When Venus Williams played her first match of the 2017 BNP Paribas Open against Jelena Jankovic, she started out slow and sluggish. After dropping the first set 1-6, flashes of the old Venus came through but were not consistent, putting her down 1-4 in the second. In an instant, her demeanor changed and Williams came from behind to win the match.

Down 2-6 in the first set against Elena Vesnina, a sluggish Williams came back to win the second set 6-4. In the third, Vesnina got an early break for a 2-1 lead. She quickly advanced to a 2-5 lead. Serving out the game, Williams saved three match points to take the game. If it were any other player, the audience may have accepted Williams’s defeat. She was moving slowly and serving well below 100 mph. Vesnina, on the other hand, was energetic, shouting with every shot, and smiling through every point. Fans of Williams cheered her on enthusiastically, waiting for the signature comeback that has gotten her through countless three-set matches over the years. In this match, her efforts were not enough. Vesnina quelled any surges in energy from Williams, running down every ball and forcing errors from her. Vesnina took the final set 6-3.

In a press conference following the match, Vesnina addressed how the ups and downs affected the match’s rhythm: “In the first set, it was a little bit unexpectable. You know, when I was up 3-Love in the first set, she was missing some easy shots. She looked tired and slow on the court. Then, all of a sudden, she started moving around, hitting great shots, winners from all over the place.

And in this momentum, I kind of lost my rhythm, because I didn't know what to expect. I played against Venus, I don't know, four times. It kind of – I kind of knew the way she's playing, hitting, serving, and today was totally different story. Today she was playing totally different tactic match… I saw previous matches that she was down with match point with a set point, and I was like, Uh-Oh, it's coming back again. I'm going to be another victim of Venus. I don't want.”

Williams was in fairly high spirits talking with press after her defeat. Asked if she enjoys the trajectory of playing from behind to win a match, she said “I want to win 6-0, 6-0. But it builds character and builds wonderful memories, of course. I would just like to be healthy just like the next human being. You beat your body up in sport, and I want to play these big events. I don't want to be at home watching. It's frustrating either way, not to be 100% or to watch at home. Which one do you choose? I chose to be here. That was my choice. I gave it my best today, and I'm looking forward to playing her again, hopefully, healthy and 100%, and will have an opportunity to really show what I can do in these kinds of matches.”

Vesnina faces Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinal match Saturday.