Venus Is a True Tennis Star

Venus Williams (U.S.) kept her promise to the organizers of the Hansol Korea Tennis Championships, the only WTA tour in Korea, that she had made early this year: she did not play in a match held last week in order to be in her best condition.

She came to Korea two days before the start of the championships after not participating in international tours held in China and India.

The organizing committee requested Williams not tire herself so she could perform to her fullest. Last year’s top seed Martina Hingis (Switzerland) was disqualified in the second round, and the committee blamed her for coming to Korea after playing too hard in a previous match in India and disappointing their Korean spectators.

Williams, who is getting all the attention she can get now, has met expectations of organizers of the event by advancing easily into the semifinals. Williams, ranked 9th in the world, will play against Flavia Pennetta (Italy, 62nd in the world) in the final today after defeating Marta Domahovska (Poland, 190th) in the quarterfinal, 6-2 and 6-3, one hour and 13 minutes after the game started.

Maria Kirilenko (Russia, 29th), who has been getting a lot of attention due to her scanty attire, advanced into the semifinals after winning against Catalina Castano (Columbia, 116th), 6-3 and 6-0.

kjs0123@donga.com