Unlikable Champion Garners Unlikely Final

Venus Williams versus Marion Bartoli? This was not the final. Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, these were potential finalists. These were the conversation. Venus and Bartoli were merely exercises. Regrettably, performance intervened.

On Saturday, Venus defeated Bartoli 6-4, 6-1. With her victory, Venus accrued her fourth Wimbledon championship. The triumph left her stating the obvious. "I was really motivated because no one picked me to win. They didn't even say, 'She can't win.' They weren't even talking about me," she said. "I never would doubt myself that way."

Said doubt was deserved. Prior to 2004, Venus scored four grand slam titles. She recorded ten grand slam finals appearances. Since 2004, she has garnered only two grand slam championships. Venus is not her past. She has diminished. Clearly, she does not merit categorical fear.

Women’s tennis is volatile. Henin, Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, and Amelie Mauresmo are inconsistent. Given the aforesaid, Serena and Venus could reestablish dominance. This is frightening. Tennis needs a heroin. Serena and Venus are unattractive and unlikable. They are villains. When they win, women‘s tennis is unwatchable.