Serena Williams Won a Grand Slam While Pregnant. Her Hardest Battle Came Next.
Serena Williams made history at the 2017 Australian Open. But after a life-threatening childbirth complication, returning to tennis became an entirely different challenge.
Athletes World
• File photo dated 09-07-2016 of Serena Williams who won her 23rd title in 2017 when she won the Australian Open while pregnant.
• Licensed Photo: PA Images / Alamy
License
Serena Williams was roughly eight weeks pregnant when she defeated her sister Venus to win the 2017 Australian Open. Almost nobody watching knew.
At 35, Serena went through the tournament without losing a set. Her victory gave her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, breaking Steffi Graf's record of 22 in the Open Era. She had learned she was pregnant shortly before the tournament, but kept the news private while competing. (Vanity Fair, 2017)
It was her last Grand Slam singles title. What happened next made her return to tennis a story of its own.
At 35, Serena went through the tournament without losing a set. Her victory gave her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, breaking Steffi Graf's record of 22 in the Open Era. She had learned she was pregnant shortly before the tournament, but kept the news private while competing. (Vanity Fair, 2017)
It was her last Grand Slam singles title. What happened next made her return to tennis a story of its own.
