Serena Williams

Date

1981–

Domain of social life

Culture / Creativity and Recreation

Description

City of birth: Saginaw
Country of birth: United States
Activity: Culture — sports

Serena Williams is an African American professional tennis player. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has ranked her world no. 1 on six separate occasions since 8 July 2002. Williams holds the most major singles, doubles, and mixed-doubles titles combined amongst active players, male or female, and is the only tennis player to have won ten Grand Slam singles titles in two separate decades. She has also won four Olympic gold medals.

Williams is credited with ushering in a new era of power on the women’s professional tennis tour, she has won the WTA player of the year seven times, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Champion Award six times and the Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year Award a record four times.

Serena Williams is included in our list of ‘100 persons who represent the history of humanity’ because of her pre-eminent achievement in sport and her global reach as a sporting entertainer.

Quotes

‘I’ve faced countless obstacles in my career and life. Tons of sexism, in terms of not being treated the same because I’m not a man. Racism, especially in my sport. Ultimately, I am glad to have gone through everything I have because it made me who I am. I don’t want to be anyone different. It helped me become this tough person who can now influence change and help other people, including my own daughter. I was told so many times that I wasn’t going to be a good tennis player but look at me now. Sometimes, when people tell me “no" I almost like it because it gets me fired up and ready to say, “Yes, I can do this".’

Author

Serena Williams

Speaker

Serena Williams

Title of the publication

‘Being Serena’

Other contributors

Interviewer

Publisher (or journal name with vol. and number)

HBO

City of publication

New York

Country of publication (modern nation-state equivalent)

United States of America

Publication date

May 2018

Location [pp. or web]

https://www.hbo.com/being-serena/serena-williams-qanda

Original language

English

Genre

Online interview

Context

Serena Williams participates in a Q&A session for the HBO website to publicise the five-part documentary series, Being Serena, produced by HBO.

‘I couldn't shake it out of my mind ... No matter what, my sister is not coming back for good behavior. It’s unfair that she’ll never have an opportunity to hug me. But also … the Bible talks about forgiveness. I’m not there yet. I would like to practice what I preach, and teach Olympia that as well. I want to forgive. I have to get there. I’ll be there’.

Author

Serena Williams

Speaker

Serena Williams

Title of the publication

‘Serena Williams Opens Up About Her Complicated Comeback, Motherhood And Making Time to Be Selfish’

Other contributors

Sean Gregory, interviewer

Publisher (or journal name with vol. and number)

Time

City of publication

New York

Country of publication (modern nation-state equivalent)

United States of America

Publication date

27 August 2018

Location [pp. or web]

https://time.com/5368858/serena-williams-comeback/

Other location

n/a

Original language

English

Genre

Interview

Context

On 30 July 2018, Serena Williams was in the players’ area waiting to play a match in San Jose, when she pulled out her phone and checked Instagram. There, she learned that the man convicted of fatally shooting her sister Yetunde Price, in 2003, had been released on parole. British player, Johanna Konta, beat the 23-time Grand Slam champion in the first round of the Silicon Valley Classic — the worst defeat in Williams' career.

I dedicated that to all the moms out there who’ve been through a lot, some days, I cry. I’m really sad. I’ve had meltdowns. It’s been a really tough 11 months. If I can do it, you guys can do it too.

Author

Serena Willilams

Speaker

Serena Williams

Title of the publication

‘Serena Williams Opens Up About Her Complicated Comeback, Motherhood and Making Time to Be Selfish’

Other contributors

Sean Gregory, interviewer

Publisher (or journal name with vol. and number)

Time

City of publication

New York City

Country of publication (modern nation-state equivalent)

United States of America

Publication date

27 August 2018

Location [pp. or web]

https://time.com/5368858/serena-williams-comeback/

Other location

n/a

Original language

English

Genre

Interview

Context

In July 2018, Serena Williams made the final of Wimbledon — her fourth tournament since giving birth to her daughter, in one of the most spectacular displays of will, skill and grit in the history of the game. Here she reflects on that moment.

'Nearly one in three women say they feel that they have to hide their emotions at work to be taken seriously. This double standard is seen in the board room and on the tennis court. Women are deemed "emotional", "hysterical",’ or "aggressive" while men who behave the same way face no such consequences. They are perceived in a completely different light.'

Author

Serena Williams

Title of the publication

'We Must Band Together to Fight for What’s Fair'

Publisher (or journal name with vol. and number)

Fortune

Publication date

8 March 2019

Location [pp. or web]

https://fortune.com/2019/03/08/serena-williams-international-womens-day/

Original language

English

Context

International Women's Day

Genre

journalism