Serena Williams Reveals the Real Reason Why She's Not Ready to Compete Again!

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian Jr. cover Vogue’s February 2018 issue. Mario Testino

After announcing last week that she would not be competing in the Australian Open because she wasn't "100 percent". She released a statement that said, in part:

"My coach and team always said 'only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’,”

"I can compete - but I don't want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time."

Now, after a recent interview with Vogue, she has revealed the real reason why she's not quite up to her usual standard and it's not just the "Baby Blues". The problems actually started during the delivery of her baby girl Alexis Olympia.

"The tennis star, 36, tells Vogue that the problems began after Alexis Olympia's heart rate started to drop during her delivery and it was decided that the best option would be to have Serena undergo an emergency c-section.

"That was an amazing feeling, and then everything went bad,' said Williams.

"The day after the birth, Williams was experiencing a shortness of breath and told the staff that she was concerned that she had developed blood clots.Williams, who had to stop taking her anticoagulant medications leading up the delivery, was right, and had indeed developed several clots in her lungs. She was immediately given a drip, but when constant coughing from her pulmonary embolism opened up the scar from the c-section, her abdomen quickly filled with her now-thinned blood from the same drugs which were saving her life.

In the end, Williams had to have a filter inserted into a major vein to prevent any possible clots from entering her lungs, and was forced to go on bed rest for the next six weeks."

All too often women feel pressured to return to work, and their former size, without being completely ready. I'm glad she's taking the time to heal up properly before competing again. By the way, little Alexis Olympia just made history by being the youngest person to ever grace the cover of Vogue! Get it girl!