Serena Williams Reflects on Post-2017 Grand Slam Struggles: “Too Much Pressure and Inability to Relax”

Serena Williams, one of the most celebrated figures in tennis history, has opened up about the challenges she faced after her 2017 Australian Open victory, which prevented her from winning more Grand Slam titles. Williams, who won her 23rd Grand Slam by defeating her sister Venus in the final, believed she could have added at least two or three more titles to her impressive collection if not for the immense pressure she placed on herself.

In January 2017, at 35 years old, Williams secured her 23rd Grand Slam title, putting her just one win away from tying Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. Shortly after, Williams took a break from tennis to give birth to her daughter and made a strong comeback in March 2018.

Upon her return, Williams quickly found her form, reaching the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018. However, despite her impressive performances, she fell short in both finals, losing to Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon and to Naomi Osaka at the US Open. The following year, Williams again made it to the finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open but was defeated by Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu, respectively.

Reflecting on these missed opportunities, Williams expressed her disappointment in a recent interview with The New York Times. “I should have won two or three of those. One I should have lost for sure, but looking back, I believe I could have won at least one of them. Definitely two. It was just too much pressure I put on myself, and I couldn’t relax. That sucks. Honestly, it does. But there’s nothing I can do about it now,” she said.

After her loss in the 2019 US Open final, Williams continued to compete at a high level, reaching the semifinals at the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open. Despite these strong performances, she was unable to capture that elusive 24th Grand Slam title.

Serena Williams remains one of the greatest players to have ever graced the sport, and while she didn’t tie or surpass Court’s record, her legacy in tennis is undeniable. Her ability to remain competitive at the highest level after becoming a mother and her candor about the mental challenges she faced only adds to her remarkable story.

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