"The narrative is ‘she didn’t make it’": Serena Williams doesn't get credit for reaching four Grand Slam finals after becoming a mother says Kim Clijsters
WTAFriday, 12 January 2024 at 01:30
Former
world No. 1 Kim Clijsters declares that Serena Williams did not receive enough
credit for reaching a Grand Slam final after the birth of her first daughter,
Olympia, in September 2017. In that year, Williams won the Australian Open by
defeating her sister Venus 6-4, 6-4, securing her 23rd Grand Slam.
Days after
winning the title, Williams announced her pregnancy during the tournament and
took some time off. The American didn't stay away for long and made a comeback
in March 2018 at Indian Wells.
Undoubtedly,
Serena Williams' major goal was to break Steffi Graf's record of 23 Grand Slams
and equal Margaret Court as the all-time Grand Slam title leader. She came
close but lost four consecutive finals before announcing her retirement at the
2022 US Open.
Four-times
Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters is the only tennis player so far who returned
after becoming a mother and won a Grand Slam title . In fact, the Belgian
achieved this feat three times: US Open in 2009 and 2010, and then the
Australian Open in 2011.
Read also
Clijsters
recently expressed her opinion that Williams doesn't get enough credit for
reaching four Grand Slam finals after returning from pregnancy: “I don’t think
there’s a clear answer as to why no one has done it since. Serena Williams has
been very close,” she told The Telegraph.
“I feel
like a lot of times she didn’t get enough credit for being in all those grand
slam finals after having her daughter. The narrative is ‘she didn’t make it’
and it takes away from the level she was playing. I think it will happen. I
think it’s just the competitive nature and depth of our sport that has
increased from when I was younger,” she added.
Grand Slam finals for Williams after pregnancy
The
American achieved a record of 23-6 in Grand Slam finals, but after the birth of
her daughter, she lost four consecutive finals, failing to win a set in any of
them. She lost the 2018 Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber (3-6, 3-6) and the
2019 final to Simona Halep (2-6, 2-6).
In the US
Open, she also reached the finals in 2018 and 2019, although they were also
defeats, first against Naomi Osaka (2-6, 4-6) and finally against Bianca
Andreescu (3-6, 5-7).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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