In the new docuseries “In The Arena: Serena Williams,” the legendary tennis player reveals personal struggles and societal prejudices she faced throughout her illustrious career. Serena Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, shared poignant insights into the challenges she encountered as a black woman in the world of professional tennis.
“They were used to seeing women who didn’t have a figure, and I was a black woman with a figure,” Williams explained. “That doesn’t make you bad or good; it just makes you a girl with a butt and a small waist. The consensus was that I was a big fat cow.”
Williams also discussed the emotional toll of her sister Yetunde’s death. “Going to Australia, I was in a really bad place emotionally. I was dealing with a lot of things and wasn’t dealing with them well,” she revealed. “The hardest part was telling the kids. We’ve become so close over the last six months, and it’s been a time I’ll never forget.”
Reflecting on her life in the spotlight, Williams shared with ET, “I was so intense on the court, wanting to be perfect all the time. If I could go back, I would tell myself to take a deep breath and relax more. Now, I’m trying to figure out who I really am away from the cameras.”
Williams emphasized the impact of her career on her personal life. “I’ve been in the spotlight 24/7 for 27 years. It’s time to understand how all of that has affected me,” she said. “All that intensity I always put on the court is now directed at my daughters.”