In a heartfelt display of support, Serena Williams recently appeared in a video, not swinging a tennis racket but actively assisting her sister Venus Williams in drying up the wet court. Both were seen diligently applying a sponge roller to the court. The unexpected scene, shared on social media, showcased the sisters collaboratively sweeping rainwater during what seemed to be a practice session.
Despite their efforts, the rain returned after 5 minutes, leaving Serena audibly expressing her frustration, stating, “Today drained me.” The video not only delighted fans who witnessed the Williams sisters together, not to forget their double pairing on the court, but also reflected on Venus’s challenging 2023 tennis journey, riddled with injuries and initial round losses in tournaments played.
During an exhibition event in San Antonio, Venus candidly expressed, “I’m not sure my tennis will be at the highest level, but I’m really trying!” This heartening declaration underlines her determination and resilience in the face of uncertainties surrounding her tennis comeback.
Venus and Serena are back on court again 😍✨
My spider senses are tingling…#VenusWilliams #SerenaWilliams pic.twitter.com/LkADW5pgqH
— inspirational ❤️ (@VeeSTARWilliams) December 20, 2023
Venus, who last competed at the 2023 US Open, has been struggling with a nagging knee injury that compelled her to conclude her season prematurely. Despite initially ruling herself out of the Australian Open, Venus made a brief return to the San Antonio exhibition, as documented on her YouTube channel.
Fans would be hoping for the possibility of her participating in the Australian Open and other tournaments down under, though it appears doubtful as of now. Venus Williams, currently at the age of 43, is navigating through uncertainties in her tennis journey, facing a persistent battle with injuries.
Venus Williams faces an uphill battle for tennis return
Williams faced a tumultuous 2023 season, grappling with recurrent knee issues that forced her to conclude the season prematurely. On her YouTube channel, the 7-time Grand Slam champion disclosed that her knee suffered a significant injury during the first round at Wimbledon against Elina Svitolina. Venus struggled with physical challenges throughout the season.
Scary moment at Wimbledon.
Venus Williams slips & falls to the ground.
She screams in pain.
Elina Svitolina brought her a towel & Venus is being seen by the physio.
This is so hard to watch. Venus has worked so hard to get healthy just to have the chance to play. pic.twitter.com/QPZqfldGmp
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 3, 2023
The possibility of her knee problem not healing has become a pressing concern. Williams expressed the difficulty of practicing any sport when dealing with the effects of Sjögren’s syndrome, stating, “Just like pain from sitting around, like my knee hurts, my knee is swelling every day. It’s very difficult to play tennis or any sport when you have the swelling cycle when your body won’t stop swelling.”
This sheds light on the ongoing struggles Venus faces due to the syndrome, making the healing process for her knee even more difficult. The impact of Sjögren’s syndrome, characterized by symptoms such as chronic fatigue, swollen hands, and joints, makes her comeback even more difficult. Her age notwithstanding!