Serena Williams gave us a lesson — in not giving up

Natasha Pszenicki
WEST END FINAL

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To understand Serena Williams, you have to see it from Venus’s perspective. The older sister, the one who broke through first, who at six feet tall and with the gait of a gazelle was surely destined to dominate the sport of tennis for years to come. Of course, it didn’t happen that way. 

Venus, who would go on to win seven major singles titles, knew from a very young age that there was someone, only 15 months her junior, who was better. Tougher. Who seemed to want it more.

This is the third time in the space of a few months I’ve written about Serena. I didn’t set out to become the Standard’s Williams correspondent (though I’m not mad about it). It’s just — she’s so newsworthy. She transcends what remains, outside of the four grand slams, a niche sport. 

Serena’s retirement — excuse me, evolution — announcement was made not in a tennis magazine or even the sports section of the New York Times, but in Vogue, where she adorns the September cover. Serena is the greatest female tennis player of all time. And it’s not even the most interesting thing about her. Tennis will miss that.

There are technical and biomechanical reasons for Serena’s primacy. Let’s start with the serve, the most important shot in tennis. Hers is better than any that came before and, so far, since. Miles better. At her peak, Serena possessed an unerring ability to turn defence into attack, replete with the requisite powerful forehand and a backhand crosscourt that was so secure you’d entrust your future to it. She did.

But to define Serena by the quality of her individual strokes makes no more sense than choosing your best friends on the basis of their specific skills or physical qualities, rather than because you like the whole person. 

Serena’s longevity spans generations. She made her debut in October 1995, at the age of just 14. Her career has therefore outlasted the rise and fall of both New Labour and Ugg boots. Put another way, the first time Serena stepped onto a tennis court as a professional was closer to Neil Armstrong’s small step for man than it is to today.

In her valedictory message, Serena acknowledged that “if I hadn’t been in Venus’s shadow, I would never be who I am.” That is why this story is about more than one person. More than two, even. We all face challenges in our lives, from the tedious to the life-threatening. 

We’re not all so lucky to have an older sister like Venus (Sarah, Amy, I don’t mean it like that) to pull us through. But we do face the same choice whenever we hear that voice telling us that we can’t do something. 

Serena did it anyway. And I think I’ll miss that the most.

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