By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, July 29, 2014

 

Addressing the media for the first time since her bizarre default at Wimbledon, Serena Williams says she didn't realize how bad it was until after the fact.

Photo Source: Keiran Galvin/ Camerasport

At the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, World No. 1 Serena Williams addressed the media for the first time since her controversial doubles default at Wimbledon, saying that she was surprised by the turn of events and that she didn’t realize how bad it was until she had spent three days in bed.

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"I didn't realize how I felt until later,” Williams said. “In the moment I didn't realize how sick I was. It's weird but that's the fight in me. I never know when to say when."

She added: "I never want to let people down. I never want to let my sister down. I don't want to let the fans down."

Williams, who looked woozy in warmups before her second-round doubles match at Wimbledon, sought attention from doctors before the match, then attempted to play.

Many wondered why her sister and doubles partner Venus wasn’t more vocal during the incident, but Serena says that Venus was urging her to default.

"She kept saying, 'walk off the court, I'm the older sister and I say you have to leave,' " Serena said.

Williams told reporters that she expects to do more thorough battery of medical tests after the season.

After the incident, Williams took a vacation to Croatia, where she mixed practice with pleasure. She was seen visiting local shops and spent time relaxing at the beach as well. "Going to Croatia was unexpected," Williams said. "I'm glad I went. It was so pretty."

Williams will begin her North American hard court season on Wednesday when she meets Karolina Pliskova in the second round at Stanford.