Red hot Venus beats the odds to eye next Grand Slam title
New York — Defying an energy-sapping disease, Venus Williams has pushed herself further than she imagined at age 37 to reach her 39th career Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. US ninth seed Williams, seeking her eighth Grand Slam title and third US Open crown, defeated Spain’s 35th-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 3-6 6-1 on Sunday. She booked a Tuesday fight for a semifinal spot against Czech 13th seed Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon winner who defeated Spanish third seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7/3) 6-3. Williams, 2017’s Wimbledon and Australian Open runner-up and the oldest woman in this year’s US Open draw, is only 1-4 against Kvitova, but she has grown accustomed to overcoming the odds. In 2011, Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren’s disease, which leaves her weakened and pushed her to become a vegan to stay competitive and combat the illness. "Over time, I’ve learned that I can push myself a lot further than I thought I could," Williams sai...
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