Serena Williams is the epitome of greatness. With 23 Grand Slams to her name, the American player remains a legend in the tennis world. However, apart from her fierce gameplay, she was also known to have a fearless nature and express her thoughts. Reflecting on this, famous swimmer Riley Gaines, in a recent podcast, highlights the difference between the Serena in the year 2013 vs. the Serena of today.

In an intriguing revelation, she highlighted the main concerns that have changed today’s world, which is why Serena would have to think very carefully before doing anything today. Gaines, who has never shied away from voicing her opinions, sheds light on the complex dynamics that have led to an environment where open honesty might come at a cost.

Riley Gaines uses Serena Williams’ example to drive home an important point

Ten years ago, Williams appeared on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ and offered a candid remark about playing Andy Murray, acknowledging the disparity between men’s and women’s tennis. Serena Williams’ words at the time were considered a neutral perspective by fans and players alike.

“Because of course in 2013, she never knew that would be controversial, which is crazy. It’s as I mentioned, right? She knows this is wrong. She’s admitted this as wrong. She lost six to nothing or six to one in a blowout, right to the 203rd-ranked male player. They know this is wrong, any sane person knows this is wrong,” mentions Riley in the podcast about Serena.

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She continues: “But they’re terrified of lawsuits. They’re terrified of losing sponsorships. They’re terrified of being called names. But you know what’s scarier than being called names is not standing firm. And the truth is that should scare all of us more than the name-calling in the petty personal attacks.”

Gaines underscores that in 2013, when Serena Williams shared that she couldn’t score against Murray, she likely had no inkling that her statement could be controversial. However, times have changed. Gaines asserts that Williams now understands the weight of her words in the current climate.

The chilling thought she leaves us with is that by compromising the freedom to speak truths, we risk distorting our collective understanding of reality.

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Thus, these comments by Riley Gaines underline how sensitively major athletes like Serena Williams must handle controversial topics. Within these 10 years, a lot has changed in the game and the players must adapt to the changes. Gaines’ insights underscore the importance of sustaining transparent discourse, even in the face of potential discomfort. They remind us that the consequences of not doing so might end having the discomfort of criticism.

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