One Williams sister has shut it down in 2015 but another is still going. And strong.
Venus Williams won her biggest title in five years Saturday, clinching the final in Wuhan when Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza retired with an ankle injury trailing 6-3 3-0.
Earlier this week, Williams’ younger sister, Serena, said she would skip the WTA Finals — or year-end championships — to “heal” after a draining season that saw the world No. 1 almost complete the rare calendar-year grand slam.
But Venus’ victory over the Spaniard means the seven-time grand slam winner is expected to rise to eighth place in the race to qualify for Singapore, which begins October 25th. The top eight qualify, although Serena’s withdrawal ensures that the ninth-place finisher in the calendar-year standings will also make the field in tennis’ fifth most prestigious event.
Venus Williams survived slugfests against Johanna Konta and Roberta Vinci the previous two days — Vinci was the player who stunned Serena Williams at the U.S. Open — to make the final in Wuhan.
At 35, her body held up more than the 21-year-old Muguruza’s.
Muguruza, however, is expected to climb to fifth in the calendar-year standings, significantly boosting her chances of appearing at the WTA Finals for the first time.
More points are on offer at this week’s China Open, the last big women’s tournament ahead of Singapore.