In Victory, Venus Williams Is Surprisingly Vulnerable

On an increasing number of occasions, the opponents of Venus Williams have tended to step on the court and immediately search for a foxhole. Usually, they duck well behind the baseline, counting on the extra space to increase their response time, hoping to extend the rally just a shade longer. But the spindly Meghann Shaughnessy arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium last night with a different strategy. Although she ended up deflated by her tantalizingly close opportunity to take the first set - she lost to Williams, 7-6 (3), 6-1, in the third round of the United States Open - Shaughnessy provided a glimpse at an attack plan against the third-seeded women's player. "I've seen matches of hers where the other person has been completely intimidated," the 21-year-old Shaughnessy said. "It's easy. She's much bigger, much stronger and hits the ball harder than just about everyone. Shaughnessy had a chance to serve out the first set, ahead by 5-4, but could not get a first serve in, giving Williams a chance to dictate the points. But for just over an hour, Shaughnessy stood inside the baseline, face to face with Williams's sling-blade strokes, and did not flinch. When Williams launched a backhand across the net, Shaughnessy took the ball early, converted the force into her own power, and crushed it into the corner pockets of the court. When Williams inched toward the net with her intimidating wingspan, Shaughnessy zipped the ball right at her body. Williams was in tangles. And under the pressure she had rarely felt through her 22-match winning streak, Williams's serve came unraveled for a moment. She served six double faults in the first set, but escaped the first-set tie breaker after Shaughnessy sent four straight ground strokes way off target.