Another Lesson for Williams

It seems as though Venus Williams has been on the professional tour longer than she has, just as it seems she has played much more tennis than she actually has.

In fact, the 17-year-old is only now making her maiden tour of the Grand Slam tournaments, beginning with the French Open, where she lost in the second round a few weeks ago.

Her first Wimbledon experience need not begin and end with her first-round loss Saturday, a gloomy but dry day in which officials crammed a full slate of matches and, in an effort to catch up after losing two days to rain, decided to schedule play today, only the second time in tournament history the gates of the All England Club will have been opened on the middle Sunday.

As Williams learns the best manner to make her way on the professional tour, fellow pros, media members and fans learn how she does things and what she’s about. Williams’ example has shown that sports’ much-vaunted learning curve works both ways.

The attention paid to her Court 1 match against Magdalena Grzybowska of Poland far eclipsed the interest usually shown in a match involving players ranked No. 59 and No. 91. But from the start of her career, Williams has received the kind of attention generally accorded world-class players.

That’s the sort of player that, despite Grzybowska’s 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory, Williams believes herself to be.

“Everyone knows that I definitely have a game that’s going to be. . . . I have a very good game,” she said. “I think everyone knows it. I’m a pretty good player on the court. I think that people thought that I would do very well here, and I thought I would do very well here.”

Williams’ performance did not allow her to reach her expectations. The two players--both 6-footers--are among the tallest on tour. Their height was the only unifying characteristic.

Williams’ lack of experience on grass and her lack of match play were her undoing against an opponent only one year older but more match savvy. Williams took advantage of only three of 16 break-point opportunities.

Williams’ serve is a potentially potent weapon, but it misfired often. Her first serve at Wimbledon smacked into the net, as did her second, one of 11 double faults to go with one serve that was clocked at 114 mph.

She broke in the seventh game of the first set and served it out to take the set. Williams then broke Grzybowska’s serve in the first game of the second set, but the 18-year-old Pole maintained her composure and worked her way back from 0-2 by breaking back in the fourth game.

The fifth game was crucial. Grzybowska double-faulted to give Williams a break point, which was negated when she rushed an approach shot that found the net.

Grzybowska fought off three more break points to hold. That began a winning streak of five consecutive games that earned Grzybowska the second set and carried her to a 1-0 lead in the third before Williams held serve in the second game. Williams broke in the seventh game but double-faulted and was broken in the next game.

Grzybowska held to go up 5-4 and broke Williams at love to win the match.

It was the first time Williams has lost to a lower-ranked player, a statistic that speaks to Williams’ ability. However, it is clear now that only tournament play will allow her to harness and shape that skill.

It’s not burnout that has a hold on Williams, but her paucity of experience. Held out of junior competition by her father, she played only seven matches in her first two years on the WTA Tour.

She has a 25-15 record in four seasons on tour, having played only a fraction of the tournaments available to her.

Williams always has defended her father’s decision to restrict the amount she plays. Richard Williams’ recent decision not to travel with his daughter elicited the only public disagreement with her father, however tiny, that Williams has shown.

During a postmatch news conference Williams agreed with a statement that it would have been better to have her coach with her at Grand Slam events.

Her mother, Oracene, and younger sister, Serena, are traveling with her.

“I think it probably would be better, yes,” Williams said. “My dad told me early in my career that he wouldn’t be going around too much. Eventually he’s going to work with Serena; she’s going to be going different places. He has his own programs to work with and other things to do so he sent my mom along this time.”

No parent would have been able to shield Williams from the glare of the English tabloids, which have been fascinated with “The Ghetto Child” and her beaded cornrows. Such scrutiny can be irritating and Williams has been testy at times.

More disturbing is to be ignored. If Williams’ game fails to improve before her newness wears off, that’s what’s likely to happen.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Today’s Featured Matches

MEN

* No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia vs. Javier Sanchez of Spain

* No. 14 Tim Henman of Britain vs. Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands

* David Rikl of Czech Republic vs. No. 4 Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands

* Greg Rusedski of Britain vs. Andrew Richardson of Britain

WOMEN

* Kristina Brandi of United States vs. No. 2 Monica Seles of United States

* Anna Kournikova of Russia vs. No. 7 Anke Huber of Germany

* Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain vs. No. 9 Mary Pierce of France

* No. 1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland vs. Nicole Arendt of United States

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* GORAN IS GONE: No. 2 Goran Ivanisevic is ousted in the second round. C12