Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and actress who is ranked No. 1 in women's singles tennis. The Women's Tennis Associationhas ranked her world No. 1 in singles on six separate occasions. She became the world No. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002, and achieved this ranking for the sixth time on February 18, 2013. As of July 18, 2016, she has been ranked world No. 1 for 179 consecutive weeks, seven weeks shy...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth26 September 1981
CitySaginaw, MI
CountryUnited States of America
I played pretty well in my twenties, don't get me wrong! But my consistency is better [in my thirties], my momentum is better, my wins are quicker.
I definitely want to have kids one day. That's something I've always wanted since as long as I could remember. And the older I get, the more I'm like, "I'm too young!"
When I first started really playing, in '98, I was super excited to see all the people I grew up watching. ... I loved Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, and Pete Sampras.
If anything, we haven't changed much since we [with Venuse Williams] were kids. We really are the same people.
My mom taught me how to sew when I was super young; I used to make clothes for my dolls. When I finally went to [fashion design] school [in 1999], I really took to pattern making. Everyone in class was good at something; I was the person, if you need help with your patterns, you come to me and I would help you out.
I try not to be protected. Because I feel like you can become a little bit of a robot. That's not who I am. And I don't want to be monotone. It's important to be yourself, whatever the cost.
My coach has said to me, "When you win a match or a tournament, you don't even think about it - the very next minute you're like".
I'm proud to have opened [two] schools in Africa and one in Jamaica [through the Serena Williams Fund and its partners]. I was given a lot. I was given two parents. That's already starting above a lot of kids. And then I was given the opportunity to play tennis and parents who supported that. I feel I can give back.
I never thought about leaving a tennis legacy. I always thought about leaving a legacy of fulfillment, living out your dreams, and giving back.
Hopefully I'll be able to mature one of these days, get serious, and at least have them [kids] pretty fast.
I don't want to age myself.
Most people that do play nowadays hit really hard. It was good to get someone that hit really hard early on.
I was glad to watch the soccer because it helps my tennis game, realize maybe they're just rooting for the underdog.
I've almost lost several times but come through that. Being able to play your way through the tournament is really able to help.