French Open frustrations propel Venus

Associated Press

LONDON

There is one, obvious explanation for how much more success Venus Williams enjoys at Wimbledon than at the French Open:

One is contested on grass, a speedy surface that accentuates the best aspects of her game; the other is contested on clay, a slow surface that dulls the impact of her powerful serves and groundstrokes.

Here, then, is another way to look at it: Williams’ best Grand Slam tournament, Wimbledon, comes right after her worst Grand Slam tournament, the French Open. The sting she feels from early exits at Roland Garros, where play wrapped up less than two weeks ago, fuels her performances at the All England Club, where play begins Monday.

“There are no majors that are so close,” the No. 2-ranked Williams said in a telephone interview. “It’s easy to take that momentum of a win — or even a loss — straight into the next one, which happens to be Wimbledon.”

She has a busy month ahead, with tennis to be played, of course, plus a new book to pitch. “Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession” (Amistad/HarperCollins, 384 pages, $25.99) will be released June 29.

Williams and co-author Kelly E. Carter collected thoughts from nearly 50 people about sports’ importance to their lives. Among the contributors: former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former General Electric Co. CEO Jack Welch, fashion designer Vera Wang, and former professional athletes such as Magic Johnson, Roger Staubach and Billie Jean King.

The book sets out to tell “the story of how good sport can be for people, the lessons you learn from it, and just encouraging people to be involved with sport, especially young people,” Williams said.