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Venus Defeats Kournikova Courtesy of WTAtour.com LONDON — Venus Williams overcame a nightmare start to beat Russia's Anna Kournikova 3-6 6-3 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. The American sixth seed won just four points in the first four games as Kournikova took a 4-0 lead, but Williams steadied herself before blowing the 17th seed away with her power. "Two service breaks in the first four games, that is probably not a good idea," she smiled. "I thought to myself 'I'd better start making some shots or I'll be on a plane home tomorrow'." Kournikova said: "In the first set I played very well but in the second she started to get her rhythm back. Somewhere in the second set it started to go wrong for me." Williams is rewarded with a quarter-final against seven-times champion and second seed Steffi Graf. Kournikova, who was named 17th seed when Venus's younger sister Serena withdrew before the tournament with influenza, won the opening set playing some of the best tennis of her life. Timing the ball beautifully, her double-fisted backhand had Williams chasing all around the court as she won the opener 6-3 in 31 minutes on Court 18. But Williams broke the Russian in the fourth game of the second set by taking the initiative and attacking the net. All arms and legs and with white beads in her hair, Williams began to take control, slamming winners at will and levelled matters 6-3. The 6ft 1ins American's serve — the fastest in the women's game — finally began to fire in the decider and she tore into a 4-0 lead, allowing Kournikova just five points. The Russian did eventually hold serve for 4-1 but Williams was too powerful and played the better tennis to secure victory 6-2. Kournikova, a semifinalist in her only other visit to Wimbledon in 1997, said: "She was just too mentally strong for me. "She was tougher mentally at the end. I should have stayed with her on some of the points, should have taken my chances — but I played a good three matches and it is good experience. "I will have to come back and do better next year." Williams is undaunted about meeting Graf in the quarters, even though Kournikova tipped the German to win. "I have never been to the semifinals here and she has won it seven times so I think this time I will take something for myself. "I won the last two match-ups between us and she won the first two so it will be interesting. I am definitely ready to compete." Speaking before Williams had won, Graf said she would prefer to meet Kournikova because grass suited the American's game and "if she serves well, it would be very difficult."" Williams said she is approaching her peak at this tournament and is certainly not short of confidence. "I am working my hardest to get to the top spot. If I didn't think I would get to number one I would stop playing tennis. "I am playing well and hopefully I will keep it going." |