Her little sister Serena may be back in championship form so far in 2007, but Venus Williams is having a tougher go at her comeback. Earlier today at the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, FL, Venus lost her quarterfinal match to Tatiana Golovin 6-2, 6-3. It was a repeat of the only previous encounter between the duo in 2005, when Golovin rolled to a straight-sets win.
Seeking her first career title, Golovin used a quick start to make it a long afternoon for Williams. Golovin won the first three games of the match, then broke an obviously frustrated Williams to win the first set. It was an even more impressive start to the second set as Golovin won the first four games. However, Williams - a five-time Grand Slam champion - showed some grit by twice breaking Golovin to close within 4-3. But after breaking back, Golovin served out the match at love en route to reaching her second semifinal of the year. She also made the final four at Antwerp.
Williams, who fell to 11-2 this year, had dropped just one set in her first three matches this week.
Venus played a limited schedule last year due to a chronic wrist injury but has won one tournament this year. Her last major title came when she won Wimbledon in 2005.