"I figure if I want to stay fit, I’ve got to keep playing" - Passion for tennis still there for Venus Williams ahead of return to ASB Classic

Venus Williams is continuing her comeback to tennis in New Zealand at the ASB Classic, where she will involved in both the singles and doubles. The seven time Grand Slam champion states that she still feels the joy of stepping out on court, shown by her travelling halfway across the globe to compete.

The American began her return to tennis back at the start of the North American hardcourt swing at the DC Open. Her return was met with a lot of excitement, but also concern about her ability on the court. These murmurings were instantly put to bed when the 45-year-old won her opening round ties in both the singles and doubles.

After exiting from the event, she stayed in her native USA to compete in the Cincinnati Open and make a historic return to the US Open, losing in the first round of the singles but making it through to the quarter-finals with former finalist Leylah Fernandez. She became the women with the most appearances at the US Open, racking her tally up to 22 after it looked like it was set in stone at 21.

It seems that it was not just a short comeback, but a more prolonged one. Williams will compete alongside a competitive field in the ASB Classic, hoping to get some more wins on the board. Her opening round opponent is no slouch, with Magda Linette standing in her way of a second round appearance.

Speaking ahead of the event in New Zealand, Williams shares her burning passion for the sport. “I think one of my goals is to be joyful and just embrace being uncomfortable because that’s the things champions can do," she said. “I definitely don’t wake up and come halfway across the world, or more than halfway, to not be feeling the fire. And, well, tennis burns a lot of calories. It gives you great legs. I figure if I want to stay fit, I’ve got to keep playing."

Despite all she has achieved in the sport, Williams feels like one of the least experienced players in the draw due to a lack of time on the court in recent times. “It’s interesting because I have so much experience, but I’ve probably played the least amount as any other player in this draw," she remarked. “So I have a lot to pull out but I also have to come out of the gates playing quickly. The good news is that, you know, tennis matches are long and you have a chance to figure things out.”

In the doubles, Williams will be sharing her side of the court with Elina Svitolina. The pair have been rivals on the court, locking horns five times in the past. Williams won the first encounter back in the 2015 Rome Open but since then the Ukrainian has come out victorious in all their matchups, with the most recent coming in the 2023 Wimbledon first round.

"We’ve always been opponents, but finally we’re on the same team, and I hope Serena won’t be jealous," Williams told ASB Classic. "If there’s one thing she’s going to do, it’s compete. Neither of us plays doubles every day, but I think we’ll both bring our singles games together and make it work."

Svitolina was also excited and raring to go with Williams. "It’s great to share a court with her, and to play with such a legend is a big privilege for me," she stated. "I’ll try to do my very best tomorrow to give everything for the win."

It will be experience versus youth on January 5, with Williams and Svitolina set to come against Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic. Their ages combined is still younger than Williams, showing the longevity she has showcased in the sport. Following her venture in New Zealand, she will traverse to Tasmania to compete in the Hobart International ahead of making a return to the Australian Open.