Venus Williams To Relaunch Fashion Line

Venus Williams is set to relaunch her EleVen fashion range.

The 31-year-old Tennis player - who took six months off to seek treatment for autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome - will unveil her collection of sports and leisure wear when she returns to the court this week.

The seven-times Grand Slam singles winner explains the thinking behind the designs.

She said: ''EleVen is really about being better than a 10. It's bringing your personal best which makes you an 11, and not accepting the standards of what is considered the best.

''It's overcoming defeats and being a champion in life. If you don't look good, you won't play well.''

And having worked with Ralph Lauren and earned a degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Venus says the range was inspired by her own attitudes to style.

She told WWD: ''EleVen is about being yourself. I don't like to be told what to wear and how to look.''

The label - that was originally created for chain store Steve & Barry's which went into liquidation in 2008 - will be debuted at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Miami.