But she was just another tennis player, a star within her own sport yet largely unheralded outside it.

Then came a remarkable turn of events which changed all that.

Female tennis players had long been arguing for parity with the men in the prizemoney stakes and had largely made huge inroads across the board.

But not at Wimbledon, the much-lauded event sitting at the pinnacle of the sport.

Leading up to the Championships in 2006, Venus joined a number of top players to address the All England Tennis Club re raising the prizemoney for women.

The group was well received but the stoic club remained unbowed.

Venus took matters into her own hands.

She wrote an essay on the pay dispute for reputable London newspaper The Times.

It was not a rant, rather a measured, powerful portrayal of the influence of women in tennis and the necessity for equality across all levels.

“I feel so strongly that Wimbledon’s stance devalues the principle of meritocracy and diminishes the years of hard work that women on the tour have put into becoming professional tennis players,’’ she wrote.

“I intend to keep doing everything I can until Billie Jean’s (former star player Billie Jean King) dream of equality is made real. It’s a shame that the name of the greatest tournament in tennis, an event that should be a positive symbol for the sport, is tarnished.’’

Following publication, British prime minister Tony Blair and other members of Parliament quickly endorsed Williams’ words.

In February 2007, Wimbledon announced it would award equal prizemoney to all competitors in all rounds. A day later, the French Open announced it would do the same.

Many attributed the victory to the dogmatic approach of Venus, although she would remain humble by saying she had only played a small part in a groundswell of public opinion.

She later went on to say: “Somewhere in the world, a little girl is dreaming of holding a giant trophy in her hands and being viewed as an equal to boys who have similar dreams.’’

Perhaps more than anything, this encapsulates who Venus Williams is.

The battle with the Wimbledon establishment was never about the money for Venus - she already had plenty of that.

It was always about what was right - what was deserved for females, not just in tennis but in life.

And it was never about grandstanding, about bluster and bravado. That’s not the Venus way.

It was about a measured, consistent, respectful approach to change minds and effect change.

Venus Williams, whether she liked it or not, was no longer just a tennis player. She was a world figure and a role model of a generation.

Fast forward to 2017 and not much has changed.

Venus remains an iconic figure, a passionate proponent of the game, of women’s rights, of freedom and democracy, of love and family.

As it was announced this week that she would return to play in January’s Sydney International for the first time in almost 20 years, I asked Venus how she would reflect on what has been a phenomenal year.

“There is a bit of irony in the way the year has started and the way it is ending. At the beginning of the year, Serena (sister Serena Williams) and I played the final of the Australian Open and now we are ending the year with a new addition to the family,’’ Venus said.

“I would, of course, have loved to win a Grand Slam and finish No 1 but this has nevertheless been a very special year. I just love spending time with Alexis (Serena’s baby daughter) and being an aunt.’’

There you have it in a nutshell - the love of tennis but, more importantly, family.

It’s what has defined the career of Venus Williams since she first turned professional as a raw-boned 14-year-old way back in 1994.

And it’s what has driven her to continue to succeed, to maintain her level of play at the highest echelon, year after year.

At the end of 2016, there would have been many predicting the best days of Venus were behind her.

She ended 2015 as world No 7 but at the completion of 2016, slumped to No 17. How could she, at 36, hope to match it with younger, faster players?

The one person who had no doubts she would return to the top 10 was Venus.

“I go into every match and every tourmanent with the mindset of winning, so my successes are never a surprise to me. It’s all about being prepared. The work I put in at the gym and at practice every day allows me to confidently step on to the court and know I am prepared to win.’’

This year she reached the finals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open, the first time since 2003 she had made two Grand Slam deciders in the same year.

She was the oldest player to reach both finals and, in the Miami Open, became the oldest player to beat a current world No 1 when she downed Angelique Kerber.

Lots of references to age there.

“I think this is a trend we are seeing across all sports. Roger (Roger Federer) and Rafa (Rafael Nadal) playing into their 30s; there is a 40-year-old SuperBowl champion; and Serena and I both playting well into our 30s as well.’’ Venus said.

“I think it’s a testament to better training habits and nutrition and I am excited to keep going.’’

Nutrition is critical to Venus every day. In 2011, she was diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome, a long-term autoimmune disease in which the moisture-producing glands of the body are affected.

She turned to a vegan diet and has managed the illness successfully.

“Sjögren syndrome is a battle I deal with every day. I really don’t talk about it much. My focus is on what I can accomplish and not what I haven’t or can’t ... I always see the glass half full.’’

Off the court, she runs an interior design firm called V Starr and a fashion line called Eleven. She holds an associate degree in fashion design and Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

And she has already written a best-selling book.

So how does 2018 shape?

“I’m excited to return to Sydney to play. I was at a corporate event in Sydney earlier this year and that helped me to decide to come back to the Sydney International.

“I absolutely believe I can win another Grand Slam. I feel great and like I am capable of competing at a super high level.

“I’d love to write another book when the time is right. That really interests me.

“And we have some exciting plans for V Starr and Eleven. I am looking forward to revealing our new Aztec collection in Sydney next year.’’

THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL WILL BE STAGED AT SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK TENNIS CENTRE FROM JANUARY 7. WWW.SYDNEYINTERNATIONAL.COM.AU