Serena Williams has revealed that her struggles with “postpartum emotions” led to her withdrawal from this week’s Rogers Cup in Canada.
The BBC reports that the American, a 23-time Grand Slam singles winner, cited “personal reasons” for not playing in Canada. After suffering the heaviest defeat of her career last week Williams explained on social media that she felt “in a funk” and was “not a good mom”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
She wrote on Instagram: “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.
“I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to three years if not dealt with. 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!”