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Due to her ongoing fitness issues, Venus Williams has only appeared on the courts sporadically this season. However, now that she recently made a return during the Canadian Open, the American tennis icon had an unexpected blow off the court. There was a major goof-up with the WTA legend’s luggage upon her arrival in the country.
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Despite being a frequent traveler with American Airlines, she also took a sarcastic jibe at them for sending her luggage to the Bahamas instead of Montreal. Now, just a few days after that bizarre incident and with a recent victory, the 43-year-old tennis legend has finally spilled the beans on the “crazy” fiasco caused by the airlines.
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Following a short and unpleasant campaign in Montreal, the former World No. 1 has once again returned to the outdoor hard courts of the Cincinnati Masters. In the first-round match, Venus, with her stellar prowess, outshined the Russian tennis star, Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets (6-4, 7-5). After her remarkable victory, the 7-time singles Grand Slam champion was asked to comment on her luggage saga in Canada.
In her response, the American tennis star revealed that she is “grateful” to finally have her luggage back after making “relentless” phone calls to another agent. However, because of the fiasco in the previous tournament, she had to do a lot of running across various stores in order to buy new clothes. Venus said, “The day I played my match was the craziest day ever in terms of preparation.”
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Given the incident, where her package got stuck in customs, Venus was asked if she has now changed her preference in terms of airlines. But, the 5-time Wimbledon champion gracefully said, “Oh, it happens. I forgive and forget, yeah.” However, in her dire times, she wasn’t completely alone. Amidst her adversity in Canada, the American had had the support of a celeb figure, albeit indirectly.
READ MORE- Venus and Serena Williams Team Up With Will Smith to Mount Prestigious Hollywood Project Inspired by Soccer
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After her baggage was accidentally sent to the Caribbean, the 43-year-old tennis star was left with hardly any clothes. In fact, she had a sole outfit option for her participation in the Canadian Open. It was her t-shirt of the renowned American singer, Janet Jackson, as seen in the Instagram post she humorously shared.
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In a video clip accompanied by Jackson’s track “Together Again”, Venus showcased her fan girl moment amidst her baggage fiasco. Meanwhile, the WTA legend also admitted that she had been daydreaming about the coming reunion of her and the missing bags.
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What do you think of the American tennis star’s luggage saga at the hard court tournament? Let us know in the comments section.
WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer.
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Anurag Gusain
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Edited By: Mitali Dey
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From wild swimming and stand-up paddleboarding to coastal hikes and cliff sprints, this island makes for a serious workout.
It wouldn’t be unusual to find me at the gym on a Saturday morning. A good

strength training sesh, a touch of mobility work and some time on the treadmill is a pretty standard line up. So you could argue that nothing’s out of the ordinary on this particular Saturday. Except that while the burn in my triceps is familiar, my surroundings are not.

Instead of sweat-slicked dumbbells I’m gripping two knobbly, salt-mottled rocks. And rather than my own red face staring back at me from a smeared mirror I’m gazing out on a restless ocean, sunlight glancing off the waves, breeze ruffling the ponytail I hurriedly scraped up at dawn.
It’s not yet 8am (help) and I’m 30-minutes deep in an outdoor fitness session on the beach at Fermain Bay, Guernsey. Under the instruction of local PT Ian Potter I’ve already torn my calves apart doing countless hill sprints up and down a cliff path – I’ll admit the sweeping view across the bay at the top does ease the pain somewhat – and set a gentle ache humming through my muscles thanks to bodyweight exercises performed on a rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean.
Now I’m hurling boulders, kettlebell-swing-style, down the beach in-between yet more sprints. My shoulders are protesting after a hefty bout of lateral raises loaded with (you guessed it) more rocks. But somehow, I don’t tire throughout the entire two-hour session.
Perhaps it’s the cooling spray of the ocean, or the abundance of negative ions in the sea air spurring me on. More likely, I suspect, is the fact that this is quite simply joyful. While it sounds punishing, every aspect of this workout is designed to help us view nature as our fitness playground – from pebbles and coastal paths to sea-fed bathing pools.
Exploiting nature’s gym is a way of life here. Everybody is super fit – if they’re not jogging up hills then they’re plunging into icy water like it’s a warm bath. And it’s a combination of this attitude and the island’s unique environment that makes Guernsey an ideal destination for the outdoorsy.
It’s no surprise then, that the coastal walk Ian proffers post-healthy breakfast is not the gentle meander I’d hoped, but an undulating hike around the island complete with steep climbs and knee-jerking descents. Our path is framed by breathtaking sea views to one side, verges bursting with colourful wildflowers to the other, and ends with a near-vertical climb we’re encouraged to sprint (I can only manage half). Ian usually gives his clients just five minutes to walk down the hill then run back up, sometimes hauling power bags. Yikes.
You might wonder why I’ve put myself through this – ‘this’ being a frankly gruelling three-day fitness tour of Guernsey. I grew up by the sea and, now in London, often find myself yearning for the vast openness and salty sting of being seaside. While I head to a wild swimming spot as often as possible, poking my head through the reeds at Hampstead Heath ponds, while lovely, just doesn’t deliver on that invigorating hit of the ocean. So when an invite entitled ‘women and the waves’ dropped in my inbox, I didn’t think twice.
Serving as both cryotherapy-style recovery and fitness arena in its own right, the sea is a big part of island life. And I’m keen to make the most of it, so sign up for a guided ocean swim setting off from a secluded cove off the Fermain slipway. Led by Jacqui Hunt of Guernsey Swim Adventures, we don wetsuits (ignoring the fact that most island folk scoff at the mere thought of neoprene) and follow her kayak into the waves.
The cold truly does take your breath away, but once I’m over the initial shock, breathing regulated, I can appreciate that this is easily one of the most serene experiences I’ve had in the water. We’re completely alone, quietly puttering around rocks with the sea calm and gorgeous, tingling head to foot and feeling so, so alive. Afterwards we warm up with tea and cake on the beach – because it’s all about balance, right?
The next morning we meet up with local swim group The Mental Tentacles, who are aptly named, to say the least. Dressed in matching octopus-themed swimsuits, they are insanely chipper for eight in the morning and are positively bubbling over with excitement at the prospect of introducing us relative newbies to cold water swimming.
We’re taking the plunge at La Vallette bathing pools; four sea-fed coastal pools complete with changing rooms, hot showers and café. Keen to show off my new prowess, and largely at the Tentacle’s encouragement, I go without a wetsuit this time and opt for a cannonball entrance over a painstakingly slow edge into the water. This is the right call, and while yes, initially it feels like being stabbed by a million tiny little knives, after a couple of minutes I feel perfectly comfortable, verging on fantastic.
With my skin tingling, the sun bouncing off the smooth surface of the pools and the sounds of happy chatter around me, it’s easy to see how people get addicted to this cold-water malarkey. I enjoy it so much I stay in a little too long and start to feel warm (this is apparently a sure sign you should get out). My violent shivers are somewhat seen off in the showers, but it’s not until I’m wrapped in a changing robe with a steaming mug of tea and bacon butty in front of me that I manage to stop my teeth chattering. Nonetheless, it’s the most revitalising morning routine I’ve ever had, and I envy those who’re able to do it every day.
Of course, there’s more to the water than swimming, and the following day I strike out, board under arm, into the ocean once more, for a paddleboarding lesson with Guernsey SUP. It’s an intense core workout in disguise, as the mere act of keeping your balance forces you to engage abs you didn’t even know you had. But you barely notice you’re exercising, as you’re so focused on either the gorgeous views or simply trying to stay upright. Slicing through the waves with my oar I can’t help but feel like some powerful female warrior. The whole experience is bracing and magical – and leaves me with a serious core burn.
Of course, to keep up with Guernsey life, rest and refuelling is paramount. Luckily there’s no shortage of eateries, from the charming beach café at Fermain Bay serving up local crab meat sandwiches and chips, to stylish seafood restaurant La Reunion (indulge in a cocktail, they’re insane) and shiny brasserie Christies, an art deco affair with harbour views and gastronomic delights such as Guernsey scallops wrapped in pancetta and topped with crunchy, salty samphire.
Sweet tooth? Hit up Crepe Maison for French-style crepes drenched in caramel and topped with mountains of whipped cream and generous dollops of ice cream before wandering round the local boutiques for bespoke jewellery and lotions and potions made from Guernsey seaweed.
As well as a plethora of places to eat, Guernsey is also home to Fermain Valley Hotel, which boasts four beautiful treehouse rooms, complete with a terrace hot tub to re-heat your bones between wild swimming sessions. It’s likely you’ll need more than a good nights’ sleep though, so schedule a beach yoga session with local instructor Katie Brock to stretch out aching limbs and leave you feeling grounded.
Handpicked Hotels offers various fitness packages typically priced approx. £215pp. For more information email: reservations.fermain@handpicked.co.uk
Stay at Fermain Valley Hotel or in the Fermain Valley treehouses.
Zip over to Guernsey from the UK with Aurigny airlines, with flight times from as little as 40 minutes. Aurigny operate year-round direct flights to Guernsey from London, East Midlands, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Dublin.
Alternatively Condor Ferries operate slow and fast ferries from Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey year-round.
For more information on the Islands of Guernsey, please see visitguernsey.com

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The new swimming pool and leisure centre has been long-awaited for in the town
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A new public swimming pool in Mablethorpe has started to be filled with water to test it marking an "important milestone" for the town. The long-awaited pool will be part of the new Station Leisure and Learning Centre and is being built on the site of the current Station Sports Centre.
East Lindsey district councillor Richard Fry, leader Craig Leyland and Mablethorpe ward councillor Graham Cullen joined Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure, Connected Coast and Mablethorpe Town Council to attended the site on Monday, August 15 to start the pool fill test.
The 3,000 square metre centre is being built to increase and improve the leisure opportunities for residents and visitors to the town to help with physical and mental health and well-being. The facility is due to be completed in 2024.
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Councillor Richard Fry, the political lead for the leisure and learning Centre at East Lindsey District Council said: "Today marks a significant step forward in the construction of the new Station Leisure and Learning Centre. A swimming pool has been on the wish list for Mablethorpe residents for many years and today, and now with the pool starting to be filled to test it shows we are one step closer in making that wish a reality.
"East Lindsey District Council is committed to improving the physical and mental health of its residents. Through the Town Deal, I am delighted the Council is able to support residents with new leisure and learning opportunities here in Mablethorpe."
Chris Baron, Chair of Connected Coast said: "It is fantastic to see such good progress being made on the new Leisure and Learning hub. This modern facility is set to play a crucial role in supporting local people’s physical and mental well-being, bringing improved and new opportunities for leisure and learning to Mablethorpe.
"The hub is set to add to Mablethorpe’s overall offer and will provide new reasons for people to spend time in the town centre."
Aeneas Richardson and James Brindle, executive directors for Magna Vitae Trust for leisure and culture, said: "We are delighted and excited by the progress that is being made at the new Mablethorpe leisure facility. Not only is the filling of the pool a monumental step forward in the building project but also for Mablethorpe and the availability of general public, recreational swimming.
"We look forward to seeing the site develop but even more the impact on the Mablethorpe community once the site is up and running." Craig Johnson, project manager for ISG, said: "The team is pleased to have reached another significant project milestone with the filling of the pool, as part of this exciting multi-functional development.
"We are continuing to engage with the local community to leave a lasting legacy of our time on site, in line with one of the aims of the new facility – to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to acquire new skills. We look forward to seeing the new facilities in use in the coming months."
The development is part of a £7.4m Town Deal funding from the government through the Connected Coast Town Deal. It includes a new swimming pool, a changing village, fitness suite and studios as well as a new play area.

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Westbury Swimarium has officially opened its doors and launched a brand new swim school.
Like riding a bike, learning to swim is a tick box that many parents and children hope to tick off this summer before returning back to school in September.  
Westbury Swimarium intends to do just that by helping families all over Wiltshire achieve this childhood milestone.
The purpose-built pool, fit with a multi-coloured LED light system and speakers, has already seen hundreds of swimmers taking a dip with adults and children undergoing free assessments.
Whilst these free assessments are continuing through the summer months, swimming lessons ranging from beginner level to advanced are commencing from August 7.
The pool boasts a UV filter and reduced chlorine levels that are less harmful to the skin, as well as a warm 30-degree water temperature.
Proud owners of this family-run establishment Rick and Sarah Harris-Johnstone have over 40 years of experience, and beyond their clear passion for swim teaching, they are keen to give back to the community.
As well as the Child and Adult classes, the establishment also offers Aquafit and Aqua mobility sessions which have already received glowing reviews from the attendees who praised the workout, that wasn’t only good for their physical wellbeing but also their mental health.
Slots have also been designated to Autism-friendly classes which see the lights dim to calming shades of blue and the speakers play soothing classical music to create a more comfortable environment for the swimmers.
The school welcomes all ages from two years and six months upwards, and the staff’s unwavering passion for swim teaching is already shining through with customers leaving the pool feeling more confident, proud, and excited for their next lesson.
One parent wrote: “My son was talking about it all day, he absolutely loved it.”
Whilst another adult customer thanked the team, writing “In that very short time I felt that I had achieved so much. The style of teaching is really user-centric and targeted. The pool is lovely and the ambient temperature is spot on.”
The Swimarium provides a 12-week course of 45-minute lessons, as well as a summer fast track scheme.
You can visit their website or find them on Facebook to learn more and book your free assessment. https://theswimschool.co.uk/ 
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These homeowners paid thousands of dollars for a backyard oasis but don't have much to show for it.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — Several homeowners in Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Raeford are speaking up after they hired a Fayetteville company to install a pool. They paid thousands of dollars for a backyard oasis but don't have much to show for it.
"We just want to have our own little pool in the backyard," Lashanae Ross said. While that's what Ross was hoping for, instead after signing a contract in March of this year with Dunbar and Bentley Home Improvement and paying $15,000, she was left with a big hole in her backyard and just the shell of a pool.
Ross said the owner, James Dunbar gave a lot of broken promises.
"He would have every excuse in the book like, 'I'm coming back.' The most recent in July, which is when I just said, 'You know what, I'm done with it.' He's like, 'Oh, I ran out of capital,'" Ross recalled.
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Same story for Kerri Deeds and Marcus Durden after hiring Dunbar in the spring of 2022.
"He came and did a little bit for us and would say, 'I'm coming out, I'm going to be here,' and he never shows up," Deeds said. Their backyard also has a big hole in it, with a shell of where their pool is supposed to be.
"We are in for $18,000. There are people who have paid more," Deeds said.
Days after this report aired, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office arrested Dunbar and charged him with felony obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor failure to work after being paid in connection to Deeds' situation. His bond was set at $10,000.
Tiara Smith is one of those customers as she paid Dunbar $25,000 in April of this year. Smith said Dunbar told her it would be a two-week project. However, now months later, Smith has no completed pool, all she has is a big hole where her pool was supposed to be completed.
Smith said she made it known to Dunbar she is not happy.
"You have $25,000 of my dollars that I worked hard for and you're not doing anything for it. I said, 'You've dug a hole and now my kid's safety is at risk because you have this huge hole.'"
While Troubleshooter Diane Wilson was at Smith's home, they got a hold of Dunbar. Wilson asked him what he did with Smith's $25,000.
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"Well, some of it is in her yard, we had to rent machines to work in the yard and the other is to fund the company, it's not just her pool, we got labor and everything in her job," Dunbar answered. Wilson responded saying it doesn't cost $25,000 for a big hole and Dunbar said, "No."
When Wilson asked him about the other customers like Deeds' job that started more than a year ago, Dunbar said, "Their money is in their yard." Wilson asked if they had received $18,000 worth of work. Dunbar replied, "My company has been in trouble for the last 2.5 years and I've been trying to dig myself out of it."
While Dunbar took some of the responsibility, he also blamed it on the city for taking so long on getting permits, plus said bad employees caused a lot of problems.
"I'm the one, I'm not running from anything," Dunbar said.
Wilson questioned why he hasn't finished the jobs and Dunbar said, "I'm finishing them as we speak. We can if you would like, we could go around the ones that I am finishing, OK?"
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Dunbar invited Wilson to his Fayetteville office to meet him. He didn't want to talk on camera, but offered to take us in his truck to go see the jobs he was completing, we asked to follow in our news car but he said no and instead showed Wilson pictures of pools he said he completed. He insists he just needs time and investors to finish the outstanding jobs.
It's a claim, his customers say they don't believe.
"You yourself, the owner of the company, should be out here with a shovel. You do what you have to do to get this made right because you're not making right in any way shape or form, and he's just full of excuses and he's sorry," Smith said.
When it comes to these jobs, the majority were all under $30,000 which means Dunbar does not need to be licensed, which he admits he's not and says that's why he keeps his jobs under that amount. To protect your money in cases like this, don't get tempted by a good price and assurances that work can get done right away. In all cases, these customers said they went with Dunbar as he was the only company that said he could start right away.
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