Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams played her heart out on Saturday, but in the end she lost the coveted Wimbledon trophy to Angelique Kerber of Germany.
The loss was bittersweet, as Williams was competing in the tournament just 10 months after giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia. The past year has been a busy one for the new mom, including a fairy tale wedding to Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian in November.
Following her Wimbledon loss, she gave an emotional interview about the bittersweet experience:
"I was really happy to get this far. For all the moms out there, I was playing for you today"
Grace, poise and emotion. A runner-up's interview given by a true champion.@SerenaWilliams đź‘Ź #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/jjtw3cWyEq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
“I was really happy to get this far,” Williams said. “It’s obviously disappointing, but I can’t be disappointed, you know. I have so much to look forward to … I’m literally just getting started.”
When called a “superhuman supermum” by the interviewer, Williams smiled and said, “No, I’m just me, and that’s all I can be. To all the moms out there, I was playing for you today, and I tried.”
The world has watched in awe as Williams has achieved phenomenal success in the world of tennis. More recently, she has become a role model for moms everywhere, sharing both the highs and the lows of her life. She talked openly about her health issues following an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter, as well as her experiences with post-partum depression. But Williams hasn’t let anything stand in the way of achieving her tennis goals — or encouraging others to do the same.
In May, she appeared at the French Open wearing a sleek catsuit. “For all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancy—here you go,” she captioned her photo on Instagram. “If I can do it, so can you.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjX1maqloXv/
Early in the Wimbledon tournament, she tweeted that she had missed her daughter’s first steps because she was training. Other moms offered their support and encouragement.
She took her first steps… I was training and missed it. I cried.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 7, 2018
Following her Wimbledon loss, Williams’ husband shared his pride and love for his wife on Instagram. “Serena Williams will be holding a trophy again soon — she’s got the greatest one waiting at home for her,” Ohanian wrote. “Our family knows she’ll win many more trophies, too. She’s just getting started. And I couldn’t be more proud.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlOK2qIBcI3/
On Monday, Williams took to Twitter to share her gratitude and support of the moms who have been with her every step of the way. “Let’s keep making noise everyday in everything we do,” she encouraged.
These past 2 weeks was a sound for all moms stay home and working you can do it you really can! I’m not any better or diff than any of you all. Your support has ment so much to me. Let’s keep making noise everyday in everything we do. #roadtoUSOpen pic.twitter.com/5OLYk1a6cK
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 16, 2018
We’re with you, Serena!