Serena Williams is one of those athletes who is known beyond their sport. The younger Williams sister has achieved so much on the court that her name will shine in tennis lore forever. However, it doesn’t mean that the 23-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t had rough days.

Williams, owing to her muscular build, has faced several allegations of playing unfairly. Haters often dragged her under the microscope because she wasn’t as petite and feminine as standard women players are. Though she didn’t pay heed to such unfounded and unfair criticism, it did affect her a little.

Serena Williams about her physique

During an interview with Bazaar in 2018, she spoke about how such jibes made her feel. She said, “It was hard for me. People would say I was born a guy, all because of my arms, or because I’m strong.”

In 2014, the head of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpischev, made a comment on Serena and Venus that got him suspended and fined. He called them scary and denoted them as Williams brothers. Such words can be daunting, especially coming from a person of high status in the sport. But the former World no.1 had already become immune to such comments. As she said, “Oh God, I’ll never be a size 4! Why would I want to do that, and be that?”

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“This is me, and this is my weapon and machine,” said Williams, pointing at her biceps. Thereafter, she addressed how her journey has strengthened her for her daughter’s good. “I can show Olympia that I struggled, but now I’m happy with who I am and what I am and what I look like.”

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In the year 2017, after claiming her seventh Australian Open title, Williams tied the knot with Alexis Ohanian and welcomed her daughter Olympia. The four-year-old now is her biggest cheerleader and is giving emotional support to the legend on her retirement tour.

Williams retirement tour

The seven-time Wimbledon champion is on the last days of her career. She will say goodbye to professional tennis after the last Grand Slam of this season.

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Williams enrolled for the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters and broke the news of her retirement. She stepped on the hard courts of the WTA 1000 events with a will to win her fourth Toronto Open and second Cincinnati Open title. However, because of a year of absence and injury, she failed to survive till the second week. Though fans are still optimistic about her run in the upcoming US Open.

Do you expect Serena to challenge for the trophy at Flushing Meadows?