Big Day
 
August 31, 2011 -- Venus Williams withdrew from the U. S. Open this afternoon. It was her 49th straight appearance at a major. Christina McHale, the 19-year-old New Jersey talent, had her biggest win at a major today, defeating Marion Bartoli -- the 8th seed. Maybe we've seen a peek of the future.
 
The news of Venus Williams' withdrawal quickly blanketed the National Tennis Center. Early announcements revealed little behind the breaking story -- she had an 'unspecified illness.' Venus had not played any hard court events this summer, citing a viral illness. However, she told the press before her first round victory that she felt one hundred percent. Apparently she was not.
 
Within the hour Williams issued a statement saying, "I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's U. S. Open. I have been recently diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain."
 
Venus was thankful she had a diagnosis and could now, "focus on getting better soon and returning to the court soon."
 
Her withdrawal came hours before her scheduled match with Sabine Lisicki, the #22 seed. The highly anticipated meeting of the two would have been both women's first big challenge at Flushing Meadows. Venus came in unseeded because her ranking had plummeted to 36 since her withdrawal at the Australian Open, where she withdrew in the third round with a hip flexor injury. She lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon. She had not played any matches beyond that before her appearance on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court Monday night.
 
After her victory Monday came a light-hearted victory dance at the net. Venus resembled Andrea Petkovic, who had attracted attention with her 'Petko Dance,' which she retired early this spring. Williams looked vibrant and happy.
 
Last year Venus came to the Open with a small resume of tournaments played and worked her way to the semifinals where she lost to eventual champion, Kim Clijsters. But this year will go down in the tennis history books differently. She has never lost at the Open before the fourth round. Venus won the title twice -- 2000 and 2001 -- and was runner up at her very first Open in 1997. She was the runner up in 2002 also, when she lost to her younger sister, Serena.
 
Venus is a 7-time Grand Slam winner overall.
 
Immediately following the explanation of her withdrawal at least fifty fans had left comments on the Open's website: get well soon, come back, we will miss you, this is sad. They were all heartfelt messages.
 
Venus Williams' absence from the 2011 U. S. Open will be felt throughout the remainder of the tournament. Her striking presence and intense nature to compete at the highest level possible will leave a hole in the draw and in peoples' hearts. Venus and Serena can accurately be credited with opening the flood gates for women's power tennis. If you advanced at a major, or any other tournament they were entered in, at some point one of the sisters would stand across the net. That lucky player then would face her greatest challenge on a tennis court.
 
Perhaps the rise of Christina McHale precisely conforms to Venus's exit. The search for a new American female tennis star has spread far and wide. McHale will break into the top 50 with her victory today. This is her third appearance at the Open and her first push to the third round.
 
"I'm so excited to have beaten a player like Marion, especially have it happen here at the U. S. Open," McHale told the press.
 
This is not the first time McHale has defeated a top-10 player. She took out Caroline Wozniacki, the #1 player in the world, in Cincinnati during the first round there. If McHale continues on her trajectory in the rankings, look for her to be seeded at the 2012 U. S. Open.
 
Although slight in build, she is 5 foot five, McHale has two big strokes: her serve and her forehand. Her demeanor on court is quiet. She doesn't pump her fist, unless the point warrants a show of emotion. She doesn't smack her racquet around and she doesn't grunt. She works.
 
This afternoon, down a break in the first set, she drew even and won the tiebreak. She played the second set with the intent to close the match; she knew who she was up against. Bartoli frequently comes back and wins. McHale had to keep a lid on that possibility.
 
"I couldn't play any sloppy games," McHale said. "I knew she was going to try even harder, too, to get the second set. When I went from three-love to 3-2, I was like ... c'mon Christina. Don't let it get back to three all. That game was a big game to get to 4-2."
 
Bartoli didn't win another game. McHale won the match 76(2) 62.
 

 

 
[4] Andy Murray (GBR) {red shirt} d Somdev Devvarman (IND) 76(5) 62 63
 

 
 
[9] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d Coco Vandeweghe (USA) {red blouse} 63 64