• WTA Tour

Williams sisters are still the best - Venus

Venus and Serena Williams will be gunning for glory at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: I was on my deathbed - Serena Williams
  
• News: Venus makes winning return at Eastbourne
  
• News: Serena to make return to action at Eastbourne
  
• Profile: Venus Williams | Serena Williams

Venus Williams has warned the elite of the women's game that she and sister Serena are still capable of 'playing great tennis'.

The siblings, who have won 20 grand slam singles titles between them, return to competitive action at Eastbourne this week following lengthy absences due to illness and injury.

A week after winning her fourth Wimbledon crown last year, Serena suffered a cut on her foot while leaving a restaurant and, consequently, required surgery. The 29-year-old then endured further distress when she was admitted to hospital in March with a potentially life-threatening blood clot in a lung.

Serena's pulmonary embolism stunned the Williams family and Venus admits tennis has now become of secondary importance.

"For us, our life is so healthy that maybe we took it for granted a little," she told the Daily Telegraph. "Especially Serena. She never could have foreseen the issues that she went through. So definitely that's the priority, first take care of the health, then tennis is after that."

Venus, meanwhile, has been left frustrated too - the elder sibling has not played since picking up a hip injury at the Australian Open in January. With both sisters inactive for so long, they have seen their rankings fall considerably, Serena is down to 25 while Venus is No. 32.

"When we started getting injuries, we were No. 1 and No. 2 in the world," said Venus. "To drop from that and it be completely out of your control, it's not always easy.

"We were in the same boat, dealing with injuries that were completely out of our control, in situations we would choose to be out of."

With Wimbledon starting on June 20, time is running out for the pair to prove their fitness, but Venus is adamant they have nothing to fear ahead of this week's AEGON International.

"I don't know who is in better condition," she said. "All I know is that thankfully we're healthy enough to be back.

"I have nothing to prove on the tennis court. But I know I have a lot left to give, so I couldn't in good conscience not come back when I have that feeling in my heart that I can still play great tennis."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.