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What a transformation! After giving birth to her first daughter, Olympia, in September 2017, Serena Williams was surprised.

To face difficulty in losing her pregnancy weight while breastfeeding. “For my body, it didn’t work, no matter how much I worked out, no matter how much I did, it didn’t work for me,” said Williams at that time. Then after she stopped breastfeeding, the athlete said she lost almost ten pounds in one week! The 43-year-old superstar has now been documenting her postpartum weight loss journey with her fans by sharing real-time fittings. Recently, she used a ‘dress’ as an example!

In the TikTok clip, she was spotted trying to wear a floral, beautiful dress, which she claimed that she struggled to put on earlier. While adjusting the straps of the dress at the upper waist, she said, “Heyya, so I used to not able to fit this dress at all. I l5iterally couldn’t even close it! So, like I couldn’t close it, it’d come like here. Like physically couldn’t close it. So no, not only I can close it, it almost like… comes too far over. So, (laughs) I’m really excited. I’ve been training a lot. I’ve been running, treading, for 5K then I’m gonna do 10K and then I’m gonna do a half marathon. So, it’s really paying off and I really like this dress.”

Serena Williams Transformation

READ: Serena Williams, Tina Knowles and Taraji P. Henson are among Glamour’s 2024 Women of the Year

The 43-year-old tennis legend further advised her fans, “So keep going! If you’re working out you can do it too. I can do it, you can do it too! You’re way better than me. Love you.” Serena Williams, who had a remarkable 25-year professional career, faced health challenges, including blood clots and a hematoma, a pool of mostly clotted blood that forms in an organ, tissue, or body space. To aid her recovery, she and Venus Williams adopted a vegan diet for a brief period to improve their overall health and well-being. Vegan diet is one of the ways to lose weight as per research.

Even after retiring from tennis, Serena Williams continues to prioritize her health and fitness. She keeps her workouts varied, incorporating activities like Zumba, running, cycling, and swimming. Is it the first time though that we’re seeing Williams share a post surrounding her real-time fittings? Well, not really, how can we forget the ‘Skirt Saga’ which even drew compliments from the German tennis legend, Boris Becker!

In July, Williams shared a video on her IG account in which she was trying to fit in a Valentino denim midi skirt for the third time this year. After giving it a few tries, Williams claimed that she had “made a lot of progress.” However, the fit wasn’t too comfortable for her at that time.

She stated that she would perhaps now need one more video to get this picture perfect! Boris Becker was seen sharing a few words of compliment for the American star on this post. He wrote, “Serena, you look absolutely amazing after 2 babies and show how Black women look even better with age!” Is Serena Williams now giving her all to make this skirt fit perfectly in her next video?

In May this year, Serena Williams was diagnosed with a lump on her neck. After that, she underwent an MRI test and after having gone through the tests, it was discovered that it was a having a benign branchial cyst, “the size of a small grapefruit”. Williams eventually decided to get it operated. How is she now? Well, she’s now healthy and running! “I am feeling so grateful and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all, I’m healthy,” Williams assured her fans on TikTok.

Recently, she even posted a small video clip on her IG story and in that video, she was even seen jogging on the street. Not only jogging, but Williams was also spotted showing her dancing skills in a recent concert featuring the American pop star, Taylor Swift.

Talking about active lifestyle, well in April 2024, during an interview with TODAY’s Hoda & Jenna, Williams stated, “As a mom, I’m actually way more active than what I was during tennis. Obviously, tennis, I was playing Wimbledons and stuff. But, as a mom, I’m gone all day.” This woman never fails to amaze us, isn’t it?

Muguruza is the first former player to be named to the post at the event, which she won in 2024

Former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza, who announced her retirement in April, has been named the tournament director of the season-ending WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

Muguruza is the first former player to be named to the post at the event, which she won in 2021.

Weeks prior to the Spaniard, now 30, revealing that her career was over, the WTA announced that its year-end championships, which feature the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams, would move to the Saudi Arabian capital for 2024 on a three-year deal, and offer a record $15.25 million in prize money. On Wednesday, the tour announced its appointment of Muguruza to the tournament director job, where she will “work with WTA, the Saudi Tennis Federation and the Ministry of Sport to oversee strategic planning and delivery of the event.”

Garbiñe Muguruza announces retirement from tennis at age 30

She will focus particularly, the tour says, on raising tennis’ profile in the region, and promoting health and wellness initiatives to young people. As Saudi Arabia continues to raise its overall financial investment in professional tennis, which includes title sponsorship of the ATP and WTA rankings, the Saudi Tennis Federation has said that it wants 1 million players in the country by 2030.

Describing the opportunity as a privilege in a statement, Muguruza says she hopes to be able to “contribute to the future” of tennis in her new administrative role.

“I know how special this event is for our top players, and I’ve also seen its potential to inspire communities all over the world,” she added. “I’m excited to work with a great team to present a showcase for women’s tennis that not only grows tennis but encourages all fans, and especially girls and women, to pursue their dreams.”

Muguruza’s appointment adds another name to an increasing roster of former players who currently serve as tournament directors of various tour events, the most high-profile of those being Amelie Mauresmo at Roland Garros. In addition, Muguruza’s former coach, Conchita Martinez, has been in the post for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals since last year.

Novak Djokovic withdraws from next week’s Paris Masters for unspecified reasons; 24-time Grand Slam champion’s spot at season-ending ATP Finals could be in jeopardy; Djokovic currently sixth in race with top eight to compete in Turin between November 10-17

Defending champion Novak Djokovic has pulled out of next week’s Paris Masters, potentially jeopardising his chances of qualifying for the end-of-year ATP Finals.

Djokovic is currently sixth in the race to reach the Turin tournament between November 10-17, with the top eight to play in Italy,

No reason has been given for the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s withdrawal from Paris, with Djokovic writing in an Instagram Story: “Unfortunately I won’t be playing this year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me play there.”

Novak Djokovic begins his pursuit of career golden slam at the Paris  Olympics | CNN

The 37-year-old last played in the third-place play-off at the inaugural Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, beating the soon-to-retire Rafael Nadal in the legends’ final match against each other.

Djokovic has won a record seven titles at the Paris 1000 event and beat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in last year’s final.

He added on social media: “I have a lot of great memories winning seven titles there and hope to be back with you next year. Wishing all the players, sponsors, organisers and fans a great tournament.”

Iga Swiatek’s reign at the top has finally ended. Earlier today, Aryna Sabalenka displaced the Polish star in the WTA rankings table and became the new World Number 1. While Swiatek has been away from the court since her quarterfinal defeat against Jessica Pegula at the US Open, Sabalenka has enjoyed a winning run of late. However, recent form isn’t the only factor behind Sabalenka’s rise to the top as a controversial WTA rule came to light.

While there are as many as 10 mandatory WTA 1000 tournaments, the women’s body also requires players to play in the 6 mandatory WTA 500 tournaments. The move has been widely debated, with players calling out the grueling schedule which takes a toll on their physical and mental health. There are as many as 17 WTA 500 tournaments played in a season and players have to compulsorily play in six of them.

Sabalenka has already played in four WTA 500 tournaments this season, Brisbane International, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Ecotrans Ladies Open, and the Citi Open. Swiatek has played in just 2 WTA 500 tournaments, the United Cup and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. As a result, Swiatek has lost out on crucial WTA ranking points, which has affected her downgrade from the top spot to the second position.

Further, a tennis insider also raised objections over the mandatory WTA 500 rule, saying, “The problem is not that Iga Świątek is falling to second place in the ranking, because that was predictable, Sabalenka deserved to be in the lead. The problem is the controversial rules of the WTA ranking construction. 6 mandatory WTA 500 events (XD) , the requirement to play every now and then for the best.”

Many players, including Iga Swiatek, have strongly criticized the WTA for the scheduling mess. Earlier today, it was Sloane Stephens who made her feelings felt on this matter.

Iga Swiatek 

Sloane Stephens joins Iga Swiatek in voicing her concerns

With a growing number of mandatory tournaments, there is hardly any breathing space left for the players. This eventually results in their physical and mental health taking a toll and not many players are able to escape injury-free from the grueling season. As a result, Sloane Stephens became the latest player to voice her concerns.

She said, “Like you’re just there because like if you don’t want to sign or you don’t you’re supposed to be or you enter the tournament or you don’t have any more withdrawals like you’re just like I’m present but I’m not like mentally and not here, but I feel like that’s just kind of one of the bad things about the tour. Both tours ATP and WTA, is that you’re kind of forced to play, even when you’re probably not in the best mental capacity, you’re probably not the best physical shape, or you might be injured or whatever it is, and you just arrive because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Earlier, Swiatek also expressed concerns, saying that playing more tournaments will make tennis less interesting. It is high time that the tennis bodies take into account the players’ health and ease out the tennis season. Do you feel that the WTA should scrap the mandatory rule in the WTA 500 events? Let us know your views in the comments below.

At 22, Angel Reese is already one of the faces of the WNBA.

The New York Liberty may have just won the 2024 WNBA Finals but Chicago Sky forward Reese and longtime rival Caitlin Clark are already the two biggest names in women’s basketball.

However, despite Reese’s obvious talents and growing celebrity status, the 22-year-old recently admitted her WNBA salary isn’t enough to cover her rent.

“I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese, who is set to earn an annual rookie salary of $73,439 for 2024, said during a live-stream.

“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at [in Chicago]. I’m gonna do the math real quick.”

The former LSU star then quickly calculated her spending, noting that her rent is $8,000 per month.

Reese exclaimed: “I’m living beyond my means!”

“I wouldn’t even be able to get a sandwich if I wanted to,” she added. “I wouldn’t be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live.”

Luckily for Reese, her salary is supplemented by several lucrative endorsements with the likes of Reebok, Beats by Dre, Wingstop, Xfinity, Raising Cane’s, Panini America and Reece’s Pieces.

As a result, she has a reported net worth of $2 million.

And now the ‘Bayou Barbie’ looks set to add another revenue stream to her growing portfolio thanks to the new 3-vs-3 basketball league Unrivaled which she is confirmed to take part in.

The project — spearheaded by WNBA Finals foes Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — is set to begin on January 17, 2025, and Reese, along with many other WNBA stars, has already signed up to play.

TNT Sports announced its multiyear media rights agreement with Unrivaled, with primetime games set to air on TNT on Mondays and Fridays, and on TruTV on Saturdays over an eight-week span.

Rookie of the Year runner-up Reese will play on an Unrivaled team in Miami, and recently spoke about what she’s expecting from the new league.

She revealed what she wants to accomplish during the league’s debut season while subtly throwing shade at the WNBA over its lack of equity for players.

“i’m excited for the league’s first season!” Reese said of Unrivaled.

“It’s amazing to be a part of a league that gives equity to players.

Angel Reese

“I’m looking forward to playing with the best athletes and really using the time to focus on my game and getting better too.

“Being able to be in Miami from January to March, not having to go overseas,” Reese previously said. “Nobody wants to go overseas.”

“Being able to make six figures within three months,” she added.

“Being able to be housed in Miami, just being able to get better, being able to know two great players that are starting something, I think it’s amazing.”

Unrivaled is unique in the sense that it has committed ownership equity to the league’s first 30 players, which includes the likes of Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Brittany Griner, and has the highest average salary in women’s sports history.

That’s in stark contrast to how the WNBA operates and how it distributes revenue across the league.

Where the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for players guarantees them a 50-percent cut of the organization’s basketball-related income, the WNBA’s CBA has no such language.

Last year, WNBA players only received around 20% of revenue shares. They get a 50-50 split of incremental revenue, just not all revenue.

WNBA salaries are significantly lower than those in the NBA, too. While the average NBA player salary last season was more than $10 million annually, the highest WNBA player salary this season is $252,420, earned by Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young.

The W’s players are continuing to fight back against the pay disparity though, asking for more equity in the league’s shared revenues.

Players won’t be able to negotiate for those changes until 2025, which is when the current CBA expires.

However, even with the league’s recent agreement on a lucrative new TV broadcast rights deal, there’s growing speculation that WNBA players might look to opt out of their existing CBA by the November 1 deadline, aiming for substantially better terms in future negotiations.

The potential for a new CBA could have serious ramifications for the league, affecting payscales and free agency which would likely be effective as of 2026.

Angel Reese, one of the biggest stars in the WNBA, recently announced a new business venture. Following a successful rookie season with the Chicago Sky, Reese has been busy in the offseason, opening new doors in the business world.

A recent report by Demica Inman at VIBE revealed that Reese has partnered with Cash App, a digital wallet service for American consumers. The partnership will focus on giveaways, community empowerment and limited edition debit cards.

Reese became the first athlete in WNBA history to partner with Cash App.

“Angel Reese is redefining what it means to be a game changer, authentically pushing the boundaries between sport and culture,” said Catherine Ferdon, the Cash App CMO.

Cash App will also be releasing “The Angel Machine,” which is located at W. Fulton St and No. Sangamon St. in Chicago, Illinois.

These machines will give fans an opportunity to play an “interactive game” with the chance to win Reese’s college jersey, sneakers and more.

The Cash App company will also serve as a sponsor to Reese’s “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, with plans to surprise fans with giveaways on the show.

Reese is coming off a historic rookie season with the Sky. The rookie quickly became a league superstar after being selected at No. 7 in the WNBA draft.

At 22 years old, she was named to the WNBA All-Star team after averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Reese led the WNBA in average rebounds and was the only rookie to average a double-double.

Novak Djokovic implored long-time rival Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard on Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their storied rivalry.

“Don’t leave tennis, man,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

He added that their battles over the years had been “very intense” and told Nadal he hoped they could one day “sit on a beach somewhere” and have a drink.

Nadal, 38, announced on 10 October that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.

Organisers of the Saudi event billed Saturday’s match as perhaps Nadal’s last singles contest as a professional.

Nadal said on Thursday he was unsure whether he would be fit enough to play singles in Malaga.

Djokovic and Nadal –- two of the sport’s famed “Big Three” along with Roger Federer –- had faced each other 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday’s exhibition match, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 edge.

Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

Their last encounter came during the Paris Olympics on the same Roland Garros courts where Nadal won 14 French Open titles, though Djokovic triumphed easily 6-1, 6-4.

Saturday’s match was also mostly one-sided, with Nadal spraying errors and Djokovic wrapping up the first set in just 31 minutes.

Feeding off the support of the partisan crowd who openly cheered Djokovic’s double-faults, Nadal rallied to push the second set to a tie-break, reeling off winners and even treating fans to one last iconic fist pump before succumbing to Djokovic’s relentless serving.

“It’s great to see him still fighting even though he’s had injuries and struggles,” Djokovic, 37, told a post-match press conference.

It was “a very emotional day, a special day” because it was the “last time I played my biggest rival, Nadal,” he added.

“I’ve witnessed Andy Murray retiring this year at Wimbledon, Roger (Federer) a few years ago as well. And now Rafa, you know. It’s tough in some ways to see them go, because all of my career, basically, I’ve played with them.”

After being presented with a golden tennis racket, Nadal in turn thanked Djokovic for the “amazing rivalry” and “for all the moments that we shared on court”.

Rafael Nadal made an entertaining appearance at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia but lost out to Novak Djokovic in their final ever match.

Battling valiantly against his compatriot and protégé Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal produced glimpses of his true game at the inaugural Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia.

Despite playing his part in a tie that was not as one-sided as some expected, Nadal still failed to get past his younger countryman.

In the third place playoff, a final instalment of one of sports greatest rivalries took place as Novak Djokovic took on the Spaniard.

Coincidentally, Nadal’s most recent singles match also came against his great rival at the Paris Olympics, with that match – their 60th ATP encounter – falling Djokovic’s way.

With Nadal announcing his upcoming retirement this month, he has speculated over when Djokovic might join him.

Rafael Nadal predicts Novak Djokovic career and retirement plans

The pair faced off in all four major finals, with Djokovic ultimately stealing their overall head-to-head by 31 to 29.

In an era defined by the ‘Big Four’, Djokovic is the last man standing with Roger Federer and Andy Murray already having hung up the racquet.

Rafael nadal and Novak Djokovic

 

Having won the Olympics this year – an achievement that eluded him for so long – but no Grand Slam titles, many have wondered how long the suburb still has on the professional circuit.

Angel Reese sat courtside for Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, with attire repping the star players of the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty.

The Chicago Sky rookie wore a jersey that included Liberty’s Breanna Stewart on one side and Lynx’s Napheesa Collier on the other.

Reese posted on X two days ago asking if someone could make the jersey for her by Sunday’s decisive Game 5. Earlier today, she shouted out the artist, Jocelyn Hu, who put together the outfit.

Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game this season. She finished second to Caitlin Clark in Rookie of the Year voting and made the WNBA All-Rookie team.

Coco Gauff suffered another serving disaster throughout her semi-final defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan.

It was another catastrophic day for the Coco Gauff serve despite her getting so close to defeating Aryna Sabalenka.

The match was sealed by Gauff’s 21st double fault of the match – a record for a single match this year on the WTA Tour.

Despite her serving woes also present in Beijing last week, she still mangled to capture the title.

With Gauff’s game so well-rounded in all other categories, besides arguably her forehand, the 20-year-old still came so close to toppling Sabalenka, who has only lost one match since losing in Toronto two months ago.

Coco Gauff explains why her serve ‘surprised’ her

Giving up 21 free points is criminal – 24 could win you a set – yet not unusual in this stage of Gauff’s career.

It was the 19 double faults at the US Open which saw her title defense come to an end again in three sets.

Interestingly, the serve is obviously limiting Gauff’s success and win rate, yet not seeing her simply roll over for opponents.

Coco Gauff

She said, via Punto de Break: “I am working on new things, a slightly different movement, and it is logical that I may encounter problems. I was very surprised at how well my serve worked in Beijing.

“I arrived here somewhat tired, but I take many positive things from coming close to beating one of the best in the world despite my poor serving performance handicap. I think I just need time and to keep working.”

Barely anyone has got a set against Sabalenka in the past few months – this defeat is no major embarrassment or surprise, more just the latest miserable update in Gauff’s continued serving woes.

Coco Gauff is only one fix away from another Grand Slam title

Unfortunately, it’s not by any means a quick fix. The ‘yips’ are a brutal tattoo on any tennis player, remaining forcer difficulty to conceal.

However, her opponent Sabalenka is in many ways the perfect player to look at.

The Belarusian also endured a total serving nightmare during the 2022 season, striking 428 double faults in 601 service games.

Yet just a year on, the Belarusian captured the Australian Open title, something she successfully defended this year.

Gauff’s taste of a major title is something she’s naturally craving once more – luckily she has the perfect player in front of her to prove a route past her problems is possible.

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