During her break from tennis, Serena Williams says she feared for her career and her life. It started with a gash on her foot in Germany. “To this day I don't really know the full details of what happened," Williams told BBC. I was with my nephew and my hitting partner and we were just leaving a restaurant.” She added, “I was walking and just felt something. I kept walking and it was definitely glass there. There was a massive puddle of blood. I ended up fainting and needed stitches in both feet."

"If it had been left two days later it could have been career-ending—or even worse," she said. "They told me I had several blood clots in both lungs. A lot of people die from that." She revealed that her pain lingered. "It got to the stage where it felt like I could hardly breathe. Some days I didn't get out of bed at all. I just laid on a couch thinking 'Why has this happened to me?'

After two surgeries, Williams is back and more appreciative than ever of her illustrious career. "This has given me a whole new perspective on life and my career—and not taking anything for granted," Williams said. "I'm just taking one day at a time. I'm not preparing for today or for Wimbledon. I'm preparing for the rest of my career."

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