Tennis legend Serena Williams has had surgery to remove a branchial cyst, described as the “size of a grapefruit” and discovered in May, from her neck, CNN reports.
Initially, the 23-time Grand Slam champion opted against surgery after several tests confirmed the cyst was benign. However, doctors later advised her to have it removed as it was continuing to grow and posed a risk of infection.
Branchial cleft cysts are sacs filled with fluid that can appear as lumps or swelling in the neck. They can range in size from one centimeter to almost four inches and are considered “benign lesions,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
In a video posted on TikTok, Williams expressed her gratitude and relief after the successful surgery.
The tennis legend also revealed that she missed Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement while she was undergoing the surgery.
Williams, who turned 43 in September, last competed at the 2022 US Open, marking her farewell to professional tennis. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, she holds the Open Era record of 23 Grand Slam titles, just one shy of the all-time record held by Margaret Court.
Throughout her illustrious career, Williams also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus and four Olympic gold medals, cementing her legacy as a true icon of the sport.
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