Her ego bruised but not deflated, Venus Williams believes she will return stronger than ever after an injury-wrecked 2003 -- with a little help from sister Serena.

Still smarting after her comeback was derailed at the Australian Open this month, Venus said her rivalry with her younger sister drove her to keep striving to be the best.

"I don't think in any way Serena and I are what you would call normal," Venus told Reuters in an interview.

"Well, maybe we are normal. Maybe it's the other people who aren't normal -- who want to argue with their sisters and brothers...who have differences or who have issues."

Venus, in Tokyo to play at this week's Pan Pacific Open, added: "I'm hardcore. I was always convinced that I was the best and I guess in a way of course I still am.

"I think in the end, Serena and I are competitive, we both want to win. But we realise there's a bigger picture and there's no need to have issues because it's emotionally draining and it's stupid."

Venus lost 6-4, 7-6 to fellow American Lisa Raymond in the Australian Open third round in her first tournament since being sidelined for six months with an abdominal injury.

Defeat in Melbourne was more painful than usual due to the absence of Serena, who had withdrawn with a knee injury.

"We have a saying: 'If you can't do it for yourself, do it for me.' Obviously, I didn't do it for Serena in Australia," said Venus, looking relaxed in a black tracksuit and dangly pagoda-design earrings.

"There's no such thing as a one-woman army. It just does not work."

BARREN SPELL

Venus has won four Grand Slam singles crowns, at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, but she has endured a barren spell since.

She famously lost in four consecutive finals to her sister, culminating in last year's Australian Open when Serena became only the fifth woman to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously.

Venus has not forgotten that chastening experience and is already making plans to put the record straight.

"I'm planning a long career," she smiled.

"My parents always told me 'You'll be number one, you'll win Wimbledon.' So immediately, I had this idea in my head that made me believe things larger than life."

Despite the fierce support of coaching parents Richard and Oracene, both Venus and Serena have been overtaken in the world rankings by Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters.

Henin-Hardenne beat Clijsters in the Australian Open final at the weekend but, despite ill feeling between Henin-Hardenne and Serena, Venus believes the Belgian deserved her success.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova had argued that the result should be marked with an asterisk since Serena could not defend her title, Venus was rusty and former champion Jennifer Capriati was also injured.

"I refuse to take anything away from anyone who has done well, whether I've been there or haven't been there," shrugged a wiser, less brash Venus.

ON MERIT

"I don't think that's fair at all. I think any achievement that anyone achieves in tennis or life or what have you, is only on merit... and because it was deserved."

Venus, who has won 29 singles titles and amassed over $13 million in prize money, is still hungry to leave her mark on the women's game.

"I was really so excited to be able to pick up the racket and be able to swing it without any major issues," said Venus.

"I think it's important to get out there and get used to competing again. It's a double-edged sword. I think that's the toughest part, possibly.

"But any pressure that I have is not from anyone else except myself and I expect probably a whole lot more from myself than what anyone would demand of me anyway."