ITF

SERENA WILLIAMS ITF World Summer 2022 19 She's been through a lot of trauma in her life, from a young kid up. People don't recognise that. She was criticised often for not playing certain tournaments, for taking time off, and no one ever knows what's going on in someone's personal life. She lost her sister – and no-one understands what toll that took on her emotionally. Resilience and athleticism To be able to still come back and be the champion that she was. And all the health scares that she had, she still kept coming back. We have a saying in America: weebles wobble but they don't fall down. You can knock her down but she's going to get right back up. What makes Serena stand out is her resilience, it's her tenacity, it's her fight, it's her determination, it's her grit. There are a ton of athletes, but it's what's behind the athleticism. Serena had every quality that was necessary to be the champion that she is, so it's not just about her athleticism, it's about everything that goes with that. There is no greater intense fighter on the court than Serena. She was never out of the match until the match was over. That's the mental toughness that she possesses as well, and a lot of people overlook that because of her physical prowess. Serena revolutionised sport. She revolutionised sport with her athleticism, with her power, with her fashion, with her nonchalant personality, with her fun personality, with her dry personality. On any given day you could get cheerful Serena, a very curt Serena. She showed that you can be yourself, truly be yourself, and be a champion. She didn't fold into a mold. Our sport was known to have a mold, a cookie cutter if you will. Serena defied all of that, she did it her way, and she was the best at doing it. A global inspiration In America for sure, and I'm certain around the world, she has inspired so many black and brown kids to not only get into the sport but believe that they can champions. Just with her sheer presence – I would say you have to see it to believe it. Where she came from defied all odds, so she's an inspiration to kids all over the world that it doesn't matter what situation you're born into, if you work hard and you have an opportunity, you too can succeed. I think that has resonated not only just in the communities of color, but to all people, because she was the best at what she did. Beyond the tennis court with all of her entrepreneurial ventures that she's in, with fashion, with finance, with investment, she's showing women that they can also be empowered to be leaders in all these different avenues and be successful in them. I think that's important as well. Serena represents what the five pillars of the ITF's Advantage All gender equality initiative are: Balance, Value, Voice, Empowerment and Culture. She embodies all of these in representing women. She has revolutionised not only the sport of tennis, but also the business of tennis and the business of sport with endorsements. So she's a role model in that regard, opening up the doors for all the athletes and champions behind her. Motivation for me As a player, Serena was my last loss as a singles match. When she was 16 and I was nearly 30, I could see and feel her presence in her sheer power, in her control, and the dominance that was bound to come. I was very blessed and fortunate to grace the court with her and across the net for singles and doubles, to play both she and Venus in doubles as well. To see what she accomplished obviously inspired me to do more in what I did, because I was on my way out. So, as a coach, I really started focusing even more on kids of colour and trying to give them the tools that they needed to be the best they could be. I continue to do that today through my non-profit program, the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, where we inspire our kids to work hard and to have drive, and to be determined, and be the best that they can be. And that's because of the success that both Venus and Serena have had on the court. Clockwise from top le : Katrina Adams and Serena Williams together at the ITF World Champions Awards in 2015 Williams won Olympic gold medals in singles at doubles at London 2012. She struck gold twice more with sister Venus Holding her last Grand Slam trophy, at the 2017 Australian Open In full flow at the US Open in 2013 Williams had the least Grand Slam success on clay, but s ll won three Roland Garros tles Williams helped USA win the Billie Jean King Cup in 1999 Serena is No. 1 among global sporting icons. Serena is a one-name icon, so in America, when you think of Michael, and Kobe and LeBron, and Tom, and Serena – everybody knows Serena. In tennis obviously before we had Chrissie, Martina and Steffi that were one-name icons, and you knew exactly who you were talking about. When you think of Messi and Pele and Ronaldo and all the other sportsmen around the world, what Serena has accomplished and what she has defied puts her above everyone else, in my opinion. African influence Serena is a global icon, and she's not only motivated our people of color here in America and in Europe, but she's inspired an entire continent in Africa. Looking at the young players that are coming up from there – their inspiration and their guidance has been Serena. Look at the young lady from Kenya, Angella Okutoyi: her inspiration her entire life in 18 years has been Serena. And I think without someone like Serena, perhaps Angella and others aren't as inspired to be in our sport. Serena's a global icon for us and I'm grateful for that as well. After retirement, Serena can go anywhere she wants to go and do anything she wants to do. I think she's mentioned that she'd love to have another child, and I think it's important for her, if that's what she wants to do, that she's healthy. She will continue to evolve in whatever her business ventures are, and continue to be that voice of change, that voice of strength, that voice of inspiration, that voice of passion, that voice of motivation, and that voice of empowerment. Empowerment to all people. n

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