‘Could Be Favorably Compared to Jennifer’- Chirs Evert’s Father’s First Impression When ‘King’ Richard Took Venus Williams to His Florida Tennis Center

Venus Williams, the elder one of the wonder duo, turned many heads while still in the making. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was just a teenager when people started singing songs about her caliber. Though, because of Ricard’s strict supervision, she never fell into the traps of the management companies. But she sure did make a huge buzz amidst them.

Everyone, including Chris Evert’s brother Jon, who was an agent at IMG at that time, wanted a peek into the potential next big thing’s prowess. Therefore, he invited the Williams to Florida. There the 18 times Grand Slam champion’s father and coach witnessed her play like a professional and had few things to say about her future.

Jimmy Evert sensing Williams skills accurately

Jimmy Evert after watching Williams play for 90 mins in the clay courts of Holiday park shared his views. He said, “She volleyed, which most youngsters don’t do at that age. And she hit the ball very hard.”

“She could be favorably compared to Jennifer,” he added. Jimmy trained three-time Grand Slam champion Jennifer Capriati as a beginner. She held the courts under her dominance in the early years of Williams’ career. Though whenever the former World no.1 locked horns with Capriati, she failed to protect her runs.

Williams squared off with the fellow American tennis ace four times before the latter hung her racket. At first, she threw her out of the 1997 Miami Masters by claiming a 7-6 3-6 6-2 victory in the round of 64. Then at the same event, she snatched the trophy out of her hands in 2001.

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Following that, she grabbed Capriati’s ticket to the semifinals at the 2001 New Haven and US Open. After defeating the Hall of Famer in the semis, Williams defended her title in the hard courts of America against younger sister Serena Williams.

Venus Williams’ performance in this season

The two times US Open champion walked out of the circuit last year around Wimbledon to tend to her leg injury and made a comeback in the London Championships this season. Though, unlike her former self, Williams struggled to get past the opening round opponents due to a lost grip on the game.

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Williams is still to win her first match since the comeback. She has been through different category tournaments, the Citi Open, the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters, and the American Grand Slam. However, the outcomes of all these tournaments were the same, which is an opening round dismissal.