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Willing herself to win Wimbledon

© Michael Cecilio

Well, it was probably about time for the fierce competitor, long touted as a future #1, to win her first Grand Slam title. In fact, it was getting to the point where some wondered what would come first: Venus Williams winning her first Grand Slam title or Anna Kournikova winning her first tournament?! In reality, it wasn't all that drastic. Williams always had the game, the poise and the mentality to win a major. She seemed to always be a hair and a whisker away from translating her success in smaller tournaments to the Grand Slams and always came against a hump along the track. It was usually a case of facing the more experienced and big-time Grand Slam campaigners like Martina Hingis (US Open 1997,1999; French Open 1998), Lindsay Davenport (US Open 1998; Australian Open 1998,1999), Steffi Graf (Wimbledon 1999). Other times it was a case of losing her cool, such as against Jana Novotna at Wimbledon 1998 when she lost both a 4-0 lead in the first set and hence her focus over a line call. Then there were the times when she couldn't find her game at the right moments when she lost to unheralded Barbara Schwartz at French Open 1999 and three-time winner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario at French Open 2000.

Wimbledon 2000 was her time. It was about time. Whether you like her or you loathe her, there is no doubting that she, and her sister for that matter, have the game and the mentality to dominate the game. It has all been said before and it only seems a lot more prominent now that the Williamses have confirmed their statements of greatness with a Grand Slam title each. Hingis may be #1 but how much longer can she keep on fighting her way against the power-hitters of the game. Davenport may be unofficially the best player in the world but how is she going to be able to run down the big shots from just-as-powerful players with her slow foot speed? Pierce is a talented player but is still as inconsistent as ever, throwing in a poor result for every great result she records, and can still be fragile in tough moments. Seles may be able to take her game to the top again but it is going to be difficult with time not on her side and also considering the fact that she does not have the type of power which seems to dominate the circuit now.

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