‘I Felt like Everything Slipped Away from Me’: Venus Williams Disappointed after Wimbledon Exit

Venus Williams' Wimbledon defeat left her frustrated. The five-time Wimbledon singles champion took to her Instagram to share an emotional post detailing what happened.

At the age of 43, Venus Williams, a legendary figure in tennis with five Wimbledon singles titles and a nine-time finalist, returned to Centre Court on Monday intending to become one of the oldest women to win a main draw singles match at the prestigious Grand Slam tournament.

Unfortunately, the day did not unfold as she had hoped; instead, it left her limping. Furthermore, Venus exacerbated an existing knee injury early in the match.

As a result, the tennis legend fell short in her endeavor, enduring a stroke of bad luck with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

In a press briefing, Venus Williams explained the match's events, expressing uncertainty about what transpired. She elaborated on experiencing physical pain, making it challenging to maintain focus and concentration during the game. Venus also shared an emotional post on Instagram, explaining her disappointment. A section of her post read:

"I felt like everything slipped away from me so quickly, and I was disappointed that I wasn't stronger to pull out the match despite the circumstances."

Towards the end of the post, Venus sounded optimistic and acknowledged the ups and downs of life, noting that defeat is a natural part of the journey.

Venus' injury had a ripple effect not only on herself but also on her opponent, Elina. She told the media that she felt a sense of relief when she saw Venus stand up on her own after sustaining a knee injury during the first-round match.

Previously, Venus has faced situations where she had to withdraw from tournaments due to various injuries. In 2010, CNN reported that Venus and her sister Serena Williams dropped out from the Cincinnati hardcourt event, with Venus specifically citing a knee injury as the reason for her withdrawal.

Similarly, in 2011, Venus was reportedly compelled to withdraw from a tennis tournament in Melbourne after sustaining a hip flexor muscle injury in the initial round. In January 2023, Venus Williams faced another setback in her career as she had to withdraw from the 111th Australian Open tournament.

The tournament organizers took to Twitter to announce the news, revealing that Venus was compelled to withdraw due to an injury she sustained while participating in the ASB Classic in New Zealand.

In March, Venus Williams provided an update on her injury and recovery journey through a video on her YouTube channel. She introduced her longtime physical therapist, Kerie Brooks, whom she has worked with since 2000.

Venus expressed gratitude for Kerie's unwavering support and mentioned how Kerie has always been by her side during periods of significant injury.

In 2011, Venus was forced to drop out of the U.S. Open after suffering from Sjogren's syndrome. The disease has several symptoms, such as a discomforting sensation in the eyes and mouth. Additionally, individuals with Sjögren's syndrome may experience fatigue or tiredness.

Despite encountering numerous challenges throughout her career, Venus has undeniably left a remarkable legacy in tennis. However, considering her ongoing physical injury and its impact on her ability to compete, Venus is reportedly contemplating her future in the sport.

She may announce her retirement; however, her decision will be influenced by her assessment of her physical condition and its implications on her continued participation in professional tennis.

Meanwhile, her sister Serena has bid her farewell and admitted she's evolving away from tennis to focus on family. Serena is a mom of one and is now expecting her second child with her husband, Alexis Ohanian.