“I’m not done with the racket yet,” is what Venus Williams stated, putting an end to rumors surrounding her retirement. It has been seven months since she last played. Away from court, the 44-year-old is currently involved in several projects, including her business and writing. Amidst her busy schedule, fans expressed a strong desire to see her return to the court. Despite the speculation and rumors reaching her, she surprised everyone with positive news. Alongside, hypothetically living her retirement, that seems to have been ruined by Serena.

Venus Williams has spoken openly about the idea of retirement. She offered insights into how she feels as the moment approaches. During a recent interview, the WTA legend humorously accepted the confusion caused by her sister Serena’s retirement(in 2022). “As a moment gets closer. Serena ruined it for me cause as soon as she retired, everybody thought I retire, and sometimes they even think we’re twins,” Venus said with a laugh. “Two separate people born on different days. It’s okay now, you know.” Although her lighthearted comment showed her playful side, her reflections on retirement were more serious.

For Venus, the thought of leaving tennis once brought emotions she thought would overwhelm her. “I always thought I would cry when I had to retire because it’s all you know. You spend your whole life just programming your mind every single day…You think about it…dream about it…But I realized that I won’t cry. I’ve definitely given everything to the sport,” the 44-year-old said. She also highlighted how grateful she feels to have been part of something bigger than just winning matches. “I never dreamed that would happen…so that part is amazing,” she added.

This update emerged amid Venus’ promotions for her latest book, Strive: 8 Steps to Find Your Awesome. The book dives into eight principles that have guided her success over the years, including ideas like observing, appreciating, balancing, and striving for greatness. Venus said the book shares the wisdom she gained over 30 years in tennis, with the goal of inspiring readers to achieve their best.

Venus made her last appearance at the Miami Open earlier this year. Her journey in the tournament came to an end in the first round, where she faced 19-year-old Russian player Diana Shnaider. Shnaider defeated Venus 6-3, 6-3, marking a tough exit for the tennis legend. At 43, Venus holds the record for the most appearances at the Miami Open, with 22 in total, and was the oldest player in the 2024 draw. Since then, there has been no update on Venus’ exact comeback spot. However, will her upcoming comeback resonate with her previous return fueled by “craziest” injuries?

When Venus Williams revealed the motivation behind her comeback plan

Back in January, Venus Williams revealed her desire to return to two of the biggest tournaments on the WTA calendar—Indian Wells and the Miami Open. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion expressed how important it is for her to play in these events, calling them “big goals.” “One of my big goals is to play in the United States, to play in the Miami Open and at Indian Wells,” Williams shared in a YouTube video on her channel. “I haven’t played there since 2019 due to injuries. It’s a long time… It’s a lot of years not to play at home.”

Despite injuries, the American legend remains determined to stay on the court – and she credits Serena for that. “My little sister, Serena, told me I’m not allowed to quit, and of course, I would never quit. But it’s the mandate. She said no, so I will be back on the court,” Venus said, highlighting how much her sister’s encouragement keeps her consistent on the courts. Serena’s insistence has helped Venus stay focused on making a return, even as she continues to manage her physical struggles.

In the same video, Venus opened up about the injuries that have hampered her progress over the last year. She spoke at length about the knee injury that forced her to exit Wimbledon in the first round last summer after a fall during her match against Elina Svitolina. “I don’t talk a lot about my injuries because I hate complaining,” Venus admitted. She called the cartilage damage she sustained “one of the craziest” injuries of her career, showing just how tough the road to recovery has been for her.

Despite these setbacks, Venus remains hopeful and is working hard to overcome the challenges, aiming to get back to her best for 2024.