By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 6 2023

At her best, Venus Williams delivers explosive shotmaking with stunning frequency.

During a recent rehab session, the former world No. 1 experienced the shock of physical limitation.

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Trying to do a lunge, the four-time Olympic gold-medal champion couldn't fully finish the basic stretch.

"[As] a professional athlete you're supposed to be able to do anything and so when you actually can't it's shocking," Williams said. "So I'll get over the shock and keep working hard."

In a new video she posted today on her official YouTube Channel, Venus Williams offers a behind-the-scenes look at her ongoing rehab from a torn hamstring muscle.



Venus has been working with physical therapist and family friend Kerrie Brooks, who has treated both Venus and Serena Williams for the past 23 years, in her rehab.

"We've worked through some really tough injuries; this one's actually a tough injury," Venus said. "Hamstrings are always challenging and the fact that I had a significant tear in it is gonna be a long way, it's gonna be a lot of work."

Nicknamed "The Fixer" by the Williams sisters for her skill helping them recover from injury, Brooks said Venus is working through about a 12-week hamstring rehab. Brooks focuses first on strengthening the muscles around Williams' hamstring before actually strengthening the hamstring muscle itself.

"We're working on trying to build up her core strength, her glute strength and her hip mobility and ultimately the hamstring muscle as well," Brooks said. "A lot of times you don't start right out of the gate with hamstring strengthening, you kind of work the whole body around the injury.

"She's done really well....it's a tough injury to recovery from, but she'll do it. It's a 12-week process to fully return to sport so you're getting in the last bit of it you're almost there."

The 42-year-old Williams defeated compatriot Katie Volynets 7-6(4), 6-2 for her first Tour-level win in more than a year at the ASB Classic in Auckland in January. Williams suffered a the torn hamstring injury in her second-round Auckland loss to Lin Zhu that forced her to withdraw from the 2023 Australian Open.

In a Tennis Channel conference call with the media last month, former world No. 1 and TC analyst Lindsay Davenport said she believes if healthy Williams will aim to play a very limited schedule in her 30th WTA season focusing on the majors.

"I am continually amazed and impressed that I believe at 42 she still is out there giving it her all and doing her best," Davenport told Tennis Now of Venus. "I think we'll see her for a handful of tournaments this year. I don't think that anyone could expect her to play obviously a full schedule or anywhere near that. She's dealt with a lot of injuries, a lot of health issues over the years.

"But her attitude is remarkable, and her fighting spirit, you always see it on the court, even if things are not going her way."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve