Five months afterSerena Williams‘French Open catsuitwas called into question, she’s opening up about the condition that prompted her to opt for pants in the first place.
After beating Germany’s Tatjana Maria on Tuesday, the athlete, 37,revealed that her “issues” with deep vein thrombosis “are not done,”according to Reuters. DVT can cause chronic, life-threatening blood clots.
“It’s just something I just have to do for pretty much probably the rest of my career. We’ll see,” the mother of one said, according to Reuters. “I’m always at the doctor. With DVTs, it’s very scary. I know a lot of people have them. They’re very common.”
Serena Williams at the Australian Open.Mark Kolbe/Getty
She continued: “It’s incredibly frightening. I lay on the side of precaution as opposed to not.”
In May 2018, Williams stepped out in askin-tight black Nike catsuitto make her return to the game after the August 2017 birth of her daughterAlexis Olympia. She said the outfit made her feel like a “queen from Wakanda,” but the French Tennis Federation didn’t support it.
“I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far,” the organization’s president Bernard Giudicelli explained to the Associated Press later last year. “It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place.”
Serena Williams.Action Press/MediaPunch
“I’ve had a lot of problems with my blood clots, God I don’t know how many I’ve had in the past 12 months,” Williams explained at a news conference in May 2018, according toNPR.
She said, “I’ve been wearing pants in general a lot when I play so I can keep the blood circulation going.”
In addition, six years before the tennis legend became a mom, in 2011, she suffered a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lungs, her rep confirmed to PEOPLE at the time.
“MondaySerena Williamsunderwent emergency treatment at Cedars for a hematoma she suffered as a result of treatment for a more critical situation,” the rep said in a 2011 statement.
Williams’ fight against her health conditions — and the strictness of tennis dress codes — has not been for naught, however.
In December, theWoman’s Tennis Association made an alteration to its clothing rule, so it no longer prohibits or penalizes women at its tournaments who wear “leggings or compression shorts without a skirt, dress or shorts over them.”
At the time, the WTA also adjusted its ranking rule after Williams dropped from No. 1 in the world to No. 451 because of her 14-month maternity leave. Designed to make it easier for women to return to competition following pregnancy, the rule now allows players to use a special ranking for up to three years following birth, adoption, surrogacy or gaining legal guardianship.
The next issue that might be on Williams’ agenda to change could be drug testing in the sport, which she’s been vocal about.
“Look at me,” Williams told the magazine as she looked at her reflection in a mirror. “I was born this way. They’re like, ‘Oh, she can’t be that great, she must be doing something.’ “
Williams has a point, as USADA records show she’s tested far more than other top-tier female and male tennis players. The agency tested Williamsfive timesin 2018, three times in 2017 and six times in 2016.
“I don’t even lift weights,” Williamssaid while laughing. “It’s all God, you know… But whatever.”
source: people.com
