Roger Federer is the only billionaire tennis player out there and most of his income is not a part of his prize money. On the list of the highest-paid athletes in the world, Serena Williams stands at number 38 while Roger stands at number 9. This difference is startling, to say the least, as both players have had their fair share of endorsements. However, Roger is known for blowing it up with his Uniqlo deal, where he discontinued his association with Nike. However, Nike did something for Serena that Roger might never have expected.

In 2022, Nike unveiled its newest addition to its Oregon headquarters, the Serena Williams building. The one million square feet structure, equivalent to 140 full-size tennis courts, was designed to pay homage to the tennis star’s achievements and influence. Serena herself was super happy at this move and she also expressed her excitement to her fans!

Nike’s tribute to Serena Williams with a grand building

This greatness stands as a strong testament to the “greatness” of Serena as a player, and as an icon, says Nike. The building features a tall central tower with wings spreading out on either side. This is to symbolize the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and her majestic form. It is meant to serve as a reminder of the relationship between Nike’s co-founders, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, as reported by Dezeen.

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The building boasts its unique design, courtesy of the insights of a unique architect’s eye. It has 200,000 square feet of laboratory space for Nike’s consumer creation team. This space is used to develop and test new ideas. On the other hand, there are 140,000 square feet of workspace, and showrooms, as well as a footwear materials library. Graphics, color schemes, and rugs mimic Nike’s various design concepts. “The graphics capture the dynamic and versatile energy of Serena,” says Nike.

Some of the floorings are also made from recycled Nike shoe soles! The building also has a two-story theater called the Olympia theater, named after Serena’s five-year-old daughter Olympia. The ceiling is held up by arches shaped like racquets, which is another move to honor the tennis star.

The building has a US Open Café, adorned with murals by New York-based female artists, with six laser-cut wooden panels that pay tribute to Williams’ wins at the tournament. The Serena Williams building is not just a statement of Serena’s greatness, but also of her indomitable spirit. She is truly someone larger than life whose accomplishments go beyond just the realm of a tennis court.

Serena’s reaction to the building!

Serena herself is in awe of the building as she talks about her first experience visiting Nike, “After that visit, I knew I wanted two things: to be a Nike athlete and to have a building.” Expressing her emotions, she added, “Can you believe it? I have a BUILDING Y’ALL!!! This is CRAZY!!!”

Roger might definitely take the top spot on the highest-paid tennis star list, but Serena has a legacy of her own with a building dedicated to her and her lovely family!

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