Caroline Wozniacki was four years old when Venus Williams made her first appearance on the WTA Tour in 1994. The Dane was still three years away from picking up the tennis racket and 11 years from playing her first match on the pro circuit.
So, as the two walked out for the first semi-final of the Dubai Duty Free Championships on Friday, squaring off for the first time since 2008, there was youth on one side of the net. On the other were ageing legs, slowed further by Sjogren’s syndrome in recent years.
In a different era, youth would have been favourite to come out on top. But these are different times. Experience counts and Venus showed the value of it. Winner of all her four previous matches over Wozniacki in straight sets, the 33 year old required only 81 minutes as she nonchalantly brushed away her opponent in a 6-3, 6-2 win.
Dominant from the opening point, Williams perhaps was playing from memory of those earlier wins over the former world No 1. Or probably, it was the Dubai charm: she is unbeaten here in 14 matches. The world No 44 has returned to the Aviation Club for the first time since winning the title in 2009 and 2010.
Williams has won all four matches this week in straight sets. But can she prevail when pushed to the limit? Saturday’s final against Alize Cornet could provide some answers.
It is hard to make predictions, given her energy-sapping illness, but she will have played five matches in six days, so the youngsters should be concerned.
Thirty-something veterans have dominated the majors for years, and a certain 33 year old seems intent on rejoining the mix as well.
arizvi@thenational.ae
