Vid: Can Venus Williams make a run?

PARIS – Can Venus Williams, who turns 38 shortly after the end of the French Open, make a run?

The American is seeded No. 9 and remains, improbably but gloriously, the top-ranked American.

She reached the quarter-finals in Rome and the fourth round in Paris before going on to reach the Wimbledon final on grass a few weeks later.

But this year, she has not played much except for a successful period in the U.S. at Indian Wells and Miami.

Williams lost early in both Madrid and Rome, both times to an in-form Anett Kontaveit. 

Good early draw

It appears Williams is in a nice little section of the draw, one that will allow her to perhaps ease into this Grand Slam.

She has Brit Johanna Konta, who is not a particular friend of the clay, as a potential third round before she jumps into Jelena Ostapenko territory.

But that’s way in the future.

Williams has never seriously threatened at the French Open. She made one final – all the way back in 2002, when she lost to sister Serena. Other than that, she has four quarter-final finishes.

Her first opponent will be Qiang Wang of China.

Here’s what she looked like, during a rather leisurely hit Thursday afternoon.

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Stephanie Myles

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