The 36-year-old had a down week and wasn't afraid to share that fact with the public. Serena Williams has taken to Instagram to explain the “personal reasons” that kept her out of this week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal. The 23-time major champion says that postpartum emotions got the best of her and she fell into a funk as she tried to find the balance between her personal and professional life.

 

Last week was not easy for me. Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom. I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with. I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal. It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby. We have all been there. I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be. However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes. I’m here to say: if you are having a rough day or week–it’s ok–I am, too!!! There’s always tomm!

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on

Aug 6, 2018 at 3:24pm PDT

“Last week was not easy for me,” she wrote. “Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom.”

“I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with,” she wrote. “I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal. It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby.”

Since she gave birth to her daughter Olympia last September, Williams has stressed that being a role model is more important to her than ever. She has talked often about her willingness to embrace the responsibility that comes with being a superstar athlete, and she has been more open with the public about issues, particularly motherhood, but also women’s rights and equality.

“We have all been there,” Williams continued. “I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be. However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes.”

Several stars took to Twitter to praise Williams and show her support on Monday. Here are a few samplings of that support.

You’re a badass lady !

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) August 6, 2018

I’ve been a fan of Serena’s for nearly 20 years, she is as brilliant an athlete as there has ever been – but to watch the honesty, strength and vulnerability she’s displayed as a working mother has been jaw-dropping. My constant respect from one working mother to another. https://t.co/JQ8DSyO2fZ

— Sally Field (@sally_field) August 7, 2018

Serena withdrew from #RogersCup citing "personal reasons".
Here's what she meant…

📺: #TCLive
Watch now→ https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 pic.twitter.com/zcKaTdyArK

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 7, 2018

The Russian's current ranking is only good enough to get her into qualifying.

2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova rises 41 spots in the rankings to return to the top 100 at No.87 this week after winning her second Citi Open title, but her rise is too late for the U.S. Open rankings cutoff which leaves Kuznetsova hoping for a main draw wild card into the event.

“I’m praying to get a wild card for U.S. Open because so far I’m into the qualies. I would love to play main draw and hopefully I will be lucky enough to get one, but we’ll see,” she said.

Kuznetsova dropped from inside the Top 70 to 128 after Wimbledon when she didn’t defend her quarterfinal points at Eastbourne or SW19.

The 33-year-old is just finally finding her form after making her return from off-season wrist surgery this spring. It has taken her time—no surprise to anybody who has seen other pros attempt to return from similar surgeries (see Juan Martin del Potro).

“I’ve done it many times, coming back, but sometimes I felt like low on motivation because you work, work, work and you don’t succeed and you work, work, work and then you still have pain,” she told reporters after saving four match points to defeat Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2. “I think I also did some bad decisions, but for me it was first time learning from surgery. My doctor who did the surgery told me ‘You should be ready for clay,’ and I was trying to get ready for Indian Wells and Miami and I was not ready.”

After reeling off five consecutive wins Kuznetsova has improved her record to 9-10 on the season. She has also demonstrated that she’s in good enough form to deserve a wild card—something that is more important than past results to the major tournaments that are tasked with these difficult decisions.

For now the Russian will return to Miami to practice, because she missed the Rogers Cup qualifying due to her run in D.C., and then play Cincinnati, where she has received a wild card. A few more wins there and it might become difficult for the U.S. Open to turn her down.