Motherhood and tennis put Serena in funk
She admits to postpardum struggles
It was big news when Serena Williams announced she would be playing in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament at San Jose State.
It was even bigger news when the 23-time Grand Slam champion lost her first-round match to Johanna Konta in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. It was the first time in 928 professional matches that Williams failed to win more than one game.
“I know I can play a zillion times better,” Williams said after the July 31 match. “I have so many things on my mind, I don’t have time to be shocked by a loss when I’m clearly not at my best.”
Williams advanced to the final at Wimbledon in early July.
Posting on Instagram this week, Williams, 36, attributed the loss to being in a “funk” due to postpartum emotions. Williams became a first-time mom to a baby girl in September 2017.
“Last week was not easy for me,” Williams wrote. “Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom.”
Williams has since withdrawn from the Rogers Cup in Canada.
“I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to three years if not dealt with,” Williams wrote. “I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal.
“It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. I’m here to say: if you are having a rough day or week — it’s OK — I am, too!”