Venus Williams confirms tear in harmstring after ASB Classic injury which halted comeback: “I knew that it was going to be bad”
WTA
Venus Williams
was defeated by Lin Zhu in the round of 16 of the ASB Classic, and now she opened about her physical problems on her
YouTube channel.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion started her 2023
season in Australia on a positive note, seeing her win the first round against
Katie Volynets. It wasn't a small achievement, the eldest of the Williams sisters
only played 4 singles matches in 2022 (0-4 record), and with the retirement of
her younger sister Serena Williams last year, it seemed inevitable that Venus
would follow her decision.
The former World. No 1 faced the Chinese Lin Zhu in
the round of 16, and in a three-set battle, the American suffered a harmstring
injury. Three days later she was to confirm that she would have to be withdrawn
from the Australian Open due to an injury she didn’t specify. The 42-year-old
shared a video in which she gave details of what happened:
"In the third set,
I managed to hurt my leg. I'm running, I'm running, I'm running and then I feel
this pop, and I'm like 'Oh no'. I didn't have enough time to think whether or
not it was a good thing or bad thing but maybe I thought it was bad, and I guess
my coach and physio were telling me, 'Call the trainer'."
"But I've hurt my
hamstring enough to know that there's nothing to be done once you hurt it,
like, either you keep playing or don't, but there's nothing you can do", also
she declared: "I knew that it was going to be a bad injury.”
Williams also explained
that the conditions he had to live in Auckland due to the rain were one of the
"craziest circumstances" she has experienced in his 29-year career:
"I did not call
the trainer. I think I just panicked and threw up on myself the rest of the
match, like, I just had shots that I could hit winners. I unfortunately walked
off the court not a winner of that match and you know, about a seven or
eight-hour encounter which “really were the craziest circumstances I played in
in my long, long, long, long career.”
In addition, she
confessed that there is still a lack of time for her to return to the courts
and feel physically comfortable:
"I think my next
step is to get to to a place where I feel confident in my body again I
definitely need to build confidence in it again and I'll get there, god
willing. I'll take you guys on this journey with me, back to health, back to
tennis hopefully. Hopefully sooner than later, I don't know exactly when but
I'll let you know."
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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