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Serena Williams’s Post Pregnancy Achievements Not Recognized Enough Says Kim Clijsters

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Vivek Devane | Last updated May 9, 2025 8:57 AM ET

Tennis legend Kim Clijsters has spoken out in admiration of Serena Williams, highlighting what she sees as an underappreciated chapter in the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s storied career—her remarkable return to tennis after giving birth. Reflecting on her own career and the era she played in, Clijsters expressed deep pride in sharing the court with some of the sport's most iconic names.

“When you think back about it now it's amazing and the women that we had growing up too - Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport I mean she was so important for me also,” said Kim Clijsters in a recent podcast.

However, one name stood out for Clijsters and that was Serena Williams. Clijsters even recalled the first match she ever played against Serena, which she ended up losing and Serena went on to win her first US open.

“My first US open I qualified and played against Serena in the second round and that was her first US open title and she ended up being the GOAT in our sport right?” said Clijsters.

Clijsters also mentioned how Serena’s achievements after she came back from child birth, were underappreciated. Clijsters as we all know is the only WTA player in the open era to win a grand slam as a mother. Many expected Serena would be the one to extend that list to two. However, she failed to do so, falling short of just one match multiple times. She made it to four grand slam finals- twice at US open and Wimbledon, falling short all 4 times.

“I feel very fortunate that we had great rivalries and seeing Venus and Serena develop into just multiple Grand Slam champions, especially Serena being what she did after she you know had her daughter and coming back and being so close to winning more titles was, I feel like doesn't get enough recognition, but yeah, I'm very very proud to be part of that generation,” stated Clijsters.

With multiple mothers competing in the top 50 of the current WTA roster, it remains to be seen if anyone joins Kim Clijsters on the elite list.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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