Dulgheru reveals Venus was her clothing sponsor

Three years ago, Alexandra Dulgheru had a predicament. Call it the oft-invisible underbelly of being a lower-ranked player in pro tennis.

Returning to week-to-week WTA Tour play after an injury-meets-surgery setback, she was sponsor-less. That also meant kit-less. She contacted, of all people, Venus Williams.

"So I talked to Venus, because I had seen other players dressed in EleVen by Venus] and asked if she could send me some clothes," [Dulgheru shared at last week's BRD Bucharest Open. "[Venus] sent me a bag from Rome and then she kept doing it for the rest of the year. Her clothes are very pretty, and I always showed her pictures from my matches."

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That year, the 29-year-old's results improved, her previously hobbling knee continued to hold up – from the Paris clay to the London grass, qualifying to main draws – and she broke through at the endorsement end of things to boot.

"After a year, when I got a contract with Sergio Tacchini, I told [Venus], and she was fine with it, because her brand only offers the clothes, without contracts," Dulgheru said. "I like her, and I respect her a lot as a player."

Fast forward three years, when Dulgheru and Williams faced off across the net from each other in 2018 Wimbledon's second round.

"I won a very intense first set," Dulgheru offered two weeks later in Bucharest. "I expected my level would go down a bit ... In the decider, I missed some easy volleys and sitters, and instead of being 2-2, it was 3-1 and then 4-1. When Venus and Serena get ahead in the score, it’s very difficult to catch up. They get in the zone and go for every shot."

Dulgheru would lose that match by a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 count. What she gained, from both the sartorial and groundstroke exchanges, was a fair share of thoroughly sporting memories.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.

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