Serena Williams Undergoes Surgery to Remove Benign Cyst from Neck, Assures Fans She’s “Feeling Happy and Lucky”
Serena Williams, tennis legend and one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, recently revealed to fans that she had a benign branchial cyst the size of a small grapefruit surgically removed from her neck.
Sharing an update from her hospital bed, the 43-year-old emphasized that she is in good spirits and recovering well, reassuring everyone that her health is on the mend.
In a candid social media video, Williams detailed her experience, explaining how she first detected a lump on her neck back in May.
“I noticed a bump,” she recalled, “so I went straight to the clinic to check it out.” The initial MRI scan showed it was a benign branchial cyst, and doctors informed her there was no immediate need to remove it if it wasn’t causing discomfort.
She chose to monitor the cyst and wait, but over the following months, it gradually grew, prompting her to seek additional testing.
Williams explained that after three more diagnostic tests and a biopsy, the results were consistently benign. However, physicians advised her to proceed with surgery due to the cyst’s growing size, warning it could eventually cause complications if left untreated.
“It was the size of a small grapefruit and could have led to infection or, worse, a leak,” Williams shared. She added that, while the thought of surgery was daunting, her doctors made her feel confident and supported throughout the process.
Reflecting on her recovery, Williams expressed a mix of relief and optimism, admitting that the surgery had caused her to miss out on several major events. “There were so many things I missed,” she said, mentioning the Glamour Women of the Year Awards and Rafael Nadal’s retirement celebration among others.
“I’m still healing, but I’m getting better. Health always comes first.” In a separate post, she reminded fans that she’d promised her daughter Olympia a trip to American Girl, a cherished mother-daughter outing that she was delighted to have made happen shortly after her recovery.
Fans and onlookers were pleased to see Williams last month enjoying herself at a Green Day concert in Los Angeles, where she was spotted dancing and singing along with fellow fans. Despite her recent surgery, the footage showed her full of energy and seemingly unaffected by any post-surgery complications.
Williams’s journey from tennis superstar to devoted mother has been marked by a series of high-profile achievements both on and off the court.
After retiring from competitive play following the 2022 U.S. Open, Williams has devoted herself to family life with husband Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, and their two daughters: Olympia, age 7, and Adira, born earlier this year. Her decision to leave professional tennis came after an extraordinary career, one that many consider unmatched in modern sports.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Williams’s dominance in the sport spanned over two decades. Known for her powerful serve, relentless work ethic, and unmatched focus, she held the WTA No. 1 ranking for a total of 39 weeks during her career, which included an impressive 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Her peak years included the historic 2002-2003 run where she captured all four Grand Slam titles consecutively, a feat now famously referred to as the “Serena Slam.” Each of those finals saw her face and ultimately defeat her sister, Venus Williams, in an intense sibling rivalry that captivated the world.
Though she retired one Grand Slam title short of Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24, Williams’s impact on tennis is indisputable. Her career helped reshape not only the sport itself but also set a new standard for future generations of athletes.
A vocal advocate for equal pay and gender equality, Williams has also left a lasting legacy off the court, using her platform to address social issues and support young female athletes.
Now, as she moves forward from her recent health challenge, Williams is taking time to cherish the small moments with her family while remaining an inspirational figure for her fans.
She recently returned to the U.S. Open as a spectator, sporting a vintage denim skirt similar to one from her iconic playing days, which delighted fans and underscored her lasting connection to the sport.
Serena Williams has proven, once again, that resilience is at the core of her journey. Whether on the court, facing health challenges, or embracing life as a mother, her legacy continues to inspire and uplift those who have followed her remarkable story.
