Venus prepares for life without Serena

The elder of the two sisters, said that it would be a strange experience to open her title defence at Wimbledon this year without Serena by her side.

Venus Williams admitted on Sunday that it will be a strange experience when she opens her title defence at Wimbledon this year without sister Serena by her side.

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Serena is absent with a knee injury and has played just four matches since last year's US Open, three of them at the Australian Open in January.

In her absence Venus will be bidding for her fourth Wimbledon title.

Winner in 2000 and 2001 she had to settle for the runners-up spot behind Serena in 2002 and 2003 before claiming a third title last year at the expense of Lindsay Davenport.

As Serena's injuries have led to speculation that the 24-year-old will quit the game, Venus admitted that it would be hard to continue on the circuit if her younger sister did decide to call it a day.

"We haven't talked about it, but it's probably really tied," said Venus of their careers.

"It would be really sad (without her). I don't know. I think I'd have to be my own person obviously."

"I think I'd like it if we retired together. That would be cool. But it's not really in the frame right now," she added.

"It's just so much more fun, so much more jolly, so many more good times. We're a team," she exclaimed.