Serena Williams has stepped back into glory! Though she never left her acclaimed position, the tennis community abundantly missed her when she retired from the sport. Well, not anymore. Despite having let go of the on-court action for nearly two years now, Williams marked her presence in what was one of the most iconic ceremonies of the decade.

The former American professional graced the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Saturday, July 27. Moreover, she was joined by the sports icons Rafael Nadal and Amelie Mauresmo at the quadrennial event. Williams, along with her fellow tennis counterparts, participated in the iconic torch relay. They mesmerized the French crowd by passing the flame among themselves before eventually lighting the Olympic cauldron. But that’s not all folks! The former World No. 1 magnetically pulled in reactions from tennis fans after a hilarious clip of the American legend surfaced online.

While commemorating the much-awaited event in Paris, Spain’s Nadal passed the torch to the former World No. 1 during the 12th chapter of the ceremony, called ‘Eternite’. Later, the tennis duo was joined by track star Carl Lewis and Romanian Nadia Comaneci. The athletic group embarked on a scenic boat journey down the Seine with the torch. Following the boat’s arrival at the destination, the Spaniard presented the torch to the French Open’s current director and former World No. 1, Amelie Mauresmo.

However, amidst the group’s journey, an amusing moment was witnessed. To much hilarity, motion sickness was seen catching up to the four-time Olympic gold medalist. The recorded clip which showcased her nauseous reaction prompted the tennis world to post amusing comments on social media.

Serena Williams elicits a chuckle some reaction from the tennis world in Paris

Tennis legend Serena Williams is only short of one thing now, an actual on-court tennis performance. While that hope seems like a bit of a stretch, let’s just delve into the hilarious scenes surrounding her recent motion sickness episode in Paris. In a video posted on X, a passionate tennis fan uploaded a clip where Serena could be seen spiraling after suffering from motion sickness due to the boat’s journey.

With 23 grand slams in her career, Williams stands at the top of the WTA for the most titles. Furthermore, she has 4 Olympic golds and 23 WTA Masters as well. The list of her accomplishments could cover a long book, which has motivated many fans to declare her as the GOAT. Since the GOAT was struggling on the boat, one fan wrote, “Goats and water do not go together.”

The Queen of the Court struggled to stand straight and kept wobbling. Although the video isn’t clear, one can see she is heaving in hopes of not vomiting. Empathizing with the former World No. 1’s uneasiness on the boat, one tennis fan addressed the situation and commented “She’s feeling bad lol”.

For the person suffering from nausea on a vehicle, the experience is troublesome. However, many tend to find humor in the trouble they have faced in the past. One user found hilarity in Williams right away. They addressed the 22-time Major champion’s gaiety and commented “She’s hilarious I can’t”. 

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have been friends for a long time. The two share a close bond, so much so that Williams named one of her dogs after the Spaniard, Christopher ‘Chip’ Rafael Nadal. Rafa saw Williams struggle and helped her as soon as he could, a gesture fans found adorable. “Rafa checking on Serena like *are you okay* so lovely.“

With the boat being unsteady and Williams feeling sick, she struggled to keep her balance and wobbled quite a bit. Her movement was rather similar to that of an individual who gets intoxicated on alcohol. A fan noticed the similarity as they said, “If i didnt know shes on a bout I would think she drnk 😭😭.“ 

Although Williams’ on-court presence will be missed by many, she will be enthused to witness compatriot Coco Gauff in action at the multi-sport event. The teen talent, alongside Taylor Fritz, leads Team USA in tennis and will likely aim to decorate their nation with a gold medal in Paris.