Serena Williams, winner of eight Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, has to overcome more than just her opponent -- the American must also cope with sinus problems in order to thrive on the tennis court.
Williams, who won the year's first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, next sets her sights on the French Open on the red clay of Roland Garros in Paris.
She recently addressed reporters to launch a campaign for sinus medications and shared simple tips on dealing with a sinus condition.
"My secret's out. I'm a sinus sufferer. Playing tennis or pretty much doing anything every day is not easy when you have sinuses. You feel a lot of pressure, congestion and pain and training for Grand Slams such as the ones coming up like Wimbledon and the French Open, it's not easy.
"It's not easy to play when you have all this pressure. The last thing I want to do is go out on a tennis court and play [sister] Venus and be tired. That's not fun at all, especially against her, she's so tough."
In addition to competing at the highest level, Williams, 25, also keeps busy with a passion for fashion design and acting, and also remains committed to philanthropic causes, visiting schools and hospitals and conducting tennis clinics for at-risk youth.
Williams shared some tips for alleviating sinus pain and getting on with an active lifestyle.
"To avoid some of the trouble, it's important not to use so much ice in your beverages. Sometimes that stops you up and makes you get a lot of pressure.
"I've learned taking hot, hot showers -- as hot as you can stand it -- helps clear those passage ways. And working out helps a lot. That keeps you clear, keeps your chest clear and keeps everything clear.
"I've got the working out part right, but I'm still working on ice in my drinks because I like my drinks cold all the time."
Other tips shared by Williams to control sinus problems included using a natural saline spray several times daily to keep sinuses moist, getting plenty of rest, exercising outdoors to increase circulation and keeping passages clear.
She also suggests having enough moisture in the bedroom at night -- problems occur when the sinuses dry out -- and uses a humidifier if necessary.
