Venus Williams is looking forward to partnering Nick Kyrgios in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon this year and feels they have the ingredients needed to go far, while she does not intend to take part at this summer’s Olympics.
The 41-year-old won her first match at Wimbledon since 2018, and collected just her third victory of the year, as she saw off Mihaela Buzarnescu 7-5 4-6 6-3 on day two of the Championships to set up a second-round clash with Ons Jabeur.
The five-time Wimbledon champion will also be taking part in the mixed doubles alongside Aussie bad boy Kyrgios in what is this year’s most exciting team-up, and Venus believes they will suit each other well.
Explaining why they decided to team up and what she is looking to gain from the experience, Williams replied: ‘I think that we’re playing together because we both respect each other’s games, so… I think that’s first and foremost.
‘I’m looking forward to the experience. Hopefully we’ll team up better. That’s pretty much what I’m looking to get out of it.
‘Obviously if I have experience to share, I’m always willing to do that with anyone who might ask me. That’s always a given. I’m always open for that. This is not my goal this pairing. I’m hoping we just play well together.’
On how they might complement each other, Venus added: ‘I mean, I think we’re both big servers.
‘We’re both really good returners. We both can come up with shots. The intangibles are there. Hopefully it will mesh. Obviously we have to earn it.’
Venus’ sister Serena has already confirmed that she will not be competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics next month and now the older of the two siblings also appears to have withdrawn herself from selection.
Asked if she will be playing doubles in Japan, Venus replied bluntly: ‘I don’t think so. But I’ll be playing here [at Wimbledon].’
Venus is a four-time gold medallist, winning the doubles alongside Serena on three occasions – most recently at London 2012 – as well as the singles title at the Sydney Games in 2000, over two decades ago.
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