In a recent video posted on her YouTube channel, Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, shared her aspirations to participate in the WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami, referring to them as "big goals." The tennis icon expressed her eagerness to return to these tournaments, emphasizing that injuries have kept her away since 2019.
"It's been a lot of years not to play at home. So that's, of course, one of my big goals on the horizon, is to be there, prepare to do that. Amongst many goals on the court, too," Williams remarked in the video. She also revealed that her sister, Serena Williams, has advised her against quitting, reinforcing her commitment to continue playing.
The 43-year-old athlete disclosed the challenges she faced with injuries over the past year, shedding light on a knee injury that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon last summer after taking a fall during her first-round match. Williams, known for not complaining about injuries, described the cartilage damage as one of the "craziest" injuries she has tried to play through in her extensive career.
Despite the setbacks, Williams demonstrated resilience, securing a Top 10 victory over Veronika Kudermetova in Cincinnati, her first such win in four years. However, ongoing swelling and pain in her knee impacted her ability to train and participate in subsequent events, leading to her withdrawal from the WTA 250 event in Cleveland.
In an effort to compete in the US Open, Williams underwent a cortisone injection for the first time in her three-decade career, but it provided minimal relief. The season concluded for Williams with a significant loss to Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen in the first round of the US Open, marking the heaviest defeat she has suffered at her home Grand Slam event. Despite these challenges, Venus Williams remains determined to pursue her goals and make a triumphant return to the court.
(With Agency Inputs)
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