WIMBLEDON, England - Appreciation for Venus Williams came in many forms over the weekend and into Monday, none more blatant than the shouts from a fawning crowd at Centre Court.
They started before a ball was struck in her first-round loss to Elina Svitolina and grew in volume and frequency after she took a nasty spill at the net 13 minutes in, screamed and clutched her already-taped right leg. Williams was briefly treated by a trainer, then got on with the match after a changeover.