Quotes from Venus Williams

Retiring is the easy way out.

I'm always in search for perfection. If it's not perfect, I'm back to the drawing board.

One who is persistent will excel.

Rain is good for me. I feel like I achieve clarity actually when it rains. The longer I have to sit and wait, the clearer my game becomes to me.

For me, being part of the WTA tour is a privilege. Every day I wake up, it's a privilege to be able to go outside and do what I love. It's a privilege to be able to make my own hours, even though they're long, but I make them.

I've learned you can always achieve more than you thought you could. There are moments when I've walked off the court, and I'm like, 'I don't know how I won that match.' It was actually impossible, but it happened, and then you realize that you can push yourself much further than you ever thought, and you can make the impossible happen.

A lot of times when you play... you get this adrenalin that blocks pain.

If the sun comes up, I have a chance.

Early in the morning, it's super tough for me to eat right away, but I still need energy for practice. I try to start out with a protein smoothie, a green juice, or some sort of fruit.

I think I've been fortunate to be at the top of the game and in the media for years, and a lot of times, people want to be your friend when you're on the top. You know, there have been times when I've been injured and I never got a phone call. So that's the way it is.

No TV, no acting for me. I'm kind of a more behind-the-scenes kind of woman even though what I do is very public. I'm really low-key and I don't need to be the center of attention.

Life's a challenge, but that's the best part.

Ruth's Chris is my favorite restaurant, and I always order the rib eye, medium-rare.

Athletes, like everyone else, at times take supplements but just have to consult your doctors and work on that. It's a process, but it's achievable... It's my job to be healthy.

I don't carry a purse when I fly because I have my Hello Kitty carry-on. I'm the biggest adult supporter.

One thing I've done is surround myself with people who are as good as me or better.

You learn so much from your parents. We grew up in a home where we were definitely taught to be confident. I definitely give me parents a lot of credit.

I'm a collaborator. I know I don't know everything. I don't want to know everything.

Everyone makes their own comments. That's how rumors get started.

If I don't wear something I feel confident in, I don't play as well.

I have been recently diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain.

All those lessons that I've learned on the court, I have applied them to my life outside of the court in business, my company, called V Starr interiors, an interior design company, and EleVen, which I wear on court.

Self-doubt is real. Everyone has it. Having confidence and losing confidence is real, too, and everyone has been in that position.

You can never get complacent because a loss is always around the corner.