Serena Williams was known for her formidable power and big personality on the court, but the tennis legend recently opened up about a tragic event that had a profound effect on her.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has been in the headlines frequently recently. One reason for this was her participation in the Olympic ceremony, which left tennis fans reeling from the moment's excitement.
Williams and Rafael Nadal held the Olympic torch on the Seine during the opening ceremony. It was an incredible moment that many spoke about afterward, demonstrating what huge sporting figures the pair are.
Hopefully, moments like that can inspire the next generation of tennis stars. Coco Gauff is hoping to carry on Williams' legacy in her bid to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, where she is competing in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
Williams' legacy is not just based on her results. She also inspired many people with her fiercely competitive nature, possessing a mentality that has been matched or bettered by few others in tennis.
Moments in athletes' lives often shape them into the strong people they are. Sadly, these can sometimes be tragic times when stars must confront difficult situations bravely, which Williams did 21 years ago.
In 2003, Williams lost her half-sister, Yetunde Price, in devastating circumstances. Price was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Compton, California.
Williams spoke about the impact Price's loss had on her in the docuseries "In The Arena: Serena Williams," which was released earlier this month. The 42-year-old recalls how telling Price's kids and spending time with them afterward is something she has never forgotten.
"I think the hardest part was telling the kids. I just remember, we stayed by an apartment that time and we just played uno. We got so close in the last six months. We were able to spend so much time together, and it was a time I'd never forget."
The memory of her sister and what happened to her stayed with Williams for years after. She described preparing for the 2007 Australian Open when Yetunde was on her mind. The 23-time Grand Slam champion admitted she was in a bad emotional place.
"Going to Australia, I was in a really bad place emotionally. I was dealing with a lot of things and I wasn't dealing with them well. I remember just being in Australia and just playing, playing, and try not to think about Yetunde, but it's impossible to not think about it, as it's always in your mind."
Williams has spoken about being body-shamed during her career, and many in the media were doing that before the 2007 Australian Open. Incredibly, Williams overcame her emotional struggles to win the title in Melbourne, and she remembers the satisfaction of proving people wrong.
"It was an awesome win because I had so many critics, so many people talking bad and saying negative things and saying I wasn't fit. I get the greatest satisfaction just holding up the Grand Slam trophy and proving everyone wrong."
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