Andy Roddick Backs Serena Williams for Using GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drug: “This is Exactly What She Should’ve Done”

Serena Williams has returned to the tour after four years. At the Queen’s Club Championships, she played her first official match since her retirement at the 2022 US Open.

She teamed up with Victoria Mboko for doubles at the Queen’s and beat the pair of Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos, but they were forced to give the walkover to Laura Siegemund and Leylah Fernandez after the 19-year-old suffered a knee injury during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova. Williams next played in Berlin. She teamed up with Karolina Muchova, and they lost in the first round to Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos.

Last year, Williams started the comeback rumors after entering the drug testing pool of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). She also started using weight loss drug GLP-1, for which she received a lot of criticism.

At that time, when it was still speculation about Williams’ comeback, Andy Roddick backed her for using the drug, saying that if he had returned to the tour after retirement, he would have used the weight loss drug. Also in a recent Served podcast, Roddick once again came to Williams’ defense.

Here’s what I would do if I was coming back. I would stop taking hair loss treatment, and I would start taking GLP-1s.

Williams, in an interview, revealed that she lost 34 pounds in about a year. And that she struggled to lose weight from diet and exercise, as “no matter how many steps you take, how many miles you run, you just can’t get over that hump.“

This is f**king exactly what she should have done. If anyone is upset about this, or if it does end up getting banned because it’s a prescription and obviously helps, it has a very, very unique function; I kind of expect the conversation to build. This is the only responsible thing she could have done to get back; like, this is the route, this is exactly what she should have done. This is exactly what I would do tomorrow if it wasn’t banned. 112%!

Andy Roddick added

Another reason for her to use the drug was to reduce stress on her knee joint. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is an investor in RO, which prescribes GLP-1 medications.

Williams has also received the wild card for Wimbledon doubles along with sister Venus Williams. The Williams sisters, the winners of 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, last won a Major doubles title at the 2016 Wimbledon. Although the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion hung up her racket at the 2022 US Open, Venus never retired and returned to the tour after a long time last year at the Citi Open.

Coco Gauff wants to follow in Serena Williams and Venus Williams’ footsteps

Coco Gauff‘s Berlin Open campaign ended in a disappointing fashion. She squandered a set lead and eventually lost to Paula Badosa in the opening round. Gauff, the winner of 11 singles titles from 16 finals, has never played a final on grass.

But she hopes to win Wimbledon one day because it’s a Major connected to her childhood, as she grew up watching Serena Williams and Venus Williams win it.

Every Grand Slam has been important to me. Obviously, Serena and Venus have both won that tournament many times. It was always a tournament I watched growing up and one that I dreamed of winning. And it’s still a tournament I hope to win.

Coco Gauff said during a press conference in Berlin

Wimbledon starts on June 29. It’s the only Major where Gauff has never made it past the fourth round. She lost in the first round last year.

Also read: Andy Murray Reveals Reasons for Accepting Coaching Role Under Jack Draper