'I don't need more Grand Slam titles - but I want them' - Serena Williams

SERENA Williams says that she "absolutely wants" more Grand Slam titles, but does not need them.

The 23-time champion, already the most successful player of the Open era, is two Grand Slam titles away from surpassing Margaret Court's record.

Williams, who said she was bedridden for six weeks after giving birth to daughter Olympia in September, said motherhood had taken away her anxiety.

"I don't need the money or the titles or the prestige," Williams told Vogue.

"I think having a baby might help. When I'm too anxious I lose matches, and I feel like a lot of that anxiety disappeared when Olympia was born.

"Maybe this goes without saying, but it needs to be said in a powerful way: I absolutely want more grand slams."

Williams told the American magazine that "everything went bad" in the aftermath of giving birth to her first child.

Her daughter was delivered by emergency Caesarean section after the baby's heart rate dropped, and Williams fell ill the day after giving birth.

The American suffered several blood clots in her lung and her surgery wound re-opened, leaving her bed bound for six weeks.

Williams played an exhibition match in December, which was her first since giving birth, and forced the game against French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko into a tie-break.

On the difficulties of motherhood, Williams said: "Sometimes I get really down and feel like, 'man, I can't do this'. It is that same negative attitude I have on the court sometimes.

"I guess that's just who I am. No one talks about the low moments - the pressure you feel, the incredible letdown every time you hear the baby cry.

"I've broken down I don't know how many times, or I'll get angry about the crying, then sad about being angry, and then guilty. The emotions are insane."

Williams also said that since having her daughter she had changed her perspective on tennis.

"I want titles but I don't need them. That's a different feeling for me," she added.

Williams added that she would not push her daughter into tennis, but would each her that "there are no limits" to what she can do.

"I think sometimes women limit themselves. I'm not sure why we think that way," Williams added.

"I know that we're sometimes taught to not dream as big as men, taught not to believe we can be a president, when in the same household, a male child is told he can be anything he wants.

"I'm so glad I had a daughter. I want to teach her that there are no limits."-BBC