Tennis Host. Andy Taylor. The Voice of the US Open
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Venus Williams def Maria Sakkari 62 64
Venus Williams is officially an Aunt. Sister Serena and Alexis Ohanian welcomed a baby girl into the world about an hour before Venus took the court for her Round-3 match with Maria Sakkari. All business, Venus powered past the 22-year-old in just over an hour, earning her 75th career match-win at the US Open.
Venus Williams. Sports Icon
In the tennis-sphere, Venus is so much more than a remarkable talent. She’s an influence; an international icon. Her journey from braids and braces to seven-time Major Champion is inspiring. The grace with which she handles life’s set-backs – from the death of her half-sister to 2012’s Sjogren’s Syndrome diagnosis – makes her humility’s archetype, a human example for us all.
The Executive Producer of Entertainment at the US Open, Michael Fiur has been along for the entire journey. He took time to craft this prematch biography for Venus. It’s the introduction fans and Venus heard leading up to the match, and we’ll be using it to make that emotional connection to her journey moving forward:
In 1997, as an unseeded 17-year-old, she went on to reach her first Grand Slam Final here in the newly dedicated Arthur Ashe Stadium. 20 years later, she owns 73 Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles – including seven Grand Slam Singles titles; and with sister Serena, 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles. She is a 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist, a Fed Cup Champion, and in 2002 became the first African American woman to ascend to World #1 in the Open Era. A Finalist this year at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon…From Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – Please welcome 2-time US Open Champion: Venus Williams.
Aunt Venus faces Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro in the Round of 16. Venus has won four of their previous matches, most recently in Wimbledon’s Round of 16 back in 2016.
