Venus Williams has once again drawn attention not just for her tennis, but for her enduring battle with health — particularly a rare autoimmune disorder — as she readies herself for the U.S. Open. Her openness offers a window into how elite athletes cope with chronic illness while pursuing high-level competition.
A Decade-Long Struggle with Sjögren’s Syndrome
Williams was first diagnosed in 2011 with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks moisture-producing glands. Common symptoms include chronic fatigue, joint pain, dry eyes, and dry mouth.
Before the diagnosis, she endured years of unexplained exhaustion and diminished stamina. “No matter how hard I worked, I was exhausted … It was really frustrating,” she told Prevention magazine. Her symptoms gradually worsened, to the point where continuing to compete at a high level became a daily challenge.
When the diagnosis finally came, it offered both relief and a new reality. “I finally know what’s happening after spending years not knowing,” she said after withdrawing from a U.S. Open match in 2011. Still, there is no cure for Sjögren’s — only symptom management through medication, lifestyle adjustments, and self‑care.
Williams has described Sjögren’s not as a disability but as a “challenge” she must learn to navigate. Over time, she’s adopted strategies like prioritizing rest, careful scheduling of tournaments, stronger emphasis on nutrition, and working with health professionals to keep flare-ups in check.
A Hidden Twist: Fibroids and Additional Health Battles
More recently, Williams revealed another layer to her medical challenges: a prolonged struggle with uterine fibroids, which are benign tumors in the uterus. Before she fully understood their cause, she sometimes mistook symptoms for her autoimmune disease.
She shared a harrowing anecdote of collapsing in a locker room prior to a Wimbledon match, “laying on the floor … hugging the toilet,” due to the pain. For years, her complaints were dismissed or misunderstood by health professionals, who sometimes attributed the pain to aging or even recommended a hysterectomy. She eventually underwent a myomectomy (surgical removal of the fibroids), preserving her uterus.
The revelation underscored a difficult truth: many women’s health issues are underdiagnosed or misattributed, even for someone as high-profile as Williams.
Preparing for the U.S. Open: Resilience, Reality & Hope
As Williams geared up for the U.S. Open, her mindset was grounded in realism. She spoke transparently about how energy and recovery dictate how much she can push her body. Even if she doesn’t regain the performance of her prime years, being able to compete pain-free is already a victory.
Her recent return to Grand Slam tennis — after a long hiatus — was about more than wins and losses. She hoped simply to do so “pain‑free and healthy.” The emotional weight of that return was evident: during her first-round match in 2025, she was met with a standing ovation, underscoring how much the tennis community respects her journey.
Williams has also intimated that she may limit international travel going forward, preferring tournaments in the U.S. to reduce strain.
The Larger Message: Advocacy & Empathy
By speaking candidly about her health, Venus Williams is playing a different kind of match — one that advocates for awareness and compassion. She has urged women to push for diagnoses, get second opinions, and not settle when symptoms are dismissed. She also pointed out that she resumed her tennis career partly to maintain health insurance, shining light on how access to care affects even elite athletes.
Her story resonates well beyond the baseline. It is a reminder that behind every athlete’s performance lies a human being with vulnerabilities, demands, and health battles known and unknown. The fact that Venus continues to show up at the Grand Slams — in spite of chronic illness — is itself a testament to her perseverance and love of the sport.
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