Gerry Boehme - Serena Williams: Setting New Standards

Serena Williams displays her 2016 Wimbledon trophy, which was her twenty-second Grand Slam tennis championship.

Introduction

Changing the Face of Tennis

S erena Williams is, simply put, a tennis icon. During the course of her remarkable career, through the 2017 Australian Open, Serena has won an championships and three Olympic gold medals. Serena has also won two Grand Slams in mixed doubles.

When you look more deeply into Serenas life and career, it becomes clear that she has broken the mold of the typical tennis success story. In fact, Serena has taken that mold and shattered it, piece by piece, until it is almost unrecognizable.

Most tennis players are white; Serena is African American. Most players come from higher-income households; the Williams family lived in a poor, crime-ridden neighborhood outside of Los Angeles. Most players receive expert instruction and join the tennis tour at an early age. Serena was trained by her father after he taught himself to play; her father also limited Serenas tournament appearances and made sure she pursued other interests.

Known for her fashions beyond tennis, Serena Williams shows off her latest designs during New York Fashion Week in September 2016.

Few high-ranking players have brothers or sisters who also play tennis at their level. Serenas sister, Venus, stands out as a tennis tennis tour, Serena continued to dominate tennis.

The Serena Williams story extends far beyond tennis, however. She ranks as one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world. Her fashion designs have attracted attention on the tennis court and graced the covers of magazines including Glamour and Vogue. Serena has written books and appeared on numerous television programs, including her own reality show. She has been linked romantically to rappers (Drake, Common), athletes (Amare Stoudemire, Keyshawn Johnson), actors, directors, and even her coach before announcing her engagement to Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian in late 2016.

Serena also gives back. Shes built a school in Africa and established a charitable foundation to support education for those in need. In recognition of her work on and off the court, Serena has won many honors and awards, almost too many to count. Time magazine has included her on its list of the one hundred most influential people in the worldtwice!

In a movie she made about Serena and her sister Venus, director Maiken Baird said, The story of the Williams sisters is the ultimate American story two African American sisters who come from the They become number one and number two in the world.

In 2006, Serena told Tennis magazine, Theyll always remember Venus and me for starting a whole new , the return, the fashion. We changed the whole game.

Serena Williams has changed the face of tennis itself.