Venus Williams has defended her decision to continue playing tennis despite her difficult run of results, insisting that she has earned the right to determine when her career will come to an end. Following her defeat in Guangzhou, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion addressed questions about her future, explaining why her current perspective on tennis is different from the one she had earlier in her career.
Williams acknowledged that her 0-16 record is far from ideal but argued that the numbers do not reflect the full picture. Having dealt with health problems that affected her ability to train and compete on her own terms, the American explained why being back on court and playing relatively pain-free means so much to her.
During her post-match press conference, Williams also pushed back against the expectation that athletes should retire once they reach a certain age or their results decline. The remarks were shared on X by Venus & CoCo Fandom, which posted the transcript of her comments.
The former world No. 1 made it clear that she has no retirement date in mind. While she cannot say whether she will still be playing in six months, a year or two years, she remains motivated to compete and believes the decision should ultimately be hers.
“I’ve earned the right to decide how it ends”
Williams did not deny the significance of her recent results, acknowledging that her current record is not what she would want as a competitor. However, she urged people to consider the circumstances behind her return to the court, particularly the health issues that have affected her career.
“Well, obviously, 0–16 isn't ideal. I'm a competitor. I've been a competitor my entire life, and nobody likes losing, certainly not me. But I think sometimes people look at results and forget that there's a much bigger picture.
“For years, I was dealing with health issues, including Sjögren's syndrome and fibroids, and there were long periods when I couldn't play tennis on my own terms," the former world No. 1 added. "My body was making decisions for me. Illness was dictating what I could do, when I could train, when I could compete, and sometimes whether I could even get out on the court.
“So now, to be in a position where I can play relatively pain-free, where I can travel, practise, compete and enjoy being out there, that's something I don't take for granted. Maybe other people don't understand that, but I do.”
Williams also pointed to the achievements that have defined her career, making it clear that she does not need to add another victory to validate what she has already accomplished. Although winning remains a priority, she explained that her reasons for continuing to play have evolved over time.
“I know what winning feels like. I've won seven Grand Slam singles titles. I've been world number one. I've won Olympic gold medals. I've experienced things in this sport that I could only have dreamed about as a little girl. I don't need another victory to validate any of that.
“Of course I'd love to win matches. Of course I'm working to win matches. But my happiness and my reasons for playing tennis today aren't necessarily the same as they were when I was 20 years old. And that's okay. Life changes. Priorities change.
“So when the day comes that I no longer enjoy it, or I no longer feel I can give what I want to give, I'll be the first person to know. And I'll walk away on my own terms, with a smile on my face.”
The American then made her position on retirement explicit, arguing that her career and the challenges she has overcome entitle her to make that decision without having to justify it to others.
“And I think, after everything I've given to tennis over the course of my career, everything I've achieved and everything I've had to overcome, I've earned the right to make that decision for myself. I don't think I need to justify that to anybody.
“For a very long time, illness controlled my body. It controlled my schedule, my opportunities and, to a certain extent, my dreams. There were times when the choice to play tennis was taken away from me. Now I have that choice back," the 7-time Grand Slam champion added. “And I'm not going to surrender it simply because somebody thinks I should retire, or because a number next to my name doesn't look particularly good.”
“I certainly don't have a date circled on the calendar”: Williams explains why she continues
Williams also challenged the idea that age or declining results should automatically determine when an athlete's career ends. She described herself as someone who has never followed other people's expectations and insisted that she remains happy with her life on tour.
“I think people sometimes get too caught up in what an athlete is supposed to do, or when they're supposed to stop. There's this expectation that you reach a certain age, or your results change, and suddenly everyone else gets to decide that your time is over.
“Well, I've never really followed the crowd, have I? I've never lived my life according to what other people expected of me. I've always been my own person, I've always had my own mind, and I believe everyone is entitled to their own journey."
“Will I still be playing in six months? A year? Two years? Who knows? I certainly don't have a date circled on the calendar. But right now, I'm happy. I'm enjoying being on the court, I'm enjoying the work with my team, and physically I'm in a place where I can do that. So while I feel this way, I'll continue.”
For Williams, the enjoyment of competing extends beyond the results themselves. She spoke about the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new people, play doubles with different partners and continue improving alongside her team.
“I still love this game. I love seeing the fans, catching up with people I've known for years, meeting new people, and getting to play doubles with different partners. I enjoy working with my team and trying to improve. There are still things I want to work on, still challenges I enjoy.
“And look, it's my life, my game and my job. Do I need to be out there? No, of course not. I've been fortunate enough to have a career where I don't need to play another tennis match. I'm very aware of that.
“But if me playing gives fans another opportunity to watch me, if it brings spectators into the stands, if I get to visit new places or return to places I love, and tournaments are still happy to have me, then why shouldn't I continue? I'm happy doing what I'm doing.”
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Williams concluded by reiterating that she intends to keep competing for as long as she feels able to do so and continues to enjoy the sport, leaving the timing of her retirement entirely in her own hands.
“But until then, I'm going to keep showing up, keep working, keep enjoying this incredible sport, and hopefully keep giving people a reason to come out and watch. Because at the end of the day, this is my journey. And I think I've earned the right to decide how it ends.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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