Q & A | 09/28/2009 7:00 am
The wOw Interview: Serena Williams – What She Learned at the U.S. Open
In an interview with wOw’s Julia Reed, Serena confesses her true
feelings about what happened at the U.S. Open, talks about the
difference between her and Venus and what she hopes her new book, On the Line, will convey.
JULIA: Hi Serena. You probably don’t remember this, because since then you’ve been interviewed about 20 million times, but I first interviewed you for Vogue in 1998 in Oklahoma City.
SERENA: You’re kidding!
JULIA: No. It was only 12 years ago, but it was like a world away. Martina Hingis was No. 1 – and being pretty bitchy about you guys. People were still questioning your father’s coaching methods. And you were playing tournaments in Oklahoma City.
SERENA: Wow.
JULIA: The highlight for me was when I went shopping with you and Venus, and for years afterward I was so happy to see you wearing the gold necklace you bought when we were on our shopping spree on the court. Since then you’ve come a long, long way, and people barely remember Martina Hingis’s name. Part of what you talk about in your new book, On the Line, is that whole trajectory. What made you decide to do the book?
| I always call my racket my boyfriend because we're always together, especially lately. |
SERENA: Well, life is about timing and it was the right time. I had just become No. 1 in the world again, and I thought what a good book I can write – just a little bit of a memoir and add a little bit of motivation in it as well because, you know, I went from being on top of the world to, literally, the bottom. You know, people writing me off, telling me I’d never be anything, telling me I’d never be No. 1 or win a Grand Slam or any of those things. And then coming back, I thought that I could send a good message to everybody.
JULIA: Yes, absolutely. In Chapter 10 of the book you talk about what has to be one of the lowest parts of your life ever – when your sister got killed in a horrible, violent drive-by shooting at the same time you were dealing with your knee surgery. At one point in the book, you say that the knee surgery and the rehabilitation helped you hide behind the grief. Tell us a little bit about that.
SERENA: Well, you know, the No. 1 player in the world has to go get knee surgery, and then you hide behind the grief because you take all your time and you go to rehab every day and you try to deal with that every day. So you’re not necessarily thinking about, or you’re trying to block out all the other stuff – more important stuff – that is going on in your mind.
JULIA: You’ve always been close to your family – you and Venus were practically finishing each other’s sentences when I spent time with you guys way back when. Are you all still very close?
SERENA: We are. Venus and I live together and do a lot of things together. So we really enjoy each other and we try to continue a great relationship.
JULIA: What about your parents?
SERENA: I try to make it a point to talk to them every day. I try to think that tennis is only temporary. I’ve been so blessed to have such an amazing opportunity, but family is even closer.
JULIA: I know that you’ve probably been asked this question a thousand times, but when you were first learning to play tennis with your father in Compton, CA, did you ever think you would be No. 1 in the world?
SERENA: Yeah, because my parents told me I would be, and that’s what both of us kind of played for – to be No. 1 in the world and to win U.S. Opens. That was the plan. So that’s kind of what we always did and I always believed that I would. I think that anything is possible and that it starts with self belief.
JULIA: And that’s one of the messages of the book?
Read more about: Family, Fashion, Fitness, John McEnroe, Martina Hingis, Q & A, Relationships, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, U.S. Open, Venus Williams
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42 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
Tennis is my love in sports. Serena is unbelievably open and honest with her philosophy in life - which happens to be mine. You can’t win them all - in tennis or in life - but you are able to turn those times around and say that nothing is wasted. I find it so valuable to find the learning that mistakes give us, and her belief in self was also engrained in me by my family. That alone turns out to be better than any other gift as it holds you steady through all sorts of times. What a tennis player she is … with many more years left to excel!!!!!
Julia, this was a great interview with Serena!!!
That was nothing but a huge push for her book! What, two sentences about her outrageously rude and obnoxious outburst? That’s it?
What did she learn?
Nothing that she didn’t already know, that she thinks she above it all and can get away with acting out. My 7 year old would be expected to behave better than that. No excuses.
The only thing coming out of her mouth should have been apologies. That’s it. She will never be looked at in the same way again.
Nor does she deserve it.
Julia - Good interview but I think I would have asked one or two more direct questions about Serena’s meltdown at the Open. She threatened the lineswoman with physical harm …. "I want to shove this f**king tennis ball down your throat!" cannot be equated to Johnny Mac’s outburst of "You cannot be serious!". Hardly. Serena is deservedly a role model …. especially for inner city children. Her punishment should have been more severe … even though I do not agree with the timing of the lineswoman call. Unfortunately, this moment will be remembered.
Also, I would like to explore her feelings and those of Venus as to their roles in the Williams’ families. They are the breadwinners and since the parents divorced, they must be supporting quite a few households … including their siblings. I think of what happened to Jennifer Capriati’s parents and now with Rafa Nadal’s parents divorcing …. these tennis players must have plenty of stresses …. away from the tennis courts… as they become champions and rich, the families at home are breaking apart. What a burden to carry.
And, Julia, Martina Hingis is not forgotten.
Bonnie O, you’re making a lot of assumptions about the Williams family. Venus and Serena Williams are role models for youth of all socioeconomic groups and ethnicity’s.
The Tennis World has attempted to crush the Williams sisters for years. The title was stolen from Serena and given to someone with less talent and skills. The timing was all about revenge. This line-woman a "NOBODY" wanted to exercise so-called power. Serena is still in the history books while this pathetic line-woman "what’s her name" is forgotten.
L.C.
The USTA for a number of years has been attempting to reach the youth of the inner city. Tennis has been traditionally a country club sport for the wealthier of our society. Yes, both the Williams sisters are admired and praised by all ethnic groups but there is no denying the impact they have had on the inner city youth. Prior to the entry of Serena and Venus into tennis, those children showed little interest in Tennis where mostly white and European players competed.
And your comment about "this pathetic line-woman" does not add to the discussion. Serena was out-of-line…. way out of line. The punishment should have fit the crime and in this case, and in my opinion, I do not believe it did.
Serena is a championship player but at the US Open 2009 she did not behave like a champion.
Bonnie O, you are historically inaccurate. Long before there were the Williams sisters there was Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe. Two people who inspired youth of all socioeconomic groups and ethnicity’s. They were the role models for earlier generations. They are among the pioneers.
It’s the norm if you cannot win fairly STEAL!
Youth of all ethnicity’s live in the inner city. How do you know "those Children" did not display an interest or have a dream to play tennis? It’s obvious you’re referring to Black children. Included in "those children" should be poor Caucasian kids. I remember seeing poor Caucasian kids along with Blacks, Asian and Hispanic kids attending Arthur Ashe’s free Tennis Clinics.
LC
Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe had little impact in the inner city …. when they were alive. One of Arthur Ashe’s legacy is the foundation to which you referred and to the fact that the USTA named the centre court stadium in his honor. But to equate the impact of Serena and Venus on black children as equal to that of former black tennis champions is a far reach …. too far. Zina Garrison, Mal Washington and current ATP player James Blake have made some difference but the USTA has been attempting to make a stronger outreach to black children, specifically, because of their lack of numbers in either players or audience attendance. Do not lessen the tremendous impact of Serena and Venus on those efforts in order to bolster your earlier argument. There is no comparison.
Bonnie O
The William’s Sisters are Incredibly gifted tennis players. I’m one of their biggest supporters and fans. I have a tremendous among of respect for them and their contributions to the world of tennis and historically. They have made a tremendous impact and that goes without question.
The Williams have made a major impact on children and adults of all ethnicity’s not just Black inner city youth. You repeatedly dismiss that fact and stay glued to Black inner city youth. Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe had a tremendous impact on Blacks period! They were great role models in their day and still are. They paved the way for the Williams Sisters. They laid the groundwork and suffer the indignities and discrimination the Williams Sisters get even today.
Could ticket prices have something to do with attendance? Could not feeling welcome have something to do with? Could having to travel to certain neighbors have something to do with it? Could it possibly be ugly cruel faces of bigots who feel you have no right to participate or leave your neighborhood have anything to do with it? I’m just asking the questions that need to be asked instead of being shoved underneath the rug.
You are absolutely correct there is no comparison. Why should there be? All of these persons were and are great talent. My argument needs no bolstering it stands well on its own merits.
Your arguments reek of the First Black President versus The President, African Americans instead of Americans or my favorite Black Leaders. You never hear anyone say White Leaders.
It’s always okay for Jimmy Connors to act out. Let it be a person of color and already Serena is being thrown to the wolves who dislike her, envious of her talent and resent her presence.
Again, she has impacted all socio-economic groups and ethnicity’s included in these are POOR white inner city youth.
Boonie O
Corrections …………….amount not among, Neighborhood not neighbors, suffered not suffer, have something to do with it not have something to do with.
L. C. Way too much drama over a female tennis player….who was called on a foot fault which she commited as evidenced by the replay. And BTW, alot of people have impacted all socio-economic groups and ethnicity’s. Since the democrats are hell bent on raising up the poor, why do we STILL have such poor, crime ridden neighborhoods in these democratic inner city states?