Venus Williams says despite squandering a 3-0 third-set lead, she isn’t discouraged by her loss to Ekaterina Makarova in the Australian Open first round. While the seven-time Grand Slam champion said she was disappointed, Williams believes her form will eventually return—if she can stay healthy enough to play consistently.
Williams, who reached the Auckland final earlier this month, only played 11 tournaments in 2013. She has been battling Sjogren's Syndrome in recent years. The 33-year-old American has been playing full time on tour for 17 years.
“I do play points really well and then sometimes I don't put them together as well,” Williams said. “I feel like I have to be patient with myself, because I really haven't had a chance to play that consistently. So I think I just have to be patient and keep going and just wait for it to keep coming together more and more.”