When Venus Williams walks onto Centre Court to begin her defence of the Wimbledon title, the American will feel the lush grass under her feet and breathe a sigh of relief.

In the 12 months since she was crowned champion at the All England Club for the fifth time, after brushing aside sister Serena in the final, the American has endured a dispiriting run of results that could easily have left her morale at a low ebb.