NEW DELHI: Former World no. 1 Venus Williams is gearing for a comeback through the North American hard-court tennis season. Drawing inspiration from her sister Serena Williams, she is decided to make a profitable return to the game.
In a latest video shared on her YouTube channel, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion expressed her aspirations to take part within the WTA 1000 occasions in Indian Wells and Miami, contemplating them “large objectives”.
“One in all my large objectives is to play United States, to play within the Miami Open and at Indian Wells, ” Williams stated. “I’ve not performed there since 2019 as a result of accidents. It is a very long time… It is a variety of years to not play at residence. In order that’s after all one among my large objectives on the horizon, is to be there, put together to do this. Amongst many objectives on the court docket, too.
“My little sister, Serena, instructed me I am not allowed to give up, and naturally, I might by no means give up. However it’s the mandate. She stated no, so I might be again on the court docket, ” Venus was quoted by WTA web site.
Within the video, the 43-year-old Williams revealed the challenges she has confronted with accidents over the previous 12 months and mentioned the knee harm that left her hobbling off Centre Court docket at Wimbledon final summer time (she took a fall within the second recreation of her first-round match towards Elina Svitolina) at size for the primary time.
“I do not discuss so much about my accidents as a result of I hate complaining, ” she stated, however referred to as the cartilage injury she suffered as one of many “craziest” accidents she’s tried to play by in her lengthy and storied profession.
After the early exit at Wimbledon, Williams stated the lingering swelling and ache impacted her skill to coach and even, generally, stroll — upfront of occasions in Montreal and Cincinnati, in addition to the US Open. Regardless of that, she scored what was then a Prime 10 victory over Veronika Kudermetova in Cincinnati, her first Prime 10 win in 4 years.
However after that event, the swelling in her knee blew up and she or he was compelled to withdraw from the WTA 250 occasion in Cleveland, the place she had meant to play as a wild-card entry.
“I felt horrible about that, as a result of once I give my phrase, I maintain it. Once I stated I used to be going to Cleveland, I meant it, and the very fact I needed to withdraw, I felt depressing as a result of that is not me. I do what I say I will do.”
In an effort to play the US Open, Williams revealed she had a cortisone injection for the primary time in her three-decade profession, nevertheless it did little to assist. Her season finally ended with a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen within the first spherical, the heaviest defeat she ever suffered at her residence Grand Slam occasion.