It doesn't feel like there could be any underlying accusations about match-throwing in this one, if it happens.
Venus Williams earned a hard-fought, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Yulia Putintseva in the second round of Wimbledon and will face Aleksandra Krunic on Friday in the third round, CBS Sports reported.
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The 35-year-old Venus, a five-time Wimbledon champion, has not moved past the third round at the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club since 2011. He win on Thursday, however, was her 75th at Wimbledon, moving her past Steffi Graf on the all-time list of victories there.
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If Venus beats Watson on Friday, she will have two days rest before her fourth-round match - most likely against sister and No. 1-ranked Serena Williams. The two last met at Wimbledon in the 2009 final that Serena won.
The younger Williams, 33, has a 14-11 lead all-time against her big sister. Serena is looking to complete the third leg of the calendar slam, which would be her 21st Grand Slam title. Venus is looking for her first Grand Slam title since the 2008 Wimbledon, as well as one last hurrah.
Early in their careers, the Williamses were accused of staging their outcomes. That likely will not be an issue in the possible fourth-round matchup.
"I give her as good of a chance as anybody to win the title," Venus' longtime coach and hitting partner David Witt said to the Wall Street Journal. "You see a lot of upsets at Wimbledon, you just don't know."
Serena even gave Venus a hidden compliment by treating her like any other foe at Wimbledon.
"Obviously I'm really happy for her," Serena said, according to the WSJ. "But she poses a big threat for me, so just trying to stay focused."
Venus was No. 1 before Serena and still was a viable threat when her game went south after she contracted Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that leaves her weak and tired at random times. She was diagnosed in 2011; her last Grand Slam title was 2008 at Wimbledon.
The WSJ reported that Venus is playing better this year than she did last year when she took eventual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to three sets in the third round (5-7, 7-6, 7-5).
Venus changed her diet, which has helped her combat Sjogren's. The WSJ added that she has incorporated a much more extensive stretching regimen to help prepare her for matches.
But two huge hurdles are in Venus' way among all the hurdles she faces due to her disease.
She has to find a way to beat Serena in the fourth round. If that happens, she has to come back a day later for the quarterfinals.
Will her focus lead her to an unlikely run to the title?
"She's won five Wimbledons," Witt said. "When you have confidence, you have everything."
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