4 bold quotes by Serena Williams
2019 Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley – Source: Getty
4 bold quotes by Serena Williams
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Yamini Issar
Modified Aug 01, 2024 13:04 GMT
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Serena Williams is not just regarded as one of the best tennis players of all time but is also a figure of inspiration, growth, equality and self-love for many. The 23-time Grand Slam champion – the second-most to be won by any tennis player in the Open Era – has had a journey worth learning from and a list of achievements hard to match up to.
The American earned respect as a sportsperson and as a woman who strives for change and equality and by continuing to be a Grand Slam winner after and despite the challenges of motherhood and venturing into the ambitious world of entrepreneurship.There is a lot to learn from what Williams has said and done over the years. Here are a few bold, inspiring statements made by the tennis legend over the years.
Four bold and inspiring Serena Williams quotes
#4 “He’s going to regret this for the rest of his life. That was just the motivation I needed to go the extra mile.”Serena Williams recently revealed how she chanelled the end of one of her first relationships into motivation that enabled her to achieve the title of being one of the most successful tennis players. In the ESPN documentary “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” the American shares how her then-boyfriend “ghosted” her after the 2002 US Open final, soon after she left his place after having stayed with him for a while.
Williams decided to make him regret his behavior and ensure that he ‘sees her everywhere’ thereafter.
“It wasn’t even that serious, but it was like I used that and I made it way more serious than what it was. So when he ghosted me I used that as an opportunity to say, he’s going to regret this for the rest of his life. That was just the motivation I needed to go the extra mile. I’m gonna make sure this person sees me EVERYWHERE for the rest of their life.”
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#3 “I learned to ignore the negativity and look inwards to truly love myself. I realized I was in control of my feelings and focused on rising above the negative chatter and the unrealistic societal ideals placed on me.”Serena Williams shared her views on dealing with negativity in an interview with Elle Magazine where she also touched upon developing confidence and the impact that motherhood has had on her approach to beauty.
Additionally, while talking about backing a shaving startup, she spoke about the importance of self-care, prioritizing it in life and how the same has changed over the years. She said (via Elle Magazine):
“It’s changed significantly over the years. I was constantly told I was too muscular, or I wasn’t pretty enough to be a tennis player. I learned to ignore the negativity and look inwards to truly love myself. I realized I was in control of my feelings and focused on rising above the negative chatter and the unrealistic societal ideals placed on me. I love who I am… I love my body, my skin, my confidence and I fully embrace everything about me.”
#2 “I never took much time to settle in my wins. I was always looking for the next quote-unquote “high,” for lack of a better word.”Through 23 Grand Slams and a Career Golden Slam each in singles and doubles, Serena Williams’ career has seen accomplishments one after the other. However, the American states that amid consecutive victories, she prefers not to rest on her laurels and focuses on the next challenge.She said (via New York Times):
“I would literally win Wimbledon, and I remember having a conversation with my dad, “OK, Dad, that was great, but I know I can win the Open.” I never took much time to settle in my wins. I was always looking for the next quote-unquote “high,” for lack of a better word.”
#1 “I want to be great. I want to be perfect. I know perfect doesn’t exist, but whatever my perfect was, I never wanted to stop until I got it right.”
Two years ago, in August 2022, after a glorious career spanning more than two decades, Serena Williams announced her decision to say goodbye to the sport in a heartfelt article that was published by Vogue Magazine.Through this writeup, Williams shared in detail what led her to make the call and why she prefers using the phrase ‘evolving from tennis’ instead of using the word retire. According to her, she developed the ability to push herself till she got it right at a young age. She said (via Vogue Magazine):
“I remember learning to write my alphabet for kindergarten and not doing it perfectly and crying all night. I was so angry about it. I’d erase and rewrite that A over and over, and my mother let me stay up all night while my sisters were in bed. That’s always been me.”
“I want to be great. I want to be perfect. I know perfect doesn’t exist, but whatever my perfect was, I never wanted to stop until I got it right. To me that’s kind of the essence of being Serena: expecting the best from myself and proving people wrong.”
Williams has shared on multiple occassions that this willingness to prove others wrong and channel “anger and negativity into something good,” has enabled her to build her career, and this is a notion that she believes exempifies that regardless of what someone says, you can always do it.
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