“If I play 70% against most players, I will win” – Serena Williams and her father Richard’s confident remarks resurface amid Noah Lyles controversy
Serena Williams and her father Richard’s confident remarks about her ability to beat her fellow players have recently resurfaced. This comes in light of the controversy surrounding American sprinter Noah Lyles’ decision to exclude Quincy Hall from his dream lineup for the 4x400m relay event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a recent appearance on the Track World News podcast, Lyles put his own name forward for the event while conspicuously snubbing Quincy Hall, the current 400m national champion, explaining that he didn’t believe Hall would be an ideal starter in the lineup.
“The only reason I wouldn’t use the current U.S. champion is because I don’t think he would be a starter. I feel like using him on the first leg would just be almost like a waste to his talent. I just don’t see him getting his full capability out of the first leg,” Lyles said.
Although Noah Lyles copped heavy backlash over his comments, a tennis fan contended that the 27-year-old’s remarks paled in comparison to WTA players having to deal with Serena Williams and her father Richard frequently reminding them that they couldn’t beat her.
“Noah’s comments are light compared to what used to go down on the WTA tour lol,” the fan posted.
“Those women had to deal with Richard AND Serena telling them that they simply didn’t have the right criteria to beat her. Can you imagine?” they added.
To illustrate the point further, the user also shared a clip from a 2002 MTV interview, in which the former World No. 1 shed light on her father’s advice before an important match.
“Make sure, more than anything, he said, ‘Just stay relaxed,” Serena Williams said.
Richard Williams also expressed belief in his daughter’s ability to win, asserting that she didn’t even need to perform at her best to beat her opponent.
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“Today is gonna be a big day. Serena’s going to go out and do her very best. She don’t have to play her best to win. All she has to do is play about 70%,” he said.
Serena Williams concurred with her father’s assessment, confidently asserting that she could defeat most of her fellow players while playing at just 70% of her capability.
“If I play 70% against most of the players on the WTA tour, I will win,” she said.
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“I can’t believe I said that” – Serena Williams on ‘startling’ Martina Hingis during 1999 US Open final
Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis in the 1999 US Open final (Source: Getty)
Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis in the 1999 US Open final (Source: Getty)
Serena Williams’ confidence in her skills and her ability to disarm her opponents was on display even in her maiden Grand Slam final at the 1999 US Open.
In her new ESPN documentary series ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams,’ the 23-time Grand Slam champion revisited her title clash with then-World No. 1 Martina Hingis at the New York Major, revealing how she had left the Swiss “startled” during the coin toss.
“We’re doing the coin toss. I never talked about this. I lose the coin toss, [and Martina chooses to receive] and I looked at her and I said ‘Are you sure about that?’ And she was startled. And, I was like ‘Okay’,” she said.
“Years later, I remember and I can’t believe I said that,” she added.
Serena Williams went on to beat Martina Hingis in the 1999 US Open final, claiming a commanding 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over the Swiss to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title.
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