During the 2017 United States Open, Serena Williams, holder of 23 Grand Slam titles, was fighting for her life. She had just given birth to Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. by cesarean section and faced life-threatening complications from a pulmonary embolism and blood clotting.
She would be bedridden for six weeks.
One year later, she is back on the U.S. Open courts, attempting to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Her return, which has included a run to the Wimbledon final in July, should be surprising to exactly no one.