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Venus Williams' return to professional tennis at age 45 came with an unexpected and candid reason, health insurance. During an interview at the DC Open, where she made her comeback to singles play after a 16-month break, the tennis legend joked about what motivated her return.
Speaking with interviewer Rennae Stubbs, Williams explained, "I had to come back for the insurance, they informed me earlier this year, I'm on COBRA. So that's like, I got to get my benefits on. Started training." The lighthearted moment drew laughter from the audience.
Stubbs confirmed the truth behind the comment, saying, "She's actually not lying about that, cause we talked about that six years ago. Insurance is hard." Williams responded with more humor, adding, "You guys know what it's like. Let me tell you, I'm always at the doctor so I need this insurance."
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and 14-time Grand Slam doubles winner has long been open about her health. Earlier this month, she shared in an NBC News interview that she has been dealing with fibroids, which once left her lying on the floor in the locker room before a major match.
Williams originally believed her symptoms were linked to Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes fatigue and joint pain. She was diagnosed with the condition in 2011. "I live with an autoimmune disease. So I thought maybe it was autoimmune anemia or something like that," she explained. "But really it was what I was dealing with inside, which was fibroids."
After initially being dismissed by medical professionals, Williams sought out another opinion. "You can be denied the best health care no matter who you are," she said. "And you have to be your own advocate. Hopefully someone will see this interview and say, 'I can get help. I don't have to live this way.'"
Despite her health battles, Williams expressed contentment in her personal life. She recently confirmed her engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti. "I've been taking this time to rest and recover and live my life and be, you know, a happy person without fibroids," she said, reflecting on a more balanced phase of her life.