Serena Williams has revealed that she is struggling with “postpartum emotions” following the birth of her daughter, after deciding to withdraw from this week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal after fearing she was “not a good mom”.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner suffered the heaviest defeat of her career last week in a 6-1, 6-0 drubbing by Britain’s Johanna Konta at the Silicon Valley Classic, and she has admitted that she found herself “in a funk” during the tournament that led to the decision to withdraw from this week’s event and return home to be with daughter Alexis Olympia.
Writing on Instagram, Williams explained that she had endured a difficult week and needed to talk to friends and family to convince her that the feelings she is currently experiencing are perfectly normal for any new mother.
“Last week was not easy for me. 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 wrote on her Instagram account.
“It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby,” she added. “We have all been there. I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be.
“However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes.”
Williams returned to action earlier this year after giving birth in September 2017, and made a staggering run to the Wimbledon final in only her fourth tournament back in competition, only to lose to champion Angelique Kerber.
However, she stressed afterwards that her incredible feat was not normal for a mother so soon after returning in the sport, adding: “I have so much to look forward to and I’m literally just getting started.”
