Serena Williams thrilled the sports world this year with her return to the court after nearly four years away. However, her highly anticipated comeback hit a major roadblock when she was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon’s doubles tournament due to severe right knee swelling
As she recovers and possibly targets a return at the upcoming US Open, there has been off-court controversy around her. It’s the debate surrounding her promoting the GLP-1 weight-loss medication Zepbound. Despite facing backlash for becoming a brand ambassador for the telehealth platform Ro, Williams recently confirmed she has absolutely no regrets about her decision
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Serena Williams Defends GLP-1 Use as She Opens Up About Her Zepbound Weight Loss Journey
In a recent interview with “Rapid Response” host Bob Safian, Williams, when asked whether she had any second thoughts about becoming a high-profile face for GLP-1 medications, was steadfast in her choice
“Not at all. I feel like the more we do research on GLP-1s and the more people understand it… I mean, it does help you lose weight, but it is so much more than that.”
She went on to detail how the medication unexpectedly improved her health, specifically regarding the risks of heart disease. Williams also hinted that there are more positive results. “Even at the time, I didn’t know some of that stuff and some more of the controversial things that I won’t say that it helps with, but those studies are coming out soon.”
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After giving birth to her second daughter, Adira, in 2023, Williams struggled with her weight and joint pain in a way she never had before. Despite sticking to the discipline of a world-class athlete, working out and eating a clean diet, she did not get the results she was looking for
Williams turned to Ro (a company where her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is an investor and board member) to access Zepbound. In Ro’s 2026 Super Bowl commercial, Williams explained her 31-pound weight-loss journey, which sparked the entire debate
At Wimbledon, she fell in a three-setter to 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round. She was forced to withdraw from the doubles tournament alongside Venus due to a right knee injury. However, her comeback stint is far from over. In the first week of July, her coach, Rennae Stubbs, confirmed that the 44-year-old wants to play singles matches before her return to Flushing Meadows
This article originally appeared onPro Football Network
