The 6-foot-1-inch American said she has received standard medical treatment and has worked out hard on the court and in the gym in preparation for her comeback.
“I’m feeling better every week,’’ the 31-year-old star and older sister of Fed Cup teammate Serena Williams said at a press conference Wednesday. “I’m feeling this week the best I’ve ever felt.
“It’s definitely difficult not being on the court, especially when there’s not much to be done about it, when it’s completely out of my control.’’
Williams said she was frustrated by her inability to help the team in Stuttgart last April when the US team was swept, 5-0, by Germany.
“It is good to be here, especially since last year I couldn’t play,’’ she said. “In Germany, I was standing on the sidelines, which was tough because I couldn’t help the team at all. This year it’s great being in a position to help.’’
It is unclear whom Williams will match up against on the Belarus side. Under the Fed Cup format, US captain Mary Joe Fernandez will announce the final draw today.
Though Venus is ranked 133d in the world, her status as a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Olympic gold medalist, and holder of 21 total Grand Slam titles essentially makes her the US team’s No. 2 player after Serena, even though 19-year-old Christina McHale is ranked higher at 36. So is Sloane Stephens, 18, the team’s fifth, or practice team player, who is world No. 86.
If Fernandez taps Venus for tomorrow’s opening-day match as the US No. 2 versus the Belarus No. 1, she would go up against Azarenka - a contest tennis fans will drool over.
It is also uncertain at this juncture who would play doubles for the US team, which boasts the world’s top-ranked doubles player, Liezel Huber, but also the one of the winningest doubles teams in women’s tennis history: the Williams sisters.
In any case, Venus had respectful words for Azarenka, even though she didn’t watch much of the Belarusian superstar’s lopsided win over Maria Sharapova in the recent Australian Open final, which elevated Azarenka from No. 3 to the top slot - the first time that feat has been pulled off.
“I stay up late for Serena’s matches, but I don’t stay up as late for everyone else’s,’’ she said. “But she won that final. That’s a huge plus for her, a wonderful achievement that everybody aspires for.
“For us as a team, we definitely have to know she’s coming in well and be ready to combat each and every shot she hits.’’
Among her many accomplishments, Venus is also well-known for designing her own (sometimes vaguely scandalous) tennis outfits.
She’ll be wearing one this weekend.
But don’t expect a shocker.
“They’re always my own,’’ she told a reporter. “But this will be just the blue and gray - team colors. Nothing crazy.’’
