Kaylah Walton
Venus Williams is often hailed as one of the all-time greats in tennis, renowned for her incredible talent, physical prowess, and determination on the court. Over the course of her distinguished career, she has secured seven Grand Slam singles championships, which include five prestigious Wimbledons and two U.S. Open titles.
Nonetheless, her recent presence on the tennis scene has not been as pronounced; she’s been spotted more often at social gatherings rather than competing. Venus Williams has recently disclosed her ongoing struggle with fibroids, a health issue that has impacted her throughout her tennis journey.
In May, Venus Williams made it clear that she has not officially retired from the sport and she remains eager to return when the circumstances are favorable. Recently, it has come to light that the elder Williams sister has faced persistent health concerns, a topic she first brought to light in an interview with Self magazine.
Venus Williams’ Health Struggles with Fibroids
Venus has shared her battle with fibroids, a distressing condition that has impacted her during some of her greatest career achievements. In an interview with NBC News’ Zinhle Essamuah, she opened up about her health issues and how they’ve affected both her life and performance.
Fibroids are benign growths that can form in or near the uterus, often causing severe pain, nausea, and ongoing anemia for some individuals during their menstrual cycles. Many of Venus’s symptoms tend to escalate during her periods, a reality she candidly discussed in her chat with Essamuah. These were the experiences she reflected on in her NBC interview.
During the interview, Williams emphasized that she has taken this time for self-care and recovery, expressing, “I’ve been using this period to rest and recuperate, living my life and striving to be the happiest version of myself, free from fibroids.”
Serena Williams Shows Support for Her Sister
It’s well-known that Venus and Serena share a close, supportive relationship both on and off the tennis court. Together, they have participated in many competitions, amassing an impressive tally of 14 Grand Slam titles along with three Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles. For this reason, Serena expressed her love and encouragement for her sister via social media.
Serena Williams took to her Instagram Stories to show her support for Venus, especially after Venus spoke openly about her struggle with fibroids in her interview with Self Magazine. The tennis legend shared images from the article, emphasizing her sister’s fortitude and tenacity.
In one of her posts, Serena included a picture of Venus with the remark, “Your bravery.” She followed it with another story featuring a quote from Venus about the careful approach she needs to take regarding her health, adding a touching note that read simply, “She fought so hard.”
It’s important to note that Serena Williams has also faced her own fibroid challenges, having been diagnosed with the condition in 2016. Since then, she has navigated through painful treatments and ongoing health issues linked to it.
