Serena Williams Was br 'Terrified' of Giving Birth The 37-year-old tennis player wanted to keep her br 2-year-old daughter, Olympia, inside her belly. She had researched br so much about the birthing br process and it scared her. Serena Williams, at Advertising Week panel Serena Williams, at Advertising Week panel However, Williams didn't have an easy labor as she had to undergo an emergency C-section. The life-threatening complications resulted in surgery to prevent blood clots from travelling to her lungs.