Fire. And on the other hand: how can you not put her in after 7 Slam wins in singles, 14 in doubles, 49 WTA titles and 5 Olympic medals (and 4 gold). And that’s the truth that still burns inside Venus Williams, even as she sits in an armchair at the Four Seasons in Prague, intent on eating fruit skewers in a distracted mood. Just one question and it’s on. Venus is the 2026 Pirelli Cal flame designed by Sølve Sundsbø, and most importantly, she is still a women’s tennis icon who longs for the times when, with Serena, she ruled the circuit. They have become a myth, a film and now both are also a calendar photo: “But don’t ask yourself which is the best between his and mine,” he said amused -: you must be wrong. She was still the suddenly animated, laughing, exuberant girl with spontaneous movements that were almost out of bounds for a successful 45-year-old man. And he certainly resembled the man who, at seventeen, reached the finals at UsOpen, the first step of a larger project designed by his father Richard. He has overcome mountains of exercise, he has learned to live with the pain caused by Sjögren’s syndrome, he always gets up “even when I want to stay lying down and without strength”. She’s still as beautiful as Venus, and she’s also a bit Italian after marrying Andrea Preti. Most importantly, he is still a tennis player.
Venus is always on
“Of course: I always remain competitive, with myself and with others. Every day I fight, sometimes I feel like I’m fighting for my life too. If it’s fire, then it’s really me.”
Posing on set: how complicated is it?
“My motto is: we don’t ask for fewer challenges, we ask for more ability to overcome them. That’s why I want to try to cross the line, overcoming every obstacle is like reaching the pinnacle of life. And I couldn’t ask for anything better: I reached the Pinnacle, after winning Wimbledon there was only the Calendar.”
“You have to be mentally strong”: has tennis taught you this?
“The general point is that life often presents difficulties that we have to respond to. Tennis provides a good method: it helps you to be prepared in your mind, but the most important thing is to prepare yourself for a long time before entering the court.”
Emotions are deceptive.
“Always: emotions do not guide performance. I always try to keep them out of sport. You have to stay focused, prepared and confident that you have done everything the right way to win.”
Here’s the secret. But does it really work for everyone?
“Real strength begins before the game. Preparation is a discipline built over time, not in action. Cultivating the mind and endurance is as important as hitting the ball.”
By the way: how sexy is hitting the ball?
“Sensual? Nothing: you just have to pull it as hard as you can.”
Has the tennis fire gone?
“Absolutely not. I know, it’s crazy, but it’s exciting: I’ll be back playing in January, with the season starting in New Zealand.”
The question that arises spontaneously: why?
“Every experience leaves memories and lessons. I continue to live the spirit that unites people from all over the world: this makes me a better person.”
As an Italian: thoughts on Sinner?
“Wow, he really is on fire: he will continue to perform for at least a decade. It’s exciting to see how much he is followed in Italy, and I hope he continues to help the growth of tennis. This sport deserves it and you deserve it too. And now I can say: I deserve it too…”.
Venus and Italy for
Always
“I love Italy because it is synonymous with ice cream, pizza, pasta and kind people. If you don’t like these things, this is not the right place for you. But for me it is the home of tennis and great emotions.”
