Venus Williams is still in the game on and off the field

Venus Williams is still in the game on and off the field

Venus Williams has all kinds of distractions that become the most successful women are paired with standing on a tennis court on the road. But last June morning in downtown New York, there was no competition with the doe eyes of his 11-year-old Havanese, Harry, when she peeked her head from her backpack. “Hello, good morning again,” Williams cooed as she buried her face in coat Harry. “You’re looking awful, is not it?” Harry looks at you over her, Williams grabs attention and explains why, at the age of 38, with seven major tournament title, a mark of successful clothing and an interior design business for their name her on the tour tennis keep grinding. “I think to see some players that are clearly not playing well and I can not keep up and I just can not compete,” says Williams. “This is not a problem I have.” Williams put modestly. More than two decades after his professional debut, and seven years later, an autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome is diagnosed that causes pain and fatigue, Williams is still among the elite games. In 2017 he reached the finals of two Grand Slams and a semi-final of a third. This season was rough-it fell in the first round at both the Australian and French opens. But if history is a guide, Wimbledon, which begins on July 2, the antidote may be. The well-kept lawns of the All England Club was particularly nice Williams. Support running through their talent for the fast to the surface down balls to sneak past the other players, he won the individual title five times, and paired with her sister Serena, which doubles the title six times. ( “These titles include,” Williams says, smiling.) These meetings include some of the most memorable in recent history, including Lindsay Davenport in 2005 and the three classic set her straight Serena last set triumph in ’08. Last July, Williams became the oldest Wimbledon finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994 Wimbledon is important for another reason: it’s where Williams took a stand for equal prize that women have contributed equal pay with men. The day before he won the 2005 title, Williams said the board of directors of the Grand Slam of the four major events in the boardroom in August England Lawn Tennis and Croquet All club. At that time only the US Open and Australian Open offered equal prize money for men and women; Wimbledon and the French Open held pending. He looked at Pooh-Bah court and asked them to close their eyes and follow a thought experiment. “You feel like you’re going against people who may have made their mind up already,” said Williams, remembers the moment. “I felt like I had something to say, because these people on board was very humanization, have mothers who have daughters, have sisters. We must remember that these women are not always equal to money mothers awards and daughters and sisters. They try this so, otherwise you might not be able to see through it. “in April 2006, the French Open announced it would close its wage gap and both of the masters offer the same prize money. Wimbledon, but it was clear. So Williams took their crusade public, in a June 2006 editorial writing in the London Times: “I feel so strong that the attitude of Wimbledon devalues ​​the principle of meritocracy and diminishes the years of hard work that women have put on tour in ever professional tennis player. “crusade Williams’ helped to persuade the British Parliament to take the question. The Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for equal prize money. In early 2007, Wimbledon changed its policy. “And ‘all happened so fast,” says Williams. “We all thought that we would fight for many years.” This year, the men and women masters will be $3,000,000 each earn about. The debate, however, still rears its head. , The French Open title-Rafael Nadal won his 11th in June, recently proposed that there will be reasons for wage differentials in a field. “Female models earn more than male models, and no one says anything,” Nadal said an Italian magazine. “Why? Because they have a large following. In tennis, deserves a wider audience picks up more.” When I read Nadal comments for Williams, he leaned serve return. “I know nothing about modeling,” he says. “I think this is a metaphor that makes sense to him” Williams is aware of the fact that the pay gap is far outside the closed court. American women earn 80 ¢ for every dollar taken home by men. “There is still a lot of work to do,” he says. Williams “But people must want it, just like women. This is very important. we need to raise our children in a way that we see women as equals. “Looking back at the touch equal pay pressure, Williams says it is one of the more unlikely. “I’m not necessarily a person to be a leader in the middle of a crowd, watching,” he says. “My work puts me in a crowd, but not more Lich how I live my life. But I’m the kind of person that if you start a fight with me, trust me, I will do it to the end. You do nothing for me. “a decade ago, few would have bet that Venus and Serena would still be competitive play tennis, let alone thrive in tournaments. They were rare talent, of course, but critics said too many sisters had other interests. And many wondered how Williams would be able to continue playing at the top level diagnostics for his Sjogren’s syndrome. Williams explore life beyond the court. He holds a degree in business and fashion design. “Not being as an athlete was considered a mistake in my most,” the family said. But it turns out that on tournament appearances in their 20s, are accumulating the refusal, the Williams sisters have been able to thrive in their 30s. “It is a smart program planning,” says Williams. not made “a lot of people. Mental burnout is just as bad as the physical burnout. Maybe worse.” At last year at Wimbledon broke Williams in tears after a reporter asked an incident happened weeks earlier had when they It was involved in a car accident in Florida that took the life of another passenger car. In December, Williams Police have clarified any criminal charge. The family of the deceased filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Williams, who talk about the case dismissed on time. Experts have written millions of words, and hours of airtime filled to their sport to explain the significance of the sisters, and society in general. Williams is much less inclined to do the same. When asked how they would describe their effect, Williams directs introspection as a stray bullet. “Oh my God, I have on my wide serve,” says Williams. “Why not faster I move? These are the things I think. I do not sit back and remember every performance, because this is the past. I do so in the past is not at home.” This seems to July 2, 2018 issue of time.
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