Venus stars on cover of DuJour ahead of Aussie Open loss

Before her straight-sets Australian Open ouster to Belinda Bencic, Venus Williams starred on the cover of *DuJour* magazine.

Sporting nearly $135,000 in attire and accessories – most of it thanks to a Richard Mille timepiece on her wrist – Venus rocked a dress and jacket by Max Mara, an 18-karat rose-gold ring by David Yurman, that watch and more. Her story's accompanying photo spread features the talents of makeup artist Jo Rollins and hair stylist Nikki Nelms.

"There’s no normal day," Venus told DuJour, "but I think if I wanted normal, then maybe I wouldn’t have become a tennis player because nothing is normal about it."

"I’m so used to pressure in my life that I don’t think I could live without it," Venus noted elsewhere in the cover article. "Pressure is a privilege, and I’m okay with that." Sure, she's channeling Billie Jean King's classic line there – but who better to channel it?

Lithe and loose-limbed, Venus grooved her way through photo-shoot segments with ease like the polished pro she is.

"The only way to face things is head-on," Williams told the magazine about her take on how to tackle challenges and affect change, as with her political maneuvers to help secure prize money for women at Wimbledon equal to what peers in the men's game enjoyed. "You have to find a bridge and encourage people to do the right thing."

One thing is certain: Venus will heartily continue to do the right thing.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.