Tennis: Wimbledon appearance could be last for Venus

As the defending champion going into her 10th Wimbledon, Venus Williams will hardly need an extra incentive when the 2006 Championships start on Tuesday NZ time.

However, the fact that this might be her last appearance could make the next fortnight more special than ever.

Williams arrived in London on Wednesday without her sister, Serena, who is missing Wimbledon for the first time since 1999.

Serena has not played since her third-round defeat at the Australian Open in January, when she was clearly out of condition.

She cited a knee injury when withdrawing from Wimbledon and, although she has been back at Nick Bollettieri's Florida academy recently, there has been increasing speculation that she will never play again.

Venus revealed at Wimbledon yesterday: "I'm going to retire when Serena retires. I don't want to ride solo without her."

She said the sisters had not discussed retirement - "We don't have a pact" - but said she believed Serena "will probably feel that way, too".

Venus added: "Not having her on tour is so sad. It's OK when she's out injured, but if I know she's retired then I would be really sad."

When asked what she likes to do away from Wimbledon, Venus underlined how much she will miss her sister.

"I usually sneak into London. Serena is always going there so I'll hitch a ride with her. Normally I do a lot more when Serena's here.

"Now I probably won't do anything. Read a book..."

Venus herself has played only three tournaments since January, but reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open has encouraged her as she seeks to repeat her remarkable performance last year, when she beat Lindsay Davenport in the final to become the lowest seed (No 14) ever to win the Wimbledon title.

"I'm feeling really positive," she said. "I can't wait for the tournament to start."

Had she watched a video of her third Wimbledon triumph?

"I think I watched it the next day. I watched it again later that summer. There was a tape at Serena's place.

"There was one point in the third set - I think I was 2-4 and 15-40 down - where I hadn't actually realised during the match that I was down that far.

When I saw the tape I thought: 'Oh my God, whooah!' And at the end I had to turn off the celebration. I thought: 'That was too much, Venus.' I was very embarrassed. I was so silly."

As a present to herself after last year's victory Venus bought two guitars, an electric Gibson ES - on which she has been playing songs by the Beatles, Bob Marley and the Police - and an acoustic Martin.

It was her 26th birthday last week, but she did not celebrate in style.

"I just lay on the couch, watched TV, took a nap and went to the mall," she said.

- INDEPENDENT