LSU Gold

Former Tiger Michael Venus Makes Big Run at Wimbledon

by Alissa Cavaretta
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Former Tiger Michael Venus Makes Big Run at Wimbledon

LONDON – Former LSU tennis player Michael Venus continued his dominance on the doubles court to reach the finals of the Wimbledon’s Gentlemen’s Doubles competition with partner Raven Klaasen but fell to Mike Bryan and Jack Sock, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in the finals on Centre Court Saturday evening at the England Lawn and Croquet Club.

 

The No. 7 seeded American pair of Bryan and Sock took the first set handily 6-3, but the 13th-seeded Venus and Klaasen fought back in a tight second set to take the tiebreaker 7-6(7).

 

Bryan and Sock jumped out to the 2-1 lead after taking the third set, 6-3, before Venus and Klaasen worked from behind in the fourth set to force a fifth and final set, 7-5.

 

In a hard-fought final set, Bryan and Sock pulled ahead and secured the Wimbledon title with a 7-5 win in the competition which lasted close to four hours.

 

Venus has one title of the year as he and Klaasen took home the doubles title at Marseille. In 2016, Venus won the French Open with partner Mate Pavic. He is the only former Tiger to have a Grand Slam Title and is the only Tiger to compete in the doubles’ final at Wimbledon.

 

With eight career titles and the finals run, Venus currently sits at No. 23 in the world.

 

Venus also reached the semifinals of the mixed doubles competition at Wimbledon with his partner Katarina Srebotnika.   

 

He was one of three former Tigers to compete in Wimbledon along with Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski. The Skupski brothers reached the round of 16 in the tournament.

 

Venus along with the Skupskis are scheduled to play in the U.S. Open later this summer.

 

For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access on the Tigers, fans can follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @lsutennis and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsutennis.