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In case you hadn’t noticed, Serena Williams is arguably the baddest athlete to ever walk this Earth.
For the uninitiated, Williams, 36, had a baby by caesarean section just last year, suffered through several related medical issues, and still won her semifinal matchup yesterday against Anastasija Sevastova, a 28-year-old from Latvia. She is now headed to the U.S. Open for the 9th time.
READ MORE: Serena Williams puts aside shaky start to beat Pliskova at US Open
After the amazing achievement, Williams took it all in and nearly lost it. During an interview following her 6-3, 6-0 victory, the tennis phenom fought back tears, according to The New York Times. “I got a little emotional out there because last year I was literally fighting for my life in the hospital,” she told the Times. “I think I was on my fourth surgery by now. What is today? I was on my third surgery. I had one more to go still.”
“To come from that, in the hospital bed, not being able to move and walk and do anything. Now only a year later, I’m not training, but I’m actually in these finals, in two in a row,” Williams continued, referring also to her advance to the Wimbledon final. “Like I said, this is the beginning. I’m not there yet. I’m on the climb still.”
“Honestly,” she said, “it is remarkable. I couldn’t have predicted this at all.”
Last year during the U.S. Open, Williams gave birth to a daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian. The delivery was fraught with life-threatening complications and Williams had to undergo multiple operations.
READ MORE: Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian elated over daughter’s first birthday
This is but a distant memory to her latest achievements on the court.
On Saturday, Williams will play Naomi Osaka, the 20th-seed and a rising star from Japan. Osaka has dreamed of playing Williams, the 17th-seed, in the finals since she was a little girl.
When asked if she had anything to say to Williams, Osaka gushed: “I love you” before bursting into nervous laughter, the Times reported.
Osaka then collected herself and her fandom and let a reporter know that she does love Williams but that in her dreams, she wins.
“I don’t dream to lose,” she replied.