Venus Williams has cemented her place in tennis lore with a string of memorable performances throughout the years. She is a former WTA World No. 1 with seven grand slam victories to her name. Sadly, the player’s rise to the top was hampered by injuries, notably toward the end stages of her career.

The 42-year-old was also identified with the Sjogren syndrome, an autoimmune disorder in 2011. Recently, in an interview, Venus talked about the importance of mental health and the reasons for her investment in a mental health startup.

Venus Williams on mental health and happiness

After Serena Williams announced her retirement,  Venus spoke exclusively to E! News about their unbreakable friendship, mental health, and the reason for her million-dollar investment in a mental health start-up.

“It’s not something that comes by chance. You have to be intentional about it and you also have to be someone that people like being around too. I think that helps a lot.” said Venus.

She further went on to say that “Everyone definitely should make mental health a priority. If your mental health is not in a position that is allowing you to make you live your dreams and just live a regular life, then you aren’t able to be happy. Being happy is one of the most underrated feelings.“

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She has also mentioned her sister Serena and how the kind of bond they share with each other. Venus and Serena Williams share a great bond since their childhood days. After training together, they made their professional debuts just one year apart. Over the course of several years, the two of them established separate but parallel careers on the professional circuit.

Venus’ association with the start-up platform

Venus Williams has been working with the mental health start-up BetterHelp since 2021 as part of their continuous partnership. In addition, the 42-year-old isn’t the lone partner at the company. Other professional tennis players like Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz are also a part of this great platform.

A week back, the tennis great voiced her support for the initiative and said, “No one is immune to mental health challenges, regardless of our experience or how we appear to be doing on the outside.“

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She further emphasized the importance of having the mental fortitude to show up and put in the work, saying that tennis is much more than just a physical skill.