Williams has 'grapefruit-sized' cyst removed from neck

Serena Williams has revealed she recently had a branchial cyst on her neck "the size of a small grapefruit" removed.

The 23-time grand-slam champion, who last played competitively at the 2022 US Open, posted a video on her TikTok channel on Wednesday which briefly showed the procedure.

Williams confirmed all tests on the cyst came back negative, but she was advised to get it removed and is on the mend.

"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 branchial 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," Williams wrote.

"I decided to get more tests and three tests 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.

"So this is me removing it. I am feeling so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I’m healthy. I still made it to American doll with (daughter) Olympia as promised. And yes all is OK."

Follow the RTÉ Sport WhatsApp channel for the best news, interviews, analysis and features, as well as details of our sports coverage across all RTÉ platforms.