Former world number one Venus Williams said that despite the fact that she’s coping with the Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune condition in which she was diagnosed back in 2011, and the rigours of professional tennis, she’s still motivate to win more Grand Slam titles in her career.
The 33-year old American is slated to compete this week at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand to start her 2014 campaign.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Williams said. “There is no manual on how to be a professional athlete with an autoimmune disease. It is something that I have tried to make into a positive in my life. It’s kept me going. I’ve been through this and never gave up so obviously I want to keep going.”
Williams’ last Grand Slam final appearance was at the 2009 Wimbledon where she lost to younger sister Serena.
“I have some goals but for me it is about playing well [and] every match leads to the next match,” she said. “In my career, a lot of the losses have been important too because I learned a lot from those losses and they made me better. So, yeah, I want to win majors and I might have some losses but I will learn and it builds character.”
