By Sandra Harwitt

There is no denying that Venus Williams is a loyal — not to mention winning — member of the Mylan World Team Tennis champion Washington Kastles.

Williams has played WTT for a decade now and has been on the Kastles squad for the past four year. The Kastles have been the WTT champions for five of the last six years, only missing out in 2010.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion was a member of the Kastles when they posted consecutive undefeated seasons in 2011 and 2012 – in 2012, she was named the Final Most Valuable Player. The team also won with Williams’ help in 2013 and 2014.

That said, Williams said at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday that she’s going to have to send her regrets when it comes to attending the player draft and kickoff celebration for the 2015 season – the 40th World Team Tennis season – that will take place on March 16th during the upcoming BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif.

“I’ve got to stay home,” said Williams when asked if she would travel to California to take part in the event. “I deserve to go home. I have to go home.”

Williams then explained further why she’s taken the decision to skipbeing on hand to help launch the 40th season of WTT.

“I think I just got an e-mail about it,” she said. “I think they will understand. I’ve gotta go home, and , you know, there is only a little bit of time and then you have to start training. So I’m going to go ahead and take care of myself and rest.”