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For a player unquestionably flattened by her opponent, it was an extraordinarily upbeat Elena Vesnina who came in to discuss her 6-2, 6-0 semi-final obliteration by Serena Williams.
Often the vanquished are hollow-eyed after such matches, wearing an expression suggesting they have undergone real trauma, and are then subjected to a stream of unsparing questions in the dissection of defeat.
But Vesnina? Not a bit of it. Summing up her challenge to Serena, she smiled and said: “I felt like this…” Then she extended her fingers and blew softly on the very tips, to indicate some tiny speck buffeted helplessly away on fortune’s breeze.
Moreover, as bad as the drubbing was, Vesnina knew her fate was to face Serena again within a few short hours, as she and Ekaterina Makarova were scheduled to play Serena and older sister Venus in the doubles quarter-finals later on No.2 Court.
“Serena said to me at the net, ‘see you later’,” laughed the Russian good-naturedly. “Not long time to wait. It’s a bit strange.”
Then she added unprompted: “I think Serena now has a big, big chance to win her 22nd Grand Slam title. She’s in the right mood right now. She is more confident [than in Melbourne or Paris, where she lost in both finals]. Grass is much better. She loves it. There is something between the Williams sisters and Wimbledon. There is love going on.”
Meanwhile, Vesnina refused point-blank to be downhearted about her own crushing defeat. She is just three weeks shy of her 30th birthday, and so it is not as if Wimbledon 2016 may herald the first of a dozen such chances for her. Yet she has just reason for great satisfaction.
Five months ago she was ranked No.122 in singles. Obliged to enter qualifying for the Australian Open, she did not make it through to the main draw. Now, as a result of her efforts this Fortnight (aided by her first round exit here last year), her new ranking as of Monday will be around No.25, inching back towards her best of 21, attained three years ago.
I'll take the best I can from this Wimbledon, because for me it was amazing
“This is just a magical tournament,” she beamed. “I’m happy. I’m not the kind of person who’s going to be crying in the locker room. I never do that. It’s just my character, my personality. If you’re going to cry and be crazy after every loss, your nervous system will be dead before the end of your career.
“I felt like I had no chance. Her forehand cross court return is so fast, you can’t even finish your serve before the ball is passing you with a clear winner. I have played her a few times, and I know her attitude. I could see she was really happy on the court, really enjoying herself. Her mood and everything were working. I was really fighting and trying to change the situation. The score was going so fast and she was controlling the points.
“I’m disappointed, yes. I wanted to play better in my first Grand Slam semi-final, against Serena. But you have to admit she was just better. She was stronger, faster. I tried everything and could do nothing. It just didn’t work. It was just not meant to be. It was all about Serena.”
And then Vesnina smiled again. In the merciless world of elite tennis, it is rare to find a player so plainly at peace with its potential to wound.
“This is my credo,” she said. “I’ll take the best I can from this Wimbledon, because for me it was amazing. I’m really impressed with my game, and how I handled tough situations. I was in the semi-final. I played Serena on the Centre Court. It’s just great.”
