The inspiration and influence of the Williams sisters is one that goes beyond tennis according to Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton made the comments shortly after a recent meeting with Serena in Mexico. The multiple grand slam champion travelled to Mexico city earlier this month to watch the British driver race against his rivals at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Describing his time with Serena, Hamilton spoke highly about her accomplishments in the world of sport.
“I was actually with Serena last week in LA…she came out to Mexico (for the race) which for me was a real honour to have someone of her power, someone who has achieved so much,” Hamilton told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
“We generally have a lot of fun when we are around each other. We’re always laughing and joking and enjoying life away from sport,” he added.
So far in her career, Serena has won 22 grand slam singles titles, four Olympic gold medals and has spent 309 weeks as world number one. It is a collection that has secured her place as one of the all-time greats in the women’s game.
“I’m absolutely mesmerised by what she has achieved and definitely inspired by her as an athlete and as a human being and so trying to learn from her.” Said 31-year-old Hamilton. “Every now and then she’ll give me a bit of that magic in her words.”
It isn’t just Serena that has impressed Hamilton, who will go head-to-head with Germany’s Nico Rosberg this weekend in Abu Dhabi in the final race of the season. Her sister Venus is also somebody that has left her impressions on the Brit after talking with him at the US Grand Prix last month.
“Venus talks a lot about wisdom and about her growth and about the process of being a sportsman or sportswoman so generally from both of them, I take a lot of inspiration and admire them both hugely,” he said.
In comparison to Serena, Venus has won seven grand slam singles titles, four olympic gold medals and spent 11 weeks at the top of the WTA rankings.
Both sisters will begin their 2017 season at the Auckland Open in New Zealand during the first week of January. Venus if a former winner of the tournament (2015) and Serena will be making her debut.
