Learning to play tennis from a notorious American gangster neighborhood, Serena Williams suddenly became a superstar and became the greatest female tennis player in contemporary tennis history.

Serena Williams – Symbol of African American Pride

Serena has become an African-American icon in a white-dominated sport , winning 23 Grand Slam titles and achieving many milestones with a determination as strong as the energy she radiates in her magical shots.

Serena and her sister Venus (7-time Grand Slam champion) are co-producers and executive producers of “King Richard.” The film is like a fairy tale , telling the story of their father, Richard Williams, teaching them how to play tennis on the harshest streets of Compton, California (USA).

Serena and her sister Venus at the premiere of King Richard. Photo: GETTY

“I’m still that girl, with a racket and a dream. And I only play for that,” Serena said after winning the 2013 US Open title.

Serena – the female tennis player dubbed “legend” has won 7 Australian Open titles, 3 French Opens, 7 Wimbledon titles and 6 US Open championships, just one title less than the all-time record of her senior Margaret Court.

At the 1999 US Open, Serena won her first Grand Slam at the age of 17. By 2017, she had won her 23rd major title at the Australian Open, while pregnant with her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian.

After giving birth to Olympia in September 2017, Serena was bedridden for six weeks due to a pulmonary embolism. But just five months later, she fought back to compete in doubles, partnering her sister Venus at the Fed Cup (the world women’s team tournament ) .

Having won 6 Wimbledon championships, the 40-year-old tennis player struggled in the 2022 season. Photo: GETTY

Of her 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena Williams has twice completed the “Serena Slam” – winning all four majors in a row. The first time was in the 2002-2003 season, starting at the 2002 French Open, and again in the 2014-2015 season, starting at the 2014 US Open.

Despite her immense success, Serena remains humble: “I never focus on numbers. When I started playing tennis, I didn’t think about being the greatest because I only had a racket and a dream. Now people say I can be (the greatest) but for me, I haven’t achieved it yet.

Talented athletes like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, for me, they are the ultimate icons in the history of women’s tennis.”

The ups and downs of a legend

Serena has a powerful style on the court, but sometimes the design of her competition outfit overshadows her inner strength. The most recent of Serena’s 73 WTA titles was won in January 2020 at the Auckland Open. This is also the only championship Serena has won as a mother.

Not that Serena doesn’t have a chance to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record, but on all four occasions, she lost in the finals of Wimbledon 2018 and the US Open 2019 (losing her racket to Naomi Osaka).

When her half-sister and personal assistant, Yetunde Price, was shot dead by gangsters in 2003 at the age of 31, Serena struggled to overcome the pain.

Two patches on her face help Serena breathe easier due to her pulmonary congestion. Photo: GETTY

At the height of her career, Serena was forced to take nearly a year off from competition (after winning Wimbledon in 2010). After an accident, she underwent two surgeries and spent 20 weeks in a cast. Then, in 2011, she discovered a life-threatening blood clot in her lung.

“The doctor said I had blood clots in both lungs. A lot of people have died from that. It made me unable to breathe. At first I thought I was just losing my form. But it got worse and worse. Being at the top and having that happen was really hard. But it made me realize the value of everything,” Serena confided.

Serena affirmed that her success was gleaned from her father Richard Williams: “I would not have won a title without my father and his support. He is a great coach, very creative . My father nurtured and built me ​​and my sister. He gave us a good, very solid foundation. That is why we were able to develop our careers.”

Serena with her father and sister as a child. Photo: GETTY

Despite other kids mocking his daughter during practice, Serena’s father, Richard Williams, remained steadfast: “To be successful, you have to be prepared for the unexpected – and I was prepared for that. Criticism can bring out the best in you.