Venus Williams is back to her winning ways

by JAMES HENRY CINCINNATI – Venus Williams is winning. And it sure feels good.  “I didn’t realize I was going to be that excited when I won,” she said after defeating current U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur to advance from the quarterfinals at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. “I’d like to think that this is only the beginning for me of more semifinals. Of course, I’m going to stay focused and try to make it to a final match, as well.  “So, for me, I’d like to take it a lot further. I haven’t played a lot since 2010, so this is awesome for me already.” Williams, who won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, withdrew from the second round of last year’s event, announcing she had been diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, a disorder that causes fatigue and joint pain.