Serena Williams undergoes surgery after doctors advised her to remove lump on her neck ‘asap’ to avoid serious problem
Serena Williams found a lump in her neck and had surgery after she initially decided to not go under the knife.

Serena Williams (Image via X)
Serena Williams on Wednesday (October 16) announced that she underwent successful surgery after finding a lump on her neck. Williams took to her TikTok account to give her health updates, sharing when she discovered the lump and how she decided to remove it.
Williams found in May that she had a brachial cyst and decided not to go under the knife at first as doctors did not think it would cause much trouble to the former tennis star. But as the cyst kept growing, upon the doctors’ advice, Williams finally decided to get it removed.
Back in May I found a lump showing on my neck. I immediately went to the doc got a mri and was told I have a brachial cyst. Have you ever heard of that? They said I don’t need to get it removed if I don’t want. So I did not get it but it kept growing. I decided to get more test and 3 test and one biopsy later everything is still negative but doctors advised I get it removed asap because it was the size of a small grapefruit and it could get infected or worse leak.
Serena Williams wrote on TikTok
As everything went alright, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, though fatigued following the surgery, fulfilled her promise to Olympia as she took her seven-year-old daughter to buy a famous American Girl doll.
So this is me removing it. I am feelimg so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I’m healthy. I still made it to American doll with Olympia as promised. And yes all is ok.
Serena Williams added
An important health update from Serena Williams. pic.twitter.com/goTGXzrhu2
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 16, 2024
Serena Williams explains why she didn’t pay tribute to Rafael Nadal
On October 10, the tennis world heard the news of Rafael Nadal‘s retirement. Tributes poured in from all corners, except from Serena Williams. Williams on October 16, took to X to reveal that the reason why she did not wish the retiring Nadal was due to the aforementioned health problem she was dealing with.

So many things I missed like @glamourmag Woman of the Year awards, @RafaelNadal retirement and I am still recovering, but getting better. Health always comes first.
Serena Williams wrote on X
Check her tweet here:
So many things I missed like @glamourmag Woman of the Year awards, @RafaelNadal retirement ? and I am still recovering, but getting better. Health always comes first. https://t.co/01DLAWLRsM
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) October 16, 2024
In her incredible career, Williams lifted 23 singles, 14 doubles, and two mixed doubles in Grand Slams. She also bagged four Olympic gold medals (one in singles and the rest in doubles). Williams hung up her racket following her third-round defeat at the 2022 US Open.
Nadal on the other hand, is in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam exhibition event. He will play his first match on October 17 against the winner of the quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune. Following the event, Nadal will play the final tournament of his career in November, the Davis Cup in Malaga.