Father’s fears as Venus Williams plays through pain

13 April 2012

Venus Williams is still battling against a knee injury as she attempts to end her nine-year wait for another US Open title.

The American returned to action last week after being sidelined with a knee problem since losing in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

After defeating Italy's Francesca Schiavone 7-6, 6-4 to set up a semi-final against defending champion Kim Clijsters, Williams's father revealed that the third seed is still troubled by pain in that left knee.

He made it clear that managing that discomfort would determine how close the 30-year-old would come to taking a title she won in 2000 and 2001.

"I think the whole thing depends on her knee," said Richard. "If it isn't causing pain, I think Venus will be in the finals. Watching her, you could see her not bending or moving for short balls. Venus usually runs to short balls."

However, his daughter refuses to accept the knee is a major threat to her title hopes and believes she can handle it.

"I am in the tournament and cannot complain," said Williams. "I never do, so I'm okay. As an athlete, everybody's injured and so it's not just me. You learn how to deal with that, how to maintain yourself and how to deal with certain levels of pain."

After coming through a tough opening set on a windy Centre Centre, Williams made it eight straight wins against French Open champion Schiavone.

She is the last American in the singles and now faces Clijsters, who knocked her out in the fourth round here last year. The Belgian then took the title just a month after returning to the sport following her two years in retirement.

"Kim has a great ability to compete and has not lost that having come back from her lay-off," said Williams.

Clijsters overcame Australian fifth seed Sam Stosur 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in a match that featured a staggering 15 service breaks with the winner making 43 unforced errors.

The second seed Clijsters, who is tied 6-6 with Venus in career matches, said: "My serve has been giving me some trouble recently but, at least, I ended the match with an ace. Everything will have to be better against Venus who is hungrier than ever, not having played since Wimbledon. It's probably the best I have seen her play for a while."

Britain's Laura Robson reached the third round of the girls' singles with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 victory over American Chanelle Van Nguyen.
In the men's singles, Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a first US Open title with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Feliciano Lopez.

It was a clinical display by the world No1, who faces another fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals. Nadal said: "I am serving faster than ever and that is about confidence."

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