UPDATE with statement from Serena’s rep and Serena herself:
“Serena did indeed suffer from a pulmonary embolism last week, and the hematoma was another unexpected scare. Thankfully everything was caught in time. With continued doctor visits to monitor her situation, she is recuperating at home under strict medical supervision.”
Says Serena, “Thank you everyone for all of your prayers, concerns, and support. This has been extremely hard, scary, and disappointing. I am doing better, 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. While I can’t make any promises now on my return, I hope to be back by early summer. That said, my main goal is to make sure I get there safely.”
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Tennis star Serena Williams underwent “emergency treatment” Monday, days after doctors discovered a blood clot in her lungs, People magazine first reported.
Spokeswoman Nicole Chabot told the magazine that Williams “underwent emergency treatment for a hematoma suffered as a result of treatment for a more critical situation.”
Williams suffered from a pulmonary embolism last week, Chabot said. The 29-year-old Williams is being treated at a Los Angeles hospital.
“Doctors are continuing to monitor her situation closely to avoid additional complications,” Chabot told the magazine.
The winner of 13 Grand Slam titles, Williams attended Sunday night’s Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party.
On Tuesday night, Williams posted on her Twitter account “Tough day.” A few minutes later she retweeted Kim Kardashian.
The younger sister of seven-time major champion Venus Williams hasn’t played an official match since winning Wimbledon for the fourth time July 3. She cut her right foot on broken glass at a restaurant shortly after the victory, and her comeback has been repeatedly delayed by complications with the injury since.
Williams had surgery after initially hurting her foot and pulled out of the U.S. Open. She resumed practicing in September, but kept pushing back her return and needed an additional operation in October.
Williams missed the Australian Open in January, where she was the two-time defending champion.
Chabot told the magazine the embolism was discovered after Williams returned to Los Angeles from New York “for doctor appointments for the ongoing issues with her foot.”
Second-ranked Kim Clijsters tweeted Wednesday: “Just read about Serena!!!! Very scary, hope she is ok!fingers crossed!”
Williams has a wide range of business, fashion and charitable interests that keep her in the public eye even when she’s not on the court. Since winning her first Grand Slam title in 1999, shehas struggled with injuries on several occasions only to come back to win more championships.
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