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- Feb 11, 2007
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[h=2]Wimbledon Championships[/h]
Venus is making her comeback from an injury lay-off Venus Williams was made to battle to overcome the unseeded Kimiko Date-Krumm in an extraordinary second-round match played under the Centre Court roof.
The five-time Wimbledon champion eventually prevailed 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 8-6 in an epic two hours and 55 minutes.
An upset looked on the cards when Date-Krumm raced to a 5-1 lead before winning the first set on a tie-break.
But Williams bounced back to win the second set with ease and then clinched it in the 14th game of the third set.
The 31-year-old American admitted the opening set was tough, telling BBC Sport: "I just couldn't get in the game.
"She plays so well, every ball hits the baseline. I give her a lot of credit and I'm delighted to come through."
The tale which was unfolding under the Centre Court roof looked set to be a scriptwriter's dream as the world number 57, a former top 10 player who had retired in 1996 only to return to the fold after a 12-year absence, outwitted her more-celebrated and younger opponent.
Centre Court was stunned to silence when the 40-year-old former Wimbledon semi-finalist broke the Williams serve in the first and third games.
Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is pleased to make it through her tough Centre Court encounter with Kimiko Date-Krumm. (UK users only)
The evergreen Date-Krumm, combining baseline aggression with deftness at the net, was causing her illustrious opponent - albeit one who has only recently returned to court after five months out with injury - all sorts of problems.
Date-Krumm moved to within a game of clinching the first set at break-neck speed, but Williams, dogged and determined, dragged herself back into contention.
The American won four games on the trot - surviving two set points in the eighth game - as a remarkable opening set went back on serve.
The Japanese veteran looked to be wilting under the Williams resurgence, but she calmly repelled a Williams set point to take the first set to a topsy-turvy tie-break.
The Centre Court crowd was agog - some were on their feet, applauding Date-Krumm's Herculean effort to win the tie-break after she had previously squandered seven set points in the first set.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Date-Krumm was unable to maintain the momentum, with Williams breaking early in the second set, when her opponent fumbled a volley, to take a 3-1 lead.
Williams was finding form and broke again in the ninth game to clinch the second set with ease.
By the third set, Date-Krumm's fairytale start was in danger of turning into a hazy memory as Williams broke in the second game but she broke back immediately to put a nerve-jangling third set back on serve.
Date-Krumm was forced to serve to stay in the match in the ninth game, and did so fearlessly - a deft volley at the net and a wayward Williams forehand helping her level at 5-5.
It was a question of who would crack first, Williams nearly did in the 13th game but survived to win the match.
The players left their stage to a standing ovation, the crowd appreciative of their contribution to a match which will live long in the memory.
- Venue: All England Club, London
- Date: 20 June-3 July
- Coverage: Live on BBC One, Two, 3D, HD, Red Button, online (UK only), Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra; live text commentary from 0900 BST on BBC Sport website (#bbctennis); watch again on iPlayer
Venus is making her comeback from an injury lay-off Venus Williams was made to battle to overcome the unseeded Kimiko Date-Krumm in an extraordinary second-round match played under the Centre Court roof.
The five-time Wimbledon champion eventually prevailed 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 8-6 in an epic two hours and 55 minutes.
An upset looked on the cards when Date-Krumm raced to a 5-1 lead before winning the first set on a tie-break.
But Williams bounced back to win the second set with ease and then clinched it in the 14th game of the third set.
The 31-year-old American admitted the opening set was tough, telling BBC Sport: "I just couldn't get in the game.
"She plays so well, every ball hits the baseline. I give her a lot of credit and I'm delighted to come through."
The tale which was unfolding under the Centre Court roof looked set to be a scriptwriter's dream as the world number 57, a former top 10 player who had retired in 1996 only to return to the fold after a 12-year absence, outwitted her more-celebrated and younger opponent.
Centre Court was stunned to silence when the 40-year-old former Wimbledon semi-finalist broke the Williams serve in the first and third games.
Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is pleased to make it through her tough Centre Court encounter with Kimiko Date-Krumm. (UK users only)
The evergreen Date-Krumm, combining baseline aggression with deftness at the net, was causing her illustrious opponent - albeit one who has only recently returned to court after five months out with injury - all sorts of problems.
Date-Krumm moved to within a game of clinching the first set at break-neck speed, but Williams, dogged and determined, dragged herself back into contention.
The American won four games on the trot - surviving two set points in the eighth game - as a remarkable opening set went back on serve.
The Japanese veteran looked to be wilting under the Williams resurgence, but she calmly repelled a Williams set point to take the first set to a topsy-turvy tie-break.
The Centre Court crowd was agog - some were on their feet, applauding Date-Krumm's Herculean effort to win the tie-break after she had previously squandered seven set points in the first set.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Date-Krumm was unable to maintain the momentum, with Williams breaking early in the second set, when her opponent fumbled a volley, to take a 3-1 lead.
Williams was finding form and broke again in the ninth game to clinch the second set with ease.
By the third set, Date-Krumm's fairytale start was in danger of turning into a hazy memory as Williams broke in the second game but she broke back immediately to put a nerve-jangling third set back on serve.
Date-Krumm was forced to serve to stay in the match in the ninth game, and did so fearlessly - a deft volley at the net and a wayward Williams forehand helping her level at 5-5.
It was a question of who would crack first, Williams nearly did in the 13th game but survived to win the match.
The players left their stage to a standing ovation, the crowd appreciative of their contribution to a match which will live long in the memory.
