Venus Williams battles autoimmune disorder and still looking for love ahead of Wimbledon
When Venus Williams rocks up at Wimbledon next week for what will be her 24th appearance at the Grand Slam, she is guaranteed a hero’s welcome. One of tennis’ all-time greats, she won her first title at the All England club when she was just 20 and went on to lift another four in SW19, winning seven singles Slams across her outstanding career.
Success at Wimbledon is not restricted to individual pursuit either. Alongside sister Serena, the pair have won six doubles titles in South London alone and an incredible 14 in total. No wonder she is loved so much in the UK.
Although Serena has now retired, Venus is not ready to hang up her racket just yet and having just turned 43, she will certainly be the most experienced women’s singles player at Wimbledon this year.
Staying in good enough shape to keep competing at the highest level in your 40s takes dedication and discipline and that same approach is evident in Williams’ life away from the court.
Like her mother and sisters, she is a devout Jehovah’s Witness, something she credits to giving her and her family stability when she was growing up in the crime-ridden streets of Compton, before moving to Florida at the age of 13.
Williams has business interests away from tennis. She is the CEO of her own interior design business V Starr Interiors and has her own clothing line called EleVen. She was named as one of the 30 most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal in 2001.
