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‘Broke the Mold of the Future Generations’- Billie Jean King Pays a Deserving Homage to Serena Williams

Published 09/03/2022, 10:10 AM EDT

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Serena Williams changed the face of women’s tennis. She challenged the disparity between male and female players and brought a huge amount of popularity to the sport. This, in turn, increased corporate funding for women’s tennis, bringing more opportunities to the female players.

WTA bid farewell to the legendary player after her final match at the US Open 2022. Billie Jean King did the narration. She hailed the overall personality of Serena Williams, who has inspired millions around the world.

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WTA in the voice of Billie Jean King, dedicates a meaningful message to Serena Williams

The 23-time grand slam champion is the torch-bearer of women’s tennis and has inspired millions of little girls to follow their dreams. WTA took to its Twitter channel to dedicate a letter to Serena Williams from tennis. The tennis legend Billie Jean King did the voiceover. It said, “Dear Serena, remember when we first met? Courts were missing lines with broken nets. It was nothing but a canvas to paint your dreams, a dream to be the best tennis player in the world.”

The clip talked about how she has inspired millions around the world and given them hope to be the best. It said, “You weren’t like the other kids, you broke the mold of the future generations. Fearless. You inspired them to dream big, to follow their own path, to be exceptional, and to not be the exception.”

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A clip of Serena Williams surfaced where she said, “The fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions and wanna express themselves and they wanna be a strong woman and that they are gonna be able to do that because of today.” 

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It continued, “Each day we aspire to embody your resilience, your passion, and your dedication.” It defined her variant roles and how she has given her best to it all. The clip said, “Your devotion as a loving daughter, sister, mother, friend, and role model reminds us that success can be defined in so many ways. Thank you for defining greatness. All our love, tennis.”

Williams leaves an astounding legacy 

The player did not just focus on the court. She knew her voice mattered and therefore she used it to raise important issues both on and off the court. Williams talked about taking tennis to have more of an egalitarian approach and also vouched for equal pay. She played her final match at the US Open and now the player will focus on her off-court endeavors and will spend more time with her daughter, Olympia.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Martina Navratilova firmly believed in a young Serena Williams surpassing her records

Moreover, she has inspired young players like Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Iga Swiatek. Do you think anyone would be able to match the legacy of the legendary player?

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Written by:

Shivali Sharma

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Shivali Sharma is a tennis author at EssentiallySports. She has pursued her Master's in history from Himachal University, but her love for the game has driven her to write about tennis. Shivali is a huge fan of Naomi Osaka and admires Osaka not only for her on-court performances, but also for her off-court actions.
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Edited by:

Ajinkya Aswale