“My little sister, Serena, told me I’m not allowed to quit,”  are the words that Venus Williams relied upon to keep the thoughts of retirement at bay. It has been nearly 2 years since Serena Williams drew the curtain on her professional career. Despite the younger sister’s retirement, the stories of the legendary sisters keeps buzzing around the tennis town. Following the commendable success of Serena’s docuseries, Venus is making countless revelations about sisters’ journey to being legends.

In a recent interview, Venus Williams shared heartfelt thoughts about her sister Serena. Venus explained how Serena’s influence has shaped her both on and off the tennis court. Although Serena wasn’t there to witness the heartfelt words, the seven-time major champion made sure her sister heard her through her Instagram story.

“There is no Venus without Serena and Serena without Venus,” she said, stressing how their journeys have been interconnected right from their formative years. The 44-year-old also recalled a strong piece of advice Serena once shared with her. “Since you have to show up, then why not compete,”  she said, echoing the formidable sentiment that her legendary sister implied. This wisdom taught Venus the value of always giving her best no matter the situations. “I learned how to compete from her, just by watching,” Venus admitted, highlighting Serena’s impact as a role model.

Venus’ interview came after the launch of her new book, “Strive: 8 Steps to Find Your Awesome.” The book is a guide to success based on the lessons Venus has learned throughout her 30-year career. It focuses on eight principles: observe, appreciate, balance, enrich, soothe, believe, inspire, and strive. In discussing her approach to success, Venus explained, “It’s not that I have to win every match, but that I gave myself my best shot to be my best.”

Serena’s success came early on as she opened her Glam Slam account at the US Open in 1999. At just 17 years of age, she defeated Martina Hingis to clinch the title. Venus, despite starting before her younger sister, won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 2000. Over the years, Venus has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, but lately she hasn’t been as successful. And it’s Serena’s words that are not allowing her to quit.

Venus Williams shuts down retirement rumors, says “not done yet”

It has been a while since Venus Williams last played and with that speculations about her retirement began flying around. However, she recently confirmed that she is far from finishing her tennis career. In an interview with Irish News, the seven-time Grand Slam champion made it clear that she has no plans to retire just yet. “I’m not done with the racket yet,” Venus stated addressing rumors that she had quietly stepped away from the sport. The 44-year-old has been dealing with injuries including a knee injury suffered at Wimbledon last year. However, Venus highlighted that she doesn’t have anything holding her back from returning, but she is just “picking and choosing” where to compete.

Venus Williams has highlighted the importance of self-care, explaining that she is now prioritizing her well-being by focusing on her physical health, mindset, and nutrition. In addition, the legend stays active in the business side of her profession. She has also graced the covers of prominent magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Business Traveler, and Perfect Magazine. Now the thing that remains to be seen is when the star will return in action. What is your guess? Let us know in the comments below: