Venus Williams claims her first win over a player in the top 50 in almost four years

Venus Williams claims her first win over a player in the top 50 in almost four years as she admits her surprise at hitting 120mph serves again

• Venus Williams produced a shock by beating 48th-ranked Camile Giorgi Monday
• The seven-time Grand Slam champion rolled back the years in 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 win
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

By Kate Mcgreavy For Dailymail.Com and Associated Press

Published: 20:44 EDT, 19 June 2023 | Updated: 21:39 EDT, 19 June 2023

Venus Williams stunned 48th-ranked Camile Giorgi to secure her first victory over a top 50 player in nearly four years on Monday.

The 43-year-old, now ranked No. 697, came out on top 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (6) on her favored surface of grass at England’s Birmingham Classic.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the next round after more than three hours on court.

‘I hadn’t played her in so long…I think she loves this surface… She’s dangerous out here,’ Williams said during the on-court interview.

The reporter responded: ‘So are you.’

See also  ‘Different player’ Jack Draper ready to make Wimbledon improvement | Wimbledon 2022

Venus Williams rolled back the years as she beat 48th-ranked Camile Giorgi on grass Monday

The five-time Wimbledon winner then admitted her surprise at smashing down 120mph serves once again. 

She replied: ‘Oh, thank you! And I hit some servers at 120mph today so I was like “Oh my god. There it is. I’ve missed you!”

Williams was out for six months because of a hamstring injury sustained in Auckland in the first week of the year.

On her return last week, she lost to 17-year-old Celine Naef in the first round of the Libema Open in the Netherlands.

The American star said it was ‘touch and go’ against Giorgi.

See also  Aryna Sabalenka ends Mirra Andreeva’s breakthrough run at Madrid Open | Tennis

The 43-year-old, ranked No. 697, came out on top 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (6) at England tournament

‘There were so many moments where I thought, “This match is over,” then she would hit a shot from out of nowhere,’ Williams said. 

‘She pushed me to be better than what I thought I could be, and it´s great for me.

‘I haven’t played a lot of matches, and it’s great to come through.’

There were also wins for third-seeded Magda Linette, fifth-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine and Bernarda Pera of the United States in the Wimbledon warmup event.