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Serena Williams: Trials and Triumphs BY VIRGINIA MCCRORY '25, Staff Reporter Serena Williams shocked the world when she announced to Vogue magazine, “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.” She has had a long and distinguished career with 23 grand slam singles titles, 14 grand slam doubles titles, and four Olympic gold medals. However, this success has not come without its setbacks. Serena faced everything from various injuries to prejudice on and off the court. One of Williams’ more notable obstacles was giving birth to her daughter, Olympia, after a long and difficult pregnancy that eventually resulted in a Csection. The next morning, Williams realized that she should have a heparin drip, a blood-thinning medication. She knew this because of experience with a blood clotting condition she developed in 2011. She asked a doctor and was dismissed, but soon after, she had a coughing fit that tore her stitches. She was rushed into surgery and soon discovered a collection
Williams plays at the '22 U.S. Open. [CC]
of blood outside her blood vessels. After the surgery,
sport. Williams recounts how she won many of her
she woke up in excruciating pain and told the nurse,
matches because her anger fueled her. Serena has
“I need to have a CAT scan of my lungs bilaterally,
changed the world of tennis for the better, and
and then I need to be on my heparin drip.”
Black women worldwide have shared how she
Unfortunately, she was dismissed again. After
positively impacted their lives. According to a New
insisting for quite some time, the doctors finally gave
York Times article, Williams motivated her fan,
her the heparin drip and scans that she asked for and
Rachel Atkins, 35, to seek the medical attention
they discovered a blood clot in her lungs. Williams
she deserved during her pregnancy because of her
eventually recovered and continued playing tennis
transparency about her own struggles during
while coping with postpartum depression. She tells
labor. She gave 55-year-old Lolita Jackson hope in
Vogue that she is a very hands-on mom to her
a more diverse future in tennis by being a Black
daughter, Olympia. “In five years, Olympia has only
woman who repeatedly won matches and
spent one 24-hour period away from me.” To
tournaments.
Williams, nothing is a sacrifice when it comes to Olympia, but tennis is a different story. Williams told Vogue, “I think tennis, by
Now, Williams wants to shift her attention toward her business Serena Ventures, a capital firm that seeks to invest in consumer products,
comparison, has always felt like a sacrifice, though it’s
healthcare, and information technology that will
one I enjoyed making.” Williams’ father told her that
make the world a better place. In her final
she first picked up a tennis racket at age three. Up to
statement to Vogue, she says, “I’m going to miss
this point, she had poured her heart and soul into the
that version of me, that girl who played tennis.”
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