Wimbledon 2017: Venus Williams rules out coaching after she eventually decides to hang up her racquet
Williams says she has little interest in coaching younger players
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Your support makes all the difference.Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams has ruled out a career in coaching after retiring from the sport, claiming that she “doesn’t need [tennis] in my life after this”.
It has become increasingly common for ex-professionals to move into the world of tennis coaching after retirement, with a number of the world’s top players joining up with familiar former stars in an attempt to improve their game.
Novak Djokovic has worked with both Boris Becker and Andre Agassi, John McEnroe briefly teamed up with Milos Raonic, while Roger Federer has worked with Stefan Edberg.
Andy Murray has meanwhile struck up a particularly successful partnership with eight-time grand slam champion Ivan Lendl and previously worked with former World No 1 Amélie Mauresmo.
On the WTA Tour, Agnieszka Radwanska has worked with Martina Navratilova and in 2015 Madison Keys was coached by three-time grand slam champion Lindsay Davenport on a part-time basis.
However Williams, who turned 37 last month, has ruled out making a move into coaching when she decides to call time on her professional career.
“No, I won’t,” she replied when asked if she would consider coaching a younger player. “I need a break from touring, rain delays, waiting on matches. I don't need that in my life after this. You guys can do that.
“There's always other chapters in your life. I definitely lived this chapter. I'm still living it and I love this game. So I think I'll have an opportunity not to miss it, I imagine.”
Williams was speaking after her third round victory over 19-year-old Naomi Osaka in the third round of Wimbledon.
Osaka had not even been born at the time Williams was making her Wimbledon debut, in 1997, but the veteran’s experience proved too much for the Japanese youngster on No 1 Court, with Williams winning 7-6(3) 6-4 in an hour and 25-minutes.
Williams is now one of the bookmakers’ favourites to win the tournament, although she insisted after her third win of the week that she was not getting carried away just yet.
“I just try to play the best I can,” she added.
“I’ve played three matches now, and had zero breathing room in any of them. My opponents played well, served well, competed well all moments. I've had to step it up. I imagine that's going to continue. All I can do is try to be my best.”
Should she win another Wimbledon title this year, on her 20th appearance at The Championships, Williams will become only the fourth woman in the Open Era to win 6 titles at SW19.
Navratilova, with nine titles, tops the list, followed by Steffi Graf and Serena Williams, both on seven.
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