Venus Williams’ first-round match towards Diana Shnaider on the Miami Open 2024 on Tuesday, March 19, witnessed a cat invasion including to the gang’s amusement on the Grandstand.
Williams entered the ladies’s singles combine in Miami because the wildcard and drew Diana Shnaider within the opening spherical. The proceedings started on a disappointing be aware for the American as she misplaced her serve within the first recreation of the match itself.
She staged a short comeback by breaking again within the fourth recreation, nonetheless, Shnaider dominated the 43-year-old and secured two extra breaks to assert the set.
The second set opened on a somewhat tense be aware as each gamers struggled to carry their respective serves within the first 4 video games. However, a cat entered the enjoying space throughout the fourth recreation on the Grandstand to calm the nerves.
The cat’s mischief distracted Williams, the chair umpire, the commentators, and the spectators for a short whereas earlier than the motion resumed.
Watch the video right here:
Williams and Shnaider remained on serve until the latter transformed a breakpoint within the eighth recreation after which held her personal serve within the ninth to assert the match 6-3, 6-3.
In the second spherical, Shnaider can have one other American within the type of Madison Keys eyeing a place within the third spherical of the WTA 1000 occasion in Miami.
Venus Williams has bagged three titles at Miami Open since turning professional in 1994
Even although Venus Williams crashed out of the Miami Open this 12 months with out successful a match, she will be able to nonetheless boast of three titles that she gained on the Miami Gardens in 1998, 1999, and 2001.
Williams, who took up tennis professionally in 1994, claimed her first glory in Miami by overcoming Anna Kournikova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 within the remaining held in 1998. In the earlier rounds that 12 months, she went previous the likes of Tatiana Panova, Olga Barbanschikova, Rita Grande, Silvia Farina, and top-seed Martina Hingis.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion defended her title the next 12 months by defeating her sister Serena Williams 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 within the summit conflict. She beforehand downed the likes of Tara Snyder, Fabiola Zuluaga, Anke Huber, Lindsay Davenport (walkover), and Steffi Graf.
Venus Williams gained her third and remaining trophy in 2001 with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) win over Jennifer Capriati within the decider.
Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that 7-time Grand Slam champion “ought to have gained”
