Venus: "I don't have to prove anything to anyone, I am here for myself"

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One can never doubt legends, I am more convinced of this every time. Who could have bet on this return of Venus Williams at 45 years old? After being out of competition for 16 months, the American set her sights on being in good shape and competitive come the summer of 2025. And voilà: a doubles victory yesterday, followed by a singles victory today. A monstrously impressive feat for a woman who remains deeply in love with this sport, unable to let it go, and something we can only celebrate. After defeating Peyton Stearns in straight sets at the WTA 500 in Washington – a player 22 years her junior and currently in the top 35 worldwide – these were the words of the seven-time Grand Slam champion.

"This was just the first step, but I must admit that the first match is always extremely challenging. It's hard to explain to people how tough it can be to play your first match after such a long break. When I step onto the court, for example, I know I have the ability to win, but then you have to do it. Without a doubt, this is the best possible result I could have hoped for; I played well and on top of that, I won. I'm here with my friends, my family, the people I love, and all these fans. It's been a beautiful night that I won't forget," expressed the Californian, grateful for having received a wildcard to play in the main draw.

And what about the passion that Venus exudes? The dedication she continues to show on the court, fighting for every point. "In this sport, there are no limits to excellence, it's only about what you have in your mind and how much you're willing to sacrifice to achieve it," she emphasized in a press conference, happier than she has been in a long time. "If you work on the physical, mental, and emotional fronts, then you can achieve the result you desire. No matter how many times you've fallen, no matter how many times you've been sick or suffered an injury, anything like that. If you keep believing in the process and working on your skills, there will always be an opportunity waiting around the corner. There will always be a place for you," the American asserted.

A PARAGRAPH TO FRAME

Of all the questions asked, many of which were friendly and more anecdotal, the one that resonated most at the press conference was the following. A moment where they inquire why she's doing this, or rather, for whom. As if Venus Williams, who has been a professional athlete since 1994, needed a special reason to train and return to competition. Regardless of your age, according to her, everything revolves around the confidence you have and how much you desire to achieve a goal. What others say is irrelevant.

"I'm not here to prove anything to anyone; if I've returned, it's solely for myself, so I have nothing to prove," the champion asserted without hesitation. "I'm here for me because I want to be here. Wanting to prove something, or making someone see that they're wrong, never gave me a victory in my career, nor a defeat. No one is going to work in my place; it’s me who takes care of that, so I don't care what others say because that won't stop the work I'm doing right now. No one will break my faith, even if there are people saying incredible things about me, that also won't help me win matches. I try to focus on myself and nothing else," concluded the legend from Lynwood.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Venus: “No tengo que demostrarle nada a nadie, estoy aquí por mí”