Venus + Serena Williams took part in a kids clinic at Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in Washington, D.C. yesterday. The Sisters Sledge spent 45 minutes at the event showing the group of 7 to 17-year olds how to hit groundies like champs. Late that evening the sisters mixed dresses with trainers in what seemed to be the theme for the Tennis Ball II Gala.
The big news coming out of the presser for the clinic was the withdrawal from next week's Premier Mandatory tourney in Madrid by both V + ReRe. V officially withdrew from Rome as well and ReRe, who is still recovering from the pulmonary embolism, is expected to follow suit. "I’m feeling better. Just starting training. I’m a little later than I suspected and hoped,” said the 13-time Grand Slammer. "But it’s going steady. Slow and steady, I think, always works out when it’s a race.” V was asked about their participation at Roland Garros which starts in about three weeks. “It’s a great event, and we definitely want to be there. We just take it week by week, evaluating, and the good part is we both get better every week.” Not much to go on there, eh?
As soon as the news hit all the talk online quickly moved past the clay and Roland Garros (though V is eyeballing Brussels as a possible warm up to RG) to the greener pastures of Wimbledon where they've been soooo dominant including 9 Championships between them. Will they play Wimby and, if so, what kind of shape will they be in anyway?
If either of them are healthy enough to play RG they will play because neither like to miss majors. Honestly, I don't see ReRe making it there and I have my doubts she'll make Wimby in time. V, however, will probably make RG though I can't see how she'll make it past the first round never mind the first week with minimal match play on the slippery stuff. Even when she's on her game it's a tough surface for her.
I think she should hold out for Wimby. Her game is tailor made for the surface and against a field that lacks the comfort or experience on this surface she still comes in with a big advantage. Now, V has had some sketchy losses (uh, Pironkova + Sprem?) but if she's healthy she could do well. I'm not saying she'll win but her experience and game on grass can beat out most lady ballers on the tour right now. You don't win it 5 times without knowing a little somethin'.
More images of Venus + Serena at the clinic after the jump - click the head.
