In a moving statement on her battle with mental illness, Serena Williams admits that she is “Not OK”

Serena Williams, who welcomed her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian earlier this year, wrote a message to her fans regarding mental health.

Serena Williams is giving her honest opinion.

In an emotional greeting to fans, the tennis icon reflected on her mental health journey.

“I am not okay today,” Serena tweeted on Nov. 28 on X, previously Twitter. “And it’s okay to not be okay. Nobody is fine every day. If you’re not feeling well today, I’ll be there for you. There will always be tomorrow. “I adore you.”

The 42-year-old then posted a photo with her daughter child Adira River, whom she and husband Alexis Ohanian welcomed in August. Serena captioned the photo with the sleeping newborn, who was resting on her chest and swaddled in a polka dot blanket, “This makes me so happy.”

The mother of two—she and the Reddit cofounder have a 6-year-old daughter, Olympia—has been open about her mental health struggles over the years. “I know that it’s so important to just put yourself first, especially mentally,” she remarked to Wondermind in 2022, “and I always have shut down moments.” I have strict limits, and no one is allowed to breach them.”

Serena Williams retired from tennis in August of that year, stating in a Vogue piece at the time that she was “evolving away” from the sport to focus on “other things that are important” to her. “I started a family,” she explained. “I want to expand that family.”