By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, February 8, 2024

Venus Williams aims to make her return at Indian Wells next month. 

The former world No. 1's trademark brand, EleVen by Venus Williams, will be taking a break. 

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In an email to retailers, the four-time Olympic gold-medal champion announced she is pressing pause on her famed EleVen apparel brand.

The 43-year-old superstar said this is not the end of EleVen.

Williams said she's pressing pause on the brand to refine, retool and eventually return with an enhanced "overall brand experience."

"This pause is not a farewell, but a see you soon," Venus Williams wrote in the email.



The seven-time Grand Slam champion is not only the founder of EleVen, she's one of the brand's chief designers. 

"We've decided to temporarily pause our operations as we take a moment to refine our strategies and enhance the overall brand experience," Venus Williams wrote. "This decision wasn't easy, but it's a crucial step towards ensuring that we come back stronger and better than ever.

"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and loyalty to the EleVen brand. Your commitment means the world to us."

Though the EleVen brand will be clearing its remaining product from its warehouse, Venus Williams said she's not closing the curtain on EleVen.

"This pause is not a farewell but a see you soon,"  Venus Williams wrote. "We are dedicated to embodying our credo, "Be your best self," and this break will allow us to do just that....

"Your support has inspired me personally, and I’m excited to come back and continue the journey together."

Venus Williams earned her associate degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale on December 13, 2007, which was the same year she launched EleVen.

Though Eleven will soon be unavaible in retailers, presumably Venus will still wear her trademark brand when she returns to court next month. 

"One of my goals is to play in the United States,” Williams said in a recent YouTube post. “To play in the Miami Open, to play at Indian Wells – I have not played there since 2019, due to injuries, and it’s a long time.

“That is one of my big goals on the horizon, to be there and do that – amongst many other goals on the court. My little sister Serena told me I’m not allowed to quit. Of course I would never quit, but it’s the mandate, she said no. So I will be back on the court, and in the meantime, I just have to go back to rehab.”

Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport