Mana Games

[PattySchnyder]

Welcome to my world tour diaries I will be coaching Venus Williams (USA)

My goals are for Venus to surpass Serena in grand slam victories and win Roland Garros and Australian Open two slams she's never won before!

Venus is starting out at 15 years old in the winter of 1994 she is training hard for her pro tour debut in 1995

Venus started playing tennis at the age of 5 in Compton, Califorinia . When Venus was 10 years old she moved to Florida and trained with Rick Macci and Nick Bolleteri

Venus has won every 12 and under tournament and is undefeated in junior play.

She has dedicated her last 3 years to working on her game so she is ready for the pro tour.

[PattySchnyder]

Venus is a powerbaseliner, and the difficulty is incredible

Venus has amazing speed and groundstrokes she takes athleticism to another level.

Her skills are Early Ball Hit (2), Fast Learner (1), Injury Resistance (1), Slice Serve (1), Chameleon (2), Globetrotter (1), Champion (1)

Venus also gets a 15% rally bonus..she is just a natural when it comes to powerful groundstrokes even though her technique is not always the best

Venus is 6'2 a very tall girl which makes her serve a weapon with her groundstrokes

Right now it is January and we plan to wait a few months before entering her in a pro tournament

[Sloane Stephens]

I'm so glad that you decided to do this because I was contemplating on doing one as well with of the sisters. Instead I decided to do a World Tour Mode in Tennis Elbow with Princess Serenity (comes from Serena). I love that your goals are to do better than Serena and have Venus win the two grandslams she has yet to win. Everyone knows that if it wasn't for Serena, Venus would be the best player on the WTA Tour in the last decade. So I will definantly be following this!

[Serena Williams Fan]

I would love to read this.

[Serena Williams]

this should be an interesting story

[PattySchnyder]

It is now later in the year I think Venus is ready for her first ITF Tournament

Week 39 USA F3 - Hard


Q1 vs. Cristelle Grier (GBR)

Cristelle is ranked 717th shes a net player. Venus started out great holding and breaking for 2-0 but then it started to go downhill from there Venus was spraying balls everywhere and Cristelle took the first set 6-2. Second set was the same thing Venus couldnt find her rythm and ended up losing 6-2 6-0

L 2-6, 0-6

Venus showed flashes of brillance but just wasnt consistent enough we expect her to do better in next week in USA F4



Week 40 USA F4 - Hard

Venus has one day before her first match we will work on her groundstrokes and serve a bit more so they are consistent

Venus sparred with another girl at the tournament we forgot her name but she was ranked 665 I believe Venus won 6 sets and lost two. Not bad we expect her to win a couple of matches here

Q1 vs. [2] Julia Adlbrecht (AUT)

Its match day! Venus worked on her serve a bit before the match. I don't know much about Julia but from what I've been told shes a lefty who plays with alot of spin. This is a tough match-up for Venus

Venus gets broken the first game of the match. She seems a little tired I think we are probally training too much Anyways Julia can sense that Venus is tired and just plays it safe. Venus loses the first set 6-4. Venus looks even more tired in the second set and sprays balls everywhere..The match ends with Julia winning 6-4 6-2 she really just kept the ball in play and didnt have to do much in the mean time we will work on Venus's stamina before her next tournament

L 4-6, 2-6

[PattySchnyder]

1995 Week 49 Slovakia F1 - Indoor Hard

After Venus's dissapointing losss I decided to take a 2 month break and work on Venus's stamina and fitness.

Since Venus has been tired lately during her matches we will rest before her matches from now on

Q1 vs. Elisa Villa

I'm feeling confident about this one..Its a fast indoor court and Venus has trained hard and rested well.
Venus gets off to a good start 3-0 Elisa does not have any weapons to hurt Venus with This match is in Venus's hands.
After about 30 minutes Venus takes the first set 6-0. At the start of the second set Venus gets broken but after that she cleaned up her game and wins 6-0 6-1

W 6-0, 6-1

Q2 vs. [4]Mariana Lopez (MEX)

Mariana is the 4th seed so I expect she will be tough Venus should be ready to play. Venus plays a terrible first set and loses 1-6. Venus hit about 20 unforced errors in that one set. Second set started off different Venus and Mariana were going at it until 4-4 when Venus broke and served out the second set 6-4. Third set was a rollercoaster Venus and Mariana kept breaking eachother until 6-5 in the last set Venus finally held and won the match!!

W 1-6, 6-4, 7-5

Q3 vs. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

Amelie is a talented young player like Venus. This should be a good match
Amelie wins the first set 6-4..Like I said Amelie is really good and Venus has to play good to win points. Venus pretty much gave up in the second set because Amelie got everything back. Amelie took the second set 6-1

L 4-6, 1-6

Pretty dissapointed Venus didnt qualify atleast she got a few wins and we can go from here

[Serena Williams Fan]

So close. She will qualify next time.

[Serena Williams]

hey PattySchnyder i think u should work on the speed as well since venus has long legs and arms and she can fetch the balls

[PattySchnyder]

It is the new year 1996 Venus is ready to play a full schedule this year!

1996 Week 1 Portugal F1 (Cement)

Q1 vs. Flavia Mignola (ITA)

Venus wins this match easily but Her serve worries me..only 44% first serves in

W 6-2, 6-2

Q2 vs. [1] Natalia Egorova (RUS)

Venus played a great match here..Natalia was the 1 seed so she was no pushover but Venus played solid and won. Her serve % is not doing well only 49% but Shes winning alot of first serve points

W 6-4 5-7 6-3

Q3 vs. Ana Sergura (ESP)

Ana was pretty awful I dont know how she made this far she was just a pusher. Venus rolled over her, but Venus qualifies for her first tournament!

W 6-2, 6-0

R1 vs. [4] Nike Dobrovits (AUT)

Venus's best match by far this tournament. Everything was working today she saved her best tennis for the main draw. Nike wasnt bad but Venus has too much firepower

W 6-2, 6-1

R2 vs. Nicole Melch (AUT)

Two austrian girls in a row for Venus. Another easy match for Venus shes just too powerful for Nicole

W 6-1, 6-1

QF vs. [Q] Laura Pena (ESP)

Another qualifier this girl is really good and came out to play with 96% Energy. This girl had just as much power as Venus and Venus was on the defense in some points which you dont see alot. Laura is a really good player

L 2-6, 6-7(7)

On a good note..Venus got a wildcard into main draw of Portugal F2 next week

1996 Week 2 Portugal F2

R1 vs. [1] Joana Cortez (BRA)

Venus is unlucky for playing the number one seed in the first round I hope she can pull off the upset. This girl was really tricky she was a varied player using lots of slices and dropshots. Venus adjusted nicely

W 7-6(2), 6-1

R2 vs. Claudia Timm (GER)

Venus was on fire today. Nothing Claudia could do or anyone for that matter. When Venus is playing well she's really hard to beat. 61% first serves in was pretty good 37 winners and 20 errors from Venus.

W 6-0, 6-2

QF vs. Cintia Tortorella (ARG)

Venus is coming along nicely. Her consistency is really improving alot. Cintia had no chance in this match she wasnt really fit and couldnt hurt Venus with anything.

W 6-0, 6-0

SF vs. Rene Simpson (CAN)

Rene is a net player so Venus would need to adjust a little. Rene's volley skills are really good. Venus did not approach this match tatically. Venus hit alot of shots at Rene when she was at the net and didnt use enough lobs or angles

L 4-6, 2-6

I really thought Venus was going to win her first title here


1996 Australian Open

There were a few upsets this year. Number one Steffi Graf lost QF to Martina Hingis . Gigi Fernandez an unseeded american made it to semifinals before losing to Martina Hingis in a tough match 8-6 in the third set. Martina Hingis would end up winning the Australian Open beating Lindsay Davenport in the final. Lindsay was trying to defend her title

[PattySchnyder]

1996 Week 8 Estonia F1 (Indoor Hard)


Venus did not want to play qualies but she had to

Q1 vs. Milena Nevkapilova (CZE)

Milena was tired her energy was only 65%. Venus took advantage of that and didnt play her usual power game but used more angles and dropshots to her advantage

W 6-4, 6-1

Q2 vsv Lauren Combs (FRA)

No problems for Venus in this match. Looked like a practice match

W 6-1, 6-0

Q3 vs. Nicole Remis (AUT)

This girl was tired and not prepared for this match. Venus wins easily and qualifies. This match only took 33 minutes

W 6-0, 6-0

R1 vs. Evelyn Fauth (AUT)

Evelyn plays with lots of topspin but its not efficient on a fast indoor court. Venus is way better then these girls in 10ks I'm hoping she can get her ranking up

W 6-3, 6-1

R2 vs. Edith Nunes (FRA)

Comfortable match for Venus besides a second set hiccup. Edith was very consistent and didn't give many free points

W 6-1, 6-4

QF vs. Zuzanna Babos (HUN)

Venus came out at 100% and played a perfect match here

W 6-0, 6-1

SF vs. [2] Hana Sromova (CZE)

This was a tough match for Venus. Hana had consistent groundstrokes but her serve was a weakness. Besides being broken 2 times in the first set Venus is looking good for the finals

W 6-4, 6-0

F vs. Catherine Barclay (AUS)

Catherine is a serve and volleyer. Catherine's serve was a weakness Venus pounced all over her second serves not allowing her to get into net as often

W 6-3, 7-5

Venus wins her first ITF title!!

[Serena Williams Fan]

Congrats on first title!!!!

[Serena Williams]

and whats her ranking?

[PattySchnyder]

Thanks & her ranking is 590

[PattySchnyder]

1996 Week 12 USA F1(Hard)

Venus got a wildcard entry into maindraw

R1 vs. II-Soon Kim (KOR)

This girl was pretty awful, Venus wins easily

W 6-0, 6-2

R2 vs. [4] Natalie Dechy (FRA)

Natalie was a upcoming player she is very talented but Venus is just better then her we've been working on her return of serve and it has been paying off 5/8 break points converted

W 6-2, 6-3

QF vs. [4] Sabrina Giusto (BRA)

Again another comfortable win. Venus is too good for these girls hopefully she can play some bigger tournaments soon

W 6-1, 6-2

SF def. [Q] Els Callens (BEL) 6-2, 6-1

F vs. Anna-Gaelle Sidot (FRA)

Whoa! Venus was not prepared for this match. Venus lost a little focus after winning most of her matches so easily. Finals is still good though ;(

L 3-6, 3-6

Venus moves from 590 to 567

1996 Week 14 USA F2 (Hard)

Venus got a wildcard into this tournament

R1 def. Mariam Ramon (ESP) W 6-2, 6-0
R2 def. Andrea Vanc (ROU) W 6-2, 6-0
QF def. Laura Fodorean (ITA) W 6-2, 6-2
SF def. Mariana Lopez (ESP) W 6-3, 6-2
F. def. Helen Crook (GBR) W 6-1, 6-0

Another 10k Title

Venus moves from 567 to 535

1996 Week 18-19 Redding 25k (Cement)

Venus finally enters a 25k tournament! but has to qualify

Q1 def. Victoria Davies (GBR) W 6-2, 6-0
Q2 def. Nicole Melch (AUT) W 6-4, 6-1
Q3 def. Vanessa Krauth (ARG) W 6-1, 6-0

Venus qualifies easily now into the MD!

R1 vs. [WC] Tracy Almeda-Singian (USA)

Venus was nervous going into her first 25k main draw match but after the nerves went away she won easily

W 6-4, 6-1

R2 vs. Sarah Taylor (USA)

Sarah's groundstrokes are as consistent as Venus';s. Venus had the extra firepower though and gets the win

[[b][/b]b]W 6-3, 6-3[/b]

QF def. Ana Salas (ESP) W 6-2, 6-1
SF def. [6] Rossana De Los Rios (PRY) W 6-2, 6-1
F def. Francesca Romano (ITA) W 6-0, 6-0


Venus is kickin butt and takin names so far! first 25K title and is offered a wilcard next week into Hammond 25k

Venus enters the top 500 for the first time ranked at 433

1996 Week 20 Hammond 25k (Cement)

Venus has been on fire lately I expect the same here

R1 def. Anzela Zguna (LVA) W 6-1, 6-0
R2 def. [8] Kaoru Shibata (JPN) 6-4, 6-3
QF def. [2] Petra Gaspar (HUN) 6-1, 7-5
SF def. Sarah Taylor (USA) 7-5 6-2
F def. Germana Di Natale (ITA) W 6-0, 6-1

Total demolition in the final ! another title for Vee We had problems with Venus's forehand in her Semi and Quaterfinal matches so we'll work on that before next tournament. I want venus to play in a grandslam before the year is over

Her ranking improves from 433 to 396