‘I Was in Pain’ — Venus Williams Reveals Watching Serena Williams’ Wimbledon Final Amid Undiagnosed Medical Condition

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and former World No. 1 has shared details of her painful struggle with an undiagnosed health condition in a recent interview with Marie Claire.

Venus Williams Revealed She Suffered Immensely During Wimbledon Match Featuring Sister Serena Williams

Williams has disclosed that she was in immense pain with undiagnosed uterine fibroids as she watched her younger sister Serena compete against Angelique Kerber at the Wimbledon final in 2016.

Williams shared her state of mind amid the pain as her younger sister battled Kerber on Centre Court.

The 45-year-old American told the magazine, “I was so out of it. I just remember I was in so much pain, I couldn’t eat anything. I kept taking more and more Tylenol, Advil, whatever I could get. And it was not working, not working, not working.”

“And then all of a sudden, everybody stood up. And I didn’t realise; I was just hanging in there until I was, like, wait! Is it your match point?”

Serena Williams defeated Kerber 7–5, 6–3 in the final to win the ladies’ singles title at Wimbledon while her sister lost to the German in the semifinals  Venus Williams struggled with uterine fibroids, noncancerous tumors in the uterus, which caused her significant pain, heavy bleeding, and fatigue for years.

She was ultimately diagnosed and underwent surgery in 2024, which she is still recovering from. The American has said that the surgery took her “out of the game.”

Williams also suffers from Sjögren syndrome (or Sjogren syndrome), an autoimmune condition that causes fatigue, chronic pain, and extensive dryness throughout the body.

Venus Williams Made A Return to Tennis at Washington DC

Williams recently accepted a wildcard to compete at the Mubadala Citi Open in Washington D.C, more than a year after competing in her last event at the 2024 Miami open.

The American did not disappoint in her highly anticipated comeback match, shocking her her compatriot Peyton Stearns with a score of 6-3, 6-4. With the win, Williams became the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004. However, she fell in straight sets to Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in the second round of the tournament.

Williams has also received a wildcard to compete at the revamped mixed doubles event at the US Open, where she will pair up with Reilly Opelka. She has also been awarded a wildcard entry for the upcoming Cincinnati Open.