Tennis star Serena Williams underwent emergency treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a blood clot in her lungs.
“Serena did indeed suffer from a pulmonary embolism last week, and the hematoma was another unexpected scare. Thankfully everything was caught in time. With continued doctor visits to monitor her situation, she is recuperating at home under strict medical supervision,” Williams' representative Nicole Chabot said in a statement.
Serena Williams
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"Thank you everyone for all of your prayers, concerns, and support," Williams said in her statement. "This has been extremely hard, scary, and disappointing. I am doing better, I’m at home now and working with my doctors to keep everything under control. I know I will be ok, but am praying and hoping this will all be behind me soon. While I can’t make any promises now on my return, I hope to be back by early summer. That said, my main goal is to make sure I get there safely.”
Dr. Mark Adelman, chief of vascular surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, said a patient with a pulmonary embolism would need to take an anticoagulant for 6-12 months but could play sports on the medication.
''A blood clot can occur in any vein or extremity, most commonly in the leg, and can travel to the lung,'' Dr. Adelman wrote in an e-mail. ''Prior surgery, air travel, prolonged sitting, birth control pills, obesity and pregnancy can predispose a patient to a blood clot in the leg that can travel to the lung.''
Adelman said if a clot-dissolving agent is used to treat an embolism, it can result in bleeding around the catheter used to deliver the drug. Williams' agents said the hematoma was removed.
Williams, 29, appeared Sunday for Elton John's AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, but her health took a turn for the worse Monday.
Williams' mother, Oracene Price, tweeted Wednesday afternoon: ''Thank you for your concern. She is fine.''
On Tuesday night, Williams posted on her Twitter account "Tough day." A few minutes later she retweeted Kim Kardashian.
The former world No. 1 was aiming to return to the court in time for the French Open in May after an extended break from the game due to injury.
She was on the entry list for the WTA Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., which is set for March 22 to April 3. But the tournament director, Adam Barrett, said he was already not expecting her to play in the event because she had still not resumed training, according to the Miami Herald.
"Our prayers are with her, and we wish her a speedy recovery. Serena is important to the game of tennis, and important to the Sony Ericsson Open. She has had great success here and been a fan favorite. She will be missed."
Williams recently had a cast removed from her right foot and was due to begin training soon. She had surgery after cutting her foot on broken glass shortly after her win at Wimbledon last July.
Williams -- currently ranked 11th in the world -- has amassed 13 Grand Slam singles titles in her brilliant career, winning the Australian Open five times, Wimbledon four times, the U.S. Open three times and the French Open once.
Associated Press and FOXSports.com contributed to this report
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