis left-handed, she is right-handed with other activities.
“I’m able to do a couple of things with my right hand, like I much prefer throw a baseball with my right hand, signing with my right hand, but I write essays with my left hand.
“I’m a little weird like that (laughing). It’s just whatever comes naturally to me. Yeah, that’s it”.
Viral outfits
Meanwhile, Williams’s outfits have been going viral on TikTok during her US Open run.
For the match she had a glamorous ensemble, with a vintage touch, as she walked on court wearing a customised red bomber jacket over her all-white outfit.
The jacket was embellished with silverware customised with her ‘VW’ initials emblazoned on the sleeve.
During her Round 1 singles match, she carried a racquet-shaped shearling bag on court.
The South African’s Amisha Savani asked her about her outfits.
“Yeah, I’ve just been having fun on the court. It’s fun to express yourself. Today my jacket was Phillip Lim, and the other day it was ERL.
“So, just designers that I like. It’s been cute. So, yeah, thank you”.
Williams’s choice of all white on court is to honour Althea Gibson, whose legacy is being celebrated at this year’s US Open, being 75 years since Gibson was the first black person to compete at the US Open.
“Everything this year is inspired by Althea, right? It’s a big year, and she’s an American champion.
“I’m so happy that we’re paying homage to her, that people are getting to know her and her accomplishments, what that means for us, and how inspiring it is for every single person. I have to say probably everything I wear.”
UPDATE: Things got even better for Williams and Fernandez in the women’s doubles second round where they beat Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri and Japan’s Eri Hozumi, 76 (7/1), 6-1.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively from the US Open in Flushing Meadows for The South African
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