Andy Roddick Coming to Serena Williams’ Defense for Using Weight-Loss Drug Doesn’t Sit Well with Fans – “Disgusting”

Serena Williams has been using GLP-1 weight-loss medication after struggling to lose weight since her second pregnancy.

Andy Roddick Coming to Serena Williams’ Defense for Using Weight-Loss Drug Doesn’t Sit Well with Fans – “Disgusting”

Andy Roddick (L) backed Serena Williams (R) for using GLP-1 drug (Image via X/AllAboutHQ, Page Six, Serena Williams)

In Short
  • Serena Williams has not confirmed a return to professional tennis but has re-entered the drug testing pool.
  • Andy Roddick defended Williams' use of a weight-loss drug, stating it could help her return to training safely.
  • Fans criticized Roddick's comments, arguing they promote unhealthy body image messages and shortcuts to fitness.

Will Serena Williams really return to the tour? Williams neither confirmed nor denied when asked whether she would be taking a U-turn on her retirement decision.

The rumors about her comeback spread like wildfire when it was revealed that she returned to the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) drug testing pool. As per the rules, retired players must make themselves available for out-of-competition drug testing for at least six months before competing in any official events. Williams, if she indeed re-enters tournaments, will be eligible to compete from February 22.

And maybe that’s why, said Andy Roddick, Williams wanted to use GLP-1 medication to quickly lose weight. Last August, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion revealed to PEOPLE that she was forced to take the weight-loss drug because, in spite of doing everything, she was finding it tough to lose weight since her second pregnancy.

Who wouldn’t welcome this? What are we psychos? What are we doing? I can tell you something that I think I know for a fact. I’m not Serena, I can’t play anymore, I stink. And, if I decided that I wanted to come back, guess what I would be doing immediately? I would be dropping 20 lbs as fast as I can. I would be taking those drugs. You know what becomes easier when you’re 20 lbs lighter? Getting back to the training that you need without getting injured, to get back on tour.

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

The 43-year-old’s comments came after Williams faced heavy backlash when she featured in an advertisement promoting the drug during the recently concluded Super Bowl. As per the 2003 US Open champion, he would have followed in Williams’ footsteps had he made the decision to make his comeback.

I think it shortens the timeline for training and mitigates a lot of the risk. The thing with getting back is that if you get injured while training repeatedly, you can’t get back. If you start training from a place of 25 lbs less. What’s less likely to happen? Getting hurt. If I was going to do it, I would absolutely do it, and try to drop as much as possible before I get back to the training process.

Andy Roddick added

Tennis journalist Jon Werthiem, the co-host of the podcast, said Williams’ use of GLP-1 is “great,” saying that though the drug is on a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) monitor list, it’s still legal.

Fans slam Andy Roddick for endorsing Serena Williams’ decision to use a weight-loss drug

But the tennis fans, at least most of them, did not agree with Andy Roddick. They think Serena Williams is simply taking a shortcut to shed the weight, and that it doesn’t send body positivity messages, especially to the young girls who look up to her.

Serena Williams
Serena Williams (Image via X/We Are Tennis France)

Some think Roddick supports any player using controversial drugs, citing how the former ATP World No.1 heavily defended current World No.2 Jannik Sinner when he tested positive for clostebol twice.

Check out the reactions here:

Williams bade goodbye to tennis after losing her third-round match at the 2022 US Open. The former WTA World No.1 lifted 73 singles titles and 23 doubles titles. Apart from her 23 Major singles titles, Williams has also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles along with her sister, and seven-time Major singles champion Venus Williams.

The 44-year-old last won a Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open. And since then, she had played four Major singles. In her career’s last Grand Slam final, Williams lost to Bianca Andreescu. She beat Jessica Pegula to win her career’s last singles title at the 2020 Auckland Open.

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