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News > Sport

Super-Mom Serena Ready to Do It All

  • Serena Williams of the U.S in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Kristyna Pliskova

    Serena Williams of the U.S in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Kristyna Pliskova | Photo: Reuters

Published 29 May 2018
Opinion

In the past 38 years, Belgian Kim Clijsters is the only mother to win Grand Slam titles — three of her four majors — after a maternity break, while a dozen fathers have triumphed at the slams, winning 24 titles between them.

Adjusting to the sleepless nights, the two-hourly night feeds, the demands of a crying baby and an aching body that has endured childbirth is something Serena Williams has in common with every mother around the world.

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But what every mother around the world does not have in common with Williams is trying to juggle all those demands while attempting to get back into tip-top shape in order to win Grand Slam titles.

Just eight months after she "almost died" giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia, the American was back to one of her favorite hunting grounds and swinging her racket at the French Open — albeit as a multi-tasking mother.

"My priority is Olympia. No matter what, that's my priority," Williams said after her 7-6(4) 6-4 first round win over Kristyna Pliskova. "I have given tennis so much and tennis has actually given me a lot, and I couldn't be more grateful. But she's my priority, and I work everything around her. I want her to know that I put her first in my life. I feel like everything else will fall into place. I feel like it's all going to work out."

But having been bedridden for six weeks after suffering a series of complications, including a pulmonary embolism that led to multiple surgeries, Williams is only too aware of what she had to overcome to get herself ready for Paris.

So how much more difficult is it for a mother than a father to play top-level tennis?

"Well, first and foremost, you have to get your core back, which is hard, because it literally spreads when you have a baby," said the 36-year-old, who is bidding to win a 24th major trophy to draw level with Margaret Court's all-time record. "And just coming back from the physical (challenges) of having a baby, at my age is never really easy."

Despite her new responsibilities, Williams has not abandoned the disciplined lifestyle she had led before. She has simply redesigned it so that it fits in around her daughter's routine.

"I'm really fortunate enough that I can plan my days and I can plan my career," said Williams, who appeared to symbolize her life as a 'Super-mom' in the skin-tight, black catsuit she chose to wear for Tuesday's match. "So I plan my day, like, training is X of time. Then I spend all this time with Olympia. And then if I need to train again, I have X time in training because of her nap schedules. In the beginning, it was difficult to learn her nap schedules... because I don't want her to ever feel like I'm not around. I'm a super hands-on mom. Maybe too much."

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