While she has not experienced much success in recent years, many thought that this year was potentially the year Venus Williams would once again prove why she is one of the greatest to ever play the game of tennis. Battling Sjogren’s Syndrome and various illnesses and injuries over the past three years, Venus had finally gotten in playing-shape once again. And what better time to do so than Wimbledon, a place where she has won the singles and doubles titles five times each. Unfortunately, though, this was not to be Venus’s year to shine.

Earlier today, Venus lost in three sets to No. 6 ranked Petra Kvitova, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-5.

However, there was no shame in defeat. Many had thought that Venus would never reach this level of play again. On Thursday, she went toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best in perhaps the most entertaining match of Wimbledon 2014 yet.

Venus started the first set strongly, committing only three unforced errors in the set and never facing a breakpoint. Toward the end of the second set, though, one could see the fatigue set in, with Venus giving Kvitova the tie-break with a double fault.

Win or lose, just awesome to see Venus Williams playing like this again on the court she has made her own. #Wimbledon

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 27, 2014

It would be Venus’s serve which would once again fail her in the third set, giving Kvitova match point. An unforced error coming from a backhand eventually gave Kvitova the victory.

“It was definitely a very tough battle. I was preparing for this because I know Venus can play very well on grass. I’m just happy I’m through. When I lost the first set I was a little bit down mentally but I knew I could come back. In the third set anything can happen. It was hard to break her. I was just trying to push her and finally I did it. I was just lucky in the end,” Kvitova humbly assessed.

Wonderful battle between two champions on #CentreCourt at @Wimbledon. Congrats to @Petra_Kvitova and @Venuseswilliams on raising the bar.

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 27, 2014

As for what the future holds for Venus, only time will tell. If tennis should fail her, she always has the back-up option of becoming a nude model – a practice in which she recently dabbled.

Image via Twitter