Serena Williams is finding new wins as a mother of two. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
A 27-year tennis career, marked by 23 Grand Slam titles (one more than Steffi Graf and one less than Margaret Court), indeed tells a remarkable story. This achievement is extraordinary for any tennis player worldwide. However, when you’re considered one of the Greatest of All Time in the sport, expectations always loom large. Despite her numerous career victories, Serena Williams might have had mixed feelings about her career’s conclusion. She aspired to achieve even more but fell slightly short. Now, her representative of over two decades sheds light on the challenges Serena faced during her return to tennis after giving birth.
Former agent of Williams shares The Queen of the Court’s struggles
Serena’s illustrious tennis career undoubtedly declined upon her return to the court after giving birth for the first time. Olympia was born on September 1, 2017 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach Florida. But what was a happy moment for Williams off the court turned into a disaster on it. Serena’s final Grand Slam win came when she was 8 weeks pregnant after defeating Venus Williams in the Australian Open, in 2017. By the time 2018 rolled around, her magic touch was already missing. Jill Smoller observed the evolution closely.
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Smoller, her longtime representative, believes that Serena Williams faces more individual pressure than anyone else in the sport. Why? Well, for starters, she’s not only a sportsperson but a global icon for America. She added. “Anything but winning wasn’t enough you look back at (winning) 4 Grand Slam finals post-baby, (it) would be spectacular for anybody. But for her, a complete disaster.“
Serena Williams came close to the finish line of a whopping four Grand Slams after her comeback, something which she must surely be proud of. But with Serena and Venus Williams, fans and audiences could never be contented with final appearances – close encounters as they were each time.
