Serena Williams recently reflected on her 2017 Australian Open title which she won while being nine-weeks pregnant. It was also Williams’ record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title and she won it without dropping a set.
Williams was recently named “Woman of the Year 2024” by Glamour Magazine. To celebrate the honor, she participated in an interview series shared through TikTok videos. In one of these clips, she responded to an opinion that claimed:
“You can’t play tennis while pregnant.”
Defying this opinion, Williams recalled how she not only played but also won the 2017 Australian Open title while being nine weeks pregnant.
“Well, I kind of did. I was, oh my gosh, I ended up being like nine weeks pregnant when I finished. But, yeah, you can definitely play tennis while being pregnant,’ Williams said.
However, she added a word of caution as well.
“If that’s your normal, if you played tennis before, then you can continue to do it while you’re pregnant,” she added.
In the Open Era, Williams tied Steffi Graf for the most WTA Grand Slam titles (22) after winning the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. At the 2017 Australian Open, a pregnant Williams probably had a whim that this was her last opportunity to claim the record before taking a maternity hiatus.
With daughter Olympia in her belly, Williams embarked on a near-impossible feat and achieved it with grace. She defeated the likes of Belinda Bencic, Johanna Konta, and sister Venus Williams to win the title without dropping a set or even being forced into a tiebreaker.
“I don’t know any other person that has won a Grand Slam or anything else nine weeks pregnant” – Serena Williams
In an interview with the Time magazine in 2022, Naomi Osaka called Serena Williams the greatest athlete.
“Serena is unequivocally the best athlete ever. Forget female athlete, I mean athlete,” Osaka said.
During her interview with the Time, Williams was informed about Osaka’s comments and she took pride in her own achievements.
“I don’t know any other person that has won a Grand Slam or a championship in the NBA or anything else nine weeks pregnant,” Williams said.
Williams reflected on the mental and physical endurance needed to win a two-week event like the Australian Open. She emphasized that success on the court is not just about physical attributes, but also about mental strength and strategy.
Competing for over two decades, she highlighted the challenge of facing opponents who consistently bring their best game against her.
