Serena Williams treated for blood clot in lungs
Wimbledon champion recovering at home following emergency treatment for a blood clot on her lung
Serena Williams has undergone emergency surgery following the discovery of a blood clot on her lung.
The Wimbledon champion received treatment for a pulmonary embolism on Monday and is now recovering at home under medical supervision in Los Angeles.
“I am doing better,” Williams said in a statement. “I’m at home now and working with my doctors to keep everything under control. I know I will be OK, but am praying and hoping this will all be behind me soon.”
Williams’ spokesman Nicole Chabot added that Doctors are continuing to monitor her situation closely to avoid additional complications.
Williams had attended the Oscars party thrown annually by Elton John and Vanity Fair for the AIDS Foundation on the night before she was admitted to hospital.
Her mother, Oracene, has since reassured fans on Twitter: “Thank you for your concern. She is fine.”
Williams has not played competitively since last summer when she cut her foot on glass at a restaurant in Germany while celebrating her fourth Wimbledon title. She had surgery soon after, and was forced to pull out of the US Open.
Williams resumed practice in September but had further surgery in October. After another failed attempt to return to the tour, she terminated her 2010 season early and announced she could not compete at the Australian Open where she was the two-time defending champion.
“As I recently learned, pushing myself back into my intense training too early only caused further injury,” she said. “It is imperative for my health that I continue to work with my doctors to ensure my foot heals.”
She subsequently also withdrew from an exhibition event in Oregon on 8 March with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova, again citing her foot injury.
Williams was scheduled to participate in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami at the end of this month.
However, tournament director Adam Barrett said she is not expected to play: “We have not been officially notified about Serena’s condition, but we were concerned about her pulling out even before the emergency surgery because she has not been training.”
Currently ranked No11, Williams is the sixth most successful player in women’s tennis, with 13 Majors to her name.
She also won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and has 12 Major doubles titles, earning her more prize money than any other female athlete.
