Tennis: Fans humble Williams with hero's welcome

Venus Williams on her way to thrashing Jana Cepelova of Slovakia in the first round of the ASB Classic yesterday. Picture / Nick Reed

Legend’s first up victory shows she’s still a class above most of the players on tour

Venus Williams loves playing in Auckland - and the feeling is certainly mutual.

In only her second year here, Williams is already one of the most popular players to have graced Stanley St. We had some big names at the ASB Classic in the past but none have created the buzz that Williams brings.

And she definitely feeds off the adulation of the local crowd.

"I was very welcomed ... it felt like I left off right from last year," said Williams after her 53-minute 6-1 6-0 first round demolition of Jana Cepelova. "I felt like I was the hometown girl. It's nice when you come and the crowd is really with you because you don't get that everywhere. It is something I really remembered from last year."

Williams was also impressed with the tennis knowledge of the local fans, a contrast with some other destinations on the WTA tour.

"You get the feeling that they appreciate every point here and it's not like that everywhere," said Williams. "The fans are very appreciative of all the efforts that the players give."

It still feels like a privilege to have Williams here, like we are watching living history. She is a bona fide legend of the game, who along with sister Serena has transformed the sport, and the Stanley St crowd sense when a star is in their midst.

There was a noticeable buzz when she entered the arena, with the grandstand suddenly near capacity and every corporate box filled, after several had been empty earlier in the day session.

The fashion-conscious Williams looked as snazzy as ever in a new outfit from her own fashion label Ola - "it's a watercolour motif, a remix of tie dye", she explained - though her new haircut is more 1970s.

Williams' longevity has been remarkable. When she first became a regular on the WTA tour in 1997, Jim Bolger was still Prime Minister, Richie McCaw was starring for the Otago Boys High 1st XV and Peter Jackson was yet to start filming the first Lord of the Rings feature.

Almost two decades on, and Williams is still a class above most of the players on tour. She's not as quick as she used to be but moves with a languid grace. The 34-year-old prefers not to be engaged in long, drawn-out rallies, happy to back her ability to hit winners from all areas of the court.

Her serve remains a formidable weapon - at times yesterday she topped 200km/h and also came up with some second serve aces. She also has few peers at the net but perhaps her biggest weapon is the intimidation factor; how many players outside the top 20 believe they can beat her?

Cepelova didn't seem to. The Slovak player is no mug - she beat Serena Williams last year - but Williams breezed through the first set in less than half an hour, as Cepelova struggled to contend with the American's power from the baseline.

Williams recorded 10 aces and only dropped three points when her first serve landed. She finished with a trademark winner, then treated the crowd to a victory pirouette. Let's not get too excited yet - Williams will face some much greater tests and there are plenty of solid players remaining on her side of the draw - but the omens look positive for the Californian.

Williams should be equally untroubled today, facing World No45 Kurumi Nara.

3 Venus Williams

1. The seven-time Grand Slam champion hit 10 aces to 0 in her demolition of Slovakian Jana Cepelova.

2. Williams debuted her own Ola athletic clothing collection on centre court at Stanley St, the American mixing it up with a light turquoise playing skirt and a printed sleeveless top.

3. Yesterday's result gives Williams her 654th career victory, while she has experienced defeat on just 179 occasions.