World No.2 and twenty-two time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams has given an interview with ESPN where she covered a number of controversial topics including racism and sexism.
The thirty-five year old American was interviewed by the rapper Common where they covered the position African American players in tennis, “we did some great things in tennis, with Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson, but it wasn’t that one player who was winning multiple, multiple Grand Slams.”
Serena highlighted her pride in herself for competing as a representative for African Americans. “I’m really proud to wear this colour every single day of my life,” she said.
Serena then discussed the difficult path that she and sister Venus had encountered on their way to the professional ranks. “We literally took the globe and shook it, me and Venus, because we came from Compton, we came from nothing, in tennis, you kind of have to have something. And we came and … we conquered.” Both sisters were coached from an early age by their father, Richard Williams who can often be seen sitting in stands of hid daughters matches. Serena is now coached by Patrick Mouratoglou.
With twenty-nine Grand Slam singles titles between them, both sisters have held the title of World No.1 and the pair have won numerous doubles titles together.
Serena also felt that she deserved to be considered in conversations surrounding the greatest player of all time or GOAT. “If I was a man I would have been in these conversations six or seven years ago.” Serena is currently tied for second with Stefanie Graff on twenty-two Grand Slam titles, with both a further two behind Margaret Court, who has twenty-four.
Serena also commented on her body image, stating “if you don’t like it I don’t want you to like it.”
Serena has been no stranger to controversy on many subjects. In 1998, she and sister Venus each played a set against Karsten Braasch, Serena losing 6-1, and Venus 6-2. Serena also boycotted the Miami open for fourteen years, after she believed she and family members had been treated poorly. She then entered the 2015 event.
Serena reached the finals of the Australian Open and the French Open in 2016. She then won Wimbledon for a seventh time before reaching the semi-finals of her home US Open.
