“Spike Lee Wants Me to Play as Hard as I Can” – Serena Williams

American film director Spike Lee was asked ‘what is the first thing he thinks about when he hears tennis,’ without any second thought he hastily replied, Serena Williams. The two renowned personalities of the USA are good friends they have been in touch with each other for a long-time now.

“I’ve known Spike for many years. We always have dinner. He has a house down the street from mine in Palm Beach,” Serena Williams once said.

“I sometimes go over there and we eat dinner. We play tennis together. He’s super intense. He wants me to play as hard as I can. I’m like, Spike, are you sure? I mean, C’mon. He’s such a great person. I love his kids. We all just get along.”

“He loves debates.  Whenever we’re at dinner, he’s looking for a debate.  You have to join in and pick aside.  I always try to pick the opposite side so it can just be a debate. It’s fun though. I love it.” 

They always have an argument regarding their preferred basketball teams. Serena being a Miami Heat fan and Dolphins fan and Lee supporting Knicks, they always engage in debates.

Serena Williams compared to Ali and Jordan

Spike Lee shows up at the US Open every year, he sits in the Arthur Ashe stadium of Flushing Meadows and always cheers for Serena. In 2018, filmmaker Lee was interviewed on the courtside during Williams’ match against Karolina Pliskova at US Open. During the interview, he drew comparisons of American tennis ace to Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan

“I’m looking at Jordan, I’m looking at Ali, (Joe) Namath, Jim Brown, we get to see these people, it’s amazing,” Lee said.

After learning about Lee’s comments Serena was obliged and said, “That’s what I wanna do and that’s what I want to be remembered for. It’s not what I do out here, but how I can inspire people off the court,” Serena said.

Lee feels intelligence, athleticism, and heart make Serena Williams super special. He also shared warm words for the Williams sisters’ legacy in tennis. “They’re winners. Their legacy is cemented already.” Lee also told Inside Tennis.