Serena Williams grew up in a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses but didn’t quite prioritize the faith until recently, as she’s now fully committed to it after being baptized.
Williams grew up in a household of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which was founded in the late 1870s. Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, don’t celebrate birthdays, which Williams confirmed when she commented on her daughter's birthday once.
The American wasn’t fully committed to the faith for much of her life, even though she spoke often about her desire to get more involved with it. It seems like she’s finally doing it, as she was recently baptized in Florida.
Williams has never hidden being a proud Jehovah’s Witness despite not being previously baptized. She spoke frequently about the religion’s importance in her life, and being a Jehovah’s Witness is part of that.
In an interview with Vogue in 2017, Williams spoke about her faith, admitting that she wants to get more involved in the future and is grateful that her husband is very supportive of her intentions and even pushing her to explore that more in-depth.
"Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it. Alexis didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really receptive and even takes the lead. He puts my needs first."
Time will tell whether Williams will get more involved with the community or whether she will keep her faith a bit more private compared to the rest of her life.
On the tennis courts, nothing changed for the American player, who retired from the sport at the 2022 US Open and hasn't competed since. In the coming years, many will try to match her achievements, but it might take a couple of decades before someone gets even remotely close.