Serena Williams, the legendary tennis star, recently used her platform to promote a book written by a friend. This book, authored by Loren Ridinger, is titled “Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up?: Living Your Best Life after Losing Your Greatest Love.” The promotion comes in the wake of tragic events that occurred during Williams’ 2022 US Open campaign, marking the end of her illustrious career.
On January 28, Williams took to both X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to share a heartfelt message. In her post, she remembered JR Ridinger, a close friend who passed away shortly after supporting Williams at the 2022 US Open. According to Williams, JR succumbed to a blood clot, a condition that has affected her life on multiple occasions.
“At my last US Open, a good friend of mine, JR Ridinger, posted his last ever post here on IG. Of course, at the time none of us knew that it would be his last — but it was about me and how proud he was of me in my final tournament. He had stayed up to watch me win a great battle. The next day, I got news that he had passed due to a blood clot,” Serena Williams wrote.
The news of her friend’s passing triggered a flood of emotions for Williams, who has had personal experience with blood clots. She had to confront this issue back in 2010, when blood clots were found in her lungs, and again postpartum when complications arose after the birth of her daughter, Olympia.
“This was super triggering to me because I myself almost died of the same thing. Only because it was caught in time. What made me so fortunate and not others? I was flooded with emotions and all the moments we spent together with his wife, one of my best friends, Loren Ridinger,” she added.
Williams highlighted her friendship with Loren Ridinger, JR’s widow, who has authored a book about her journey with grief and healing. The book, which Williams calls a “must-read,” provides insights into how to move forward after experiencing a loss.
“How do we move forward? How do we keep going? It was a devastating setback. In this amazing book, Loren discovers how to continue to live your best life after losing your greatest love. It’s something she still deals with today, but we know that JR would be so proud of her. Congrats @lorenridinger. This is indeed a MUST READ. Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up?: Living Your Best Life after Losing Your Greatest Love,” Williams concluded.
The 23-time singles Grand Slam champion, known for her resilience, had to battle multiple health issues in recent years. Her struggles began in 2010 with blood clots in her lungs, but her condition worsened after the birth of Olympia. Despite these challenges, Williams came back to competitive tennis and even gave birth to a second child, Adira River, in 2023.
“I’m at high risk for blood clots” – Serena Williams
In 2022, Williams shared her experience with blood clots with Elle, stating that had the clots not been diagnosed promptly, they could have resulted in her death. This incident had a profound impact on her life and career.
“In 2010, I learned I had blood clots in my lungs—clots that, had they not been caught in time, could have killed me. Ever since then, I’ve lived in fear of them returning. It wasn’t a one-off; I’m at high risk for blood clots,” Williams said.
The dangers of blood clots became increasingly apparent after the birth of her first daughter. The complications were severe, and Williams had to fight for her life.
“When I woke up from that surgery, in the hospital room with my parents and my in-laws, I felt like I was dying. They were trying to talk to me, and all I could think was, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying. Oh my God’,” Williams recounted.
Despite the adversity she faced, Williams managed to recover and returned to the tennis court. Her resilience continued as she welcomed her second child, Adira River, into the world in 2023.
Edited by Samya Majumdar
Williams’ journey, marked by both triumph and tragedy, serves as a testament to the human spirit. Her promotion of “Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up?” shines a light on the importance of resilience and the need to support those navigating life after loss. If you resonate with her story or know someone who might benefit from Loren Ridinger’s book, consider sharing it with them.
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