Venus Williams—one of the most iconic figures in tennis history, a true trailblazer, and a force to be reckoned with on the court. But lately, things haven’t been easy for the seven-time Grand Slam champion. Her fans have been anxiously hoping for a powerful comeback, but fate seems to have different plans. And now, in a move that has left the tennis world buzzing, Venus has finally addressed the question everyone’s been asking—her future in the sport.

The 44-year-old engaged in an interaction with Vivian Tu for the Richer Lives by SoFi podcast. The two deliberated on a wide range of topics, including Williams’ life on and off the court and her plans for the future. During the podcast, Williams opened up about her retirement plans and highlighted how difficult it is for her to call it quits completely from the tennis arena.

When asked whether she would ever retire from anything in her life, including tennis, Williams shared, “Will I ever retire? I don’t think completely.” Remember, Williams has struggled to make a dominant comeback on the courts for quite some time now. This year, the seven-time Grand Slam champion has participated in only two events: the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open, where she experienced early exits. However, retiring from the sport is still not an option on her list.

Continuing further in the interview, Williams said, “I think there is so much fun to be had in life and work because challenge is a beautiful thing. And I think I will find different challenges over time working with people and teaching them tennis where there are young people or working as a mentor for professional tennis players or athletes. There is a lot of joy in that.” Williams’ statement comes at a time when the courts have been buzzing with rumors of her retirement. 

Remember, the star player suffered a horror knee injury at Wimbledon 2023 against Elina Svitolina after she fell in the third game of her first-round match. Since then, she has struggled to regain her dominance. However, this is not the first time Williams has dismissed the idea of retiring completely from tennis.

In 2023, Venus Williams expressed similar sentiments and firmly dismissed any speculation about her retirement. Interestingly, her zeal to continue playing is often boasted by her younger sister Serena Williams, who has always stood behind the 44-year-old.

When Venus Williams revealed the Serena Williams factor that is keeping her away from retirement

The Williams sisters have not just captivated the hearts of enthusiasts in the arena but have also changed the definition of the sport for many. With their combined 122 titles and innumerable records, they emerged as a major force in the courts, and their bond remains strong to this day. In a statement, Venus Williams revealed that her younger sister Serena Williams does not want her to quit the sport.

In a video on her YouTube channel in January this year, Venus highlighted the desire of Serena. “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.” She had further revealed her plans for the year which included participating in the US Open. “One of my big goals is to play United States, to play in the Miami Open and at Indian Wells.” In 2022, Williams also shared that playing till the age of 50 is not out of the question for her. 

“It’s never been done before, so if there’s anyone who could do it, it would be me.” For now, it will be interesting to see if Williams can make a comeback on the courts anytime soon and surprise her fans once again.