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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 12: Serena Williams of the USA celebrates with daughter Alexis Olympia after winning the final match against Jessica Pegula of USA at ASB Tennis Centre on January 12, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 12: Serena Williams of the USA celebrates with daughter Alexis Olympia after winning the final match against Jessica Pegula of USA at ASB Tennis Centre on January 12, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Serena Williams is at the centre of every conversation when it comes to identifying the best athletes in the sporting world. However, despite her strong build and domineering style of play on the court, Serena has had her fair share of health concerns in her career. The 23-time Grand Slam winner once recalled the horrific complications she experienced during and after the birth of her daughter.
The legendary American player opened up about the life-threatening medical complications she faced after giving birth, which required her to undergo four surgeries in one week. Williams, who has a history of struggling with blood clots, developed difficulty breathing after her C-section.
Serena Williams reveals the complications she suffered during childbirth
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The news that Serena Williams experienced serious complications after giving birth was undoubtedly shocking to her fans. According to her 2018 interview to CNN, Williams’ wound was reopened after coughing, which caused blood clots in her lungs.
Williams’ commitment to tennis after welcoming Olympia was even more impressive as she went through painful injuries during the birth process, including a pulmonary embolism.
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Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 28, 2022, Serena Williams of the U.S. reacts after losing her first-round match against France’s Harmony Tan REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
In an exclusive interview in 2018, she said, “This sparked a slew of health complications that I am lucky to have survived. First, my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism.” After giving birth, she had other health problems, so the recovery process seemed difficult.
Williams further added, “I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen.” The 23-time Grand Slam winner also informed how she returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from traveling to her lungs.
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Despite enduring such difficulties, Serena made a successful comeback to professional tennis after recovering from her injuries. Although she failed to add to her Grand Slam titles, she was at her best until the gruesome hamstring injury that she suffered in the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.
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