Everybody knows Serena Williams.
She’s been a sports icon for decades and has a career that spans 16 years of winning 21 majors in professional tennis. But now, on the eve of a historic Grand Slam title with a win at the 2015 U.S. Open, the whole world is buzzing with excitement as murmurs of “GOAT” float through the media and crowds at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Indeed, she may be the Greatest of All Time, but so were Navratilova, Graf and even the older Williams sister, who captured America’s attention when she made a run to the finals of the 1997 U.S. Open in her debut there.
What then, is so special about Serena’s story that resonates with everyone — tennis fans and non-fans alike?
To me, it’s her roots, her humble beginnings, her childhood spent on the public tennis courts of Compton, California, where she and sister Venus had dreams of becoming the best in the world.
Capturing the “Serena Slam” would be one of many accomplishments that realize the young sisters’ dreams.
When the Williamses intruded upon the professional tennis scene in the late ’90s, they were mavericks in a sport that had for centuries been confined to white, elitist circles. News stories written about the sisters detailed their upbringing in the low-income, crime-ridden area of Los Angeles County, where father Richard toted tennis balls in a grocery cart and the girls learned to lie down on the court when they heard gunshots.
Sportswriters scrutinized their athleticism, talent and power; their unique story; and their family — especially their infamous father, who became the subject of many profile pieces for his unapologetically brash behavior.
Through all their popularity in the media and among the public, the Williams sisters have also encountered a great deal of hatred throughout their careers. Both have been the targets of racism, sexism, and body shaming — from getting booed by unabating crowds as teenagers, to being referred to as “brothers” by the head of the Russian Tennis Federation just last year. It is safe to say that no other professional tennis player of this generation has been faced with such hostility.
And yet, the respect we have for Venus and Serena triumphs over the hatred. Serena, the likely champion of this year’s U.S. Open, is a champion of the people. She is one of the masses. She is the epitome of the American dream. She is a Compton native turned one of the richest sports figures in the world. She is proof that elite junior tournaments and country club settings aren’t required to achieve greatness on the tennis court.
Venus, too, though past her days of winning major championships, remains an icon in our eyes. She’s 35 years old and has just defeated an 18 year old who is ranked more than 10 seeds higher than her to make it to the fourth round of the U.S. Open. That’s impressive, to say the least.
In 2012, Serena and Venus’ mother, Oracene Price, reflected on her daughters’ recent success after they had both gone through a slump in their careers. “I reflected on the fact that in the United States, you don’t have many players that are doing well,” she said. “And then you have these two old, black girls, up in age now, and they’re still holding up America. That to me was remarkable.”
Three years later, it’s comical that Price would call her daughters “old.” For now they seem as young as ever, and more than holding up America, they hold America’s heart. This U.S. Open we cheer for you both, Venus and Serena. Win or lose, your influence extends beyond tennis and even beyond the title “Greatest of All Time.”
