The legend Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes of all time with 23 Grand Slam titles, made headlines again-this time not for her tennis career, but for a powerful message about mental health and resilience. Although she retired in 2022, the former world number one remains a role model thanks to her business ventures, her role as a mother, and her ability to openly share her ups and downs with over 18 million followers on social media.
On September 16, the American icon surprised fans with an Instagram post in which she admitted to having a difficult August. “Life can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters: your mental health and well-being,” she wrote in an intimate tone, accompanying the message with a photo of herself in an elegant pink dress.
Although she didn’t specify the cause of her distress, Williams made it clear that she chose to pause, reconnect with herself, and remember that it’s okay to take a break. “Even if it’s just a quiet night for yourself. Anything counts,” she confessed, in a gesture many praised for its sincerity.
Serena Williams is having a busy year
This 2025 has been particularly demanding for Serena Williams. She appeared in the Super Bowl halftime show, launched the Stockton Street podcast with her sister Venus, was selected as the keynote speaker at the Zeta Live 2025 conference, and also celebrated a 31-pound weight loss thanks to GLP-1 medications, as revealed in People.
Earlier this year, she received the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, recognizing her legendary career and her influence as an advocate for equality. All of this while enjoying family trips and luxurious moments she proudly shared on social media.
Serena Williams and brutal honesty in sports
At the same time, Williams opened up about the toughest conversations she had with herself during her professional career. In a clip from X Originals with Venus, she recalled how self-criticism was key to her path to success. “You were too big, you needed to be lighter and run faster,” she admitted to having thought in the past.
Venus, for her part, emphasized that a champion needs “brutal honesty” with themselves, something Serena fully agreed with. For her, accepting those uncomfortable truths was part of the process that led her to the top-and now she seeks to share that as a life lesson.
Though she no longer competes, Serena Williams continues to inspire by example. Her voice now focuses on the importance of emotional well-being and the courage to speak about personal challenges with the same candor with which she once dominated the world of tennis. A powerful reminder that even the greatest champions need to pause, breathe, and take care of themselves.
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