Serena Williams is one of the most decorated athletes of all time. If not deemed the G.O.A.T, she’s indeed deep in the conversation for that distinction. Even the most discriminating, fanatical tennis connoisseur, would have a challenge arguing against her position based on the fact that she has continuously displayed nothing short of excellence.
Serena Williams owns the record for most grand slam titles in the open era, with a total of 23 singles titles. She has won all four major tournaments multiple times, from the French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. What can be accredited to her dominance is her unmatched strength physically and mentally in addition to her athleticism. Throughout most of her career, she was a fixture mostly at number 1 in the professional rankings in women’s singles tennis.
Early Years and Tennis Prodigy:
In 2002-2003 Serena Williams’ dominance reigned supreme to the point that it inspired tennis fans to coin the phrase “Serena Slam,” which had to do with her being the defending champion of all four major tournaments. This accomplishment of hers, though she was not the first to accomplish that, was greatly celebrated, as it spoke volumes of her sheer determination and skill.
Serena’s longevity which lasted 27 years is a result of her adaptability and her undying competitive drive. Even as she got more advanced in age she was able to compete at the highest level just the same. This is commendable in any sport that is so physically demanding.
Fashion, Entrepreneurship, and Philanthropy:
Known for her stylish attire on the court, she took advantage of her notoriety and expanded her horizons by venturing into the fashion industry by starting her own line. The Serena Williams collection has been involved in many philanthropic endeavors as well.
Williams has also lent her voice to speaking against issues such as racial injustice and gender inequality. Being victimized through sexism and racism, brought these issues into sharper focus and influenced her as a result, to become an activist in this regard.
Her doubles teammate, also one of her rivals, her sister Venus Williams, was introduced to tennis from a tender age by their father, Richard Williams. They encountered many obstacles while growing up in Compton, California, but were able to persevere through those challenges and become two of the most respected and recognized sports figures in the world.
Her father was instrumental in helping young Serena and Venus accomplish their dream of building a solid foundation for becoming professional players. Compton, California, was not an environment conducive to progress. It had infamous characters that were wanting, but Serena Williams was not dissuaded. Instead, she gained strength in focus and developed characteristics that were advantageous in becoming an all-time great player. Kotch Magazine.
Conclusion:
Her father took a more unconventional approach in how he trained both of his daughters. It is said that he placed more emphasis on mental stamina and the importance of the long-term development of their skills.
Adamant about his daughters playing tennis professionally before they were even born, he composed a 78-page plan that consisted of strategies that he would implement in their training regimen for their overall development as tennis players.
Despite the financial woes that Richard was experiencing and reluctance from the tennis community during those days, his faith remained undeterred in recognizing his daughters’ potential to go pro.
Fixated on ensuring that the goal was accomplished for his daughters, Richard opted to have them home-schooled just so they could devote more time to tennis. Their daily schedules revolved around tennis practice and under her father’s tutelage, in addition to Serena Williams’s athleticism and laser-like focus, her dedicated practice resulted in exponential improvement in her game on the court, so much so that she went pro at 14, the minimum eligible age that one can play professionally.
