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‘You Have No Idea the Power That You Have’ – When Chris Evert Expected Serena Williams to Go Beyond Tennis to Become as Powerful as Nelson Mandela and Arthur Ashe

Published Oct 2, 2022 | 5:30 AM EDT

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The American tennis legend, Serena Williams, is one of the most successful athletes in the sporting world. Over the years, through her achievements on and off the court, she has become an inspiration for many African-American women to chase their dreams. Among the many who were impressed by Williams’ inspirational achievements, one of the most notable names is the 18 Grand Slam title winner, Chris Evert.

While speaking in a podcast, Evert once stated that Williams has the potential to be as powerful as Nelson Mandela and Arthur Ashe.

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Chris Evert spoke about Serena Williams’ potential for greatness, off the court

The 18-time Grand Slam champion, Chris Evert, once stated that Williams has no idea how powerful she is in terms of inspiring people. She also compared Serena to two of the greatest figures in history, Nelson Mandela and Arthur Ashe.

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Evert stated, “I say to Serena, go the world is your oyster, yeah you have no idea the power that you have and what you can do to change the world and it’s like Arthur Ashe had I said you could be the Arthur Ashe, Nelson Mandela. You could you know she and her sister could go over to Africa and they have set up some schools so they’re starting to do some things, but you know girls will listen to her, yeah you know no matter what color she is”

The 23-time Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams, along with her sister, Venus Williams, have always worked for social welfare. Serena previously worked on an immunization campaign for children in Ghana. Additionally, she contributed to other social issues like poverty, racism, inequality, global warming, improving education facilities, and discrimination.

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The American tennis legend has also established a charity, “The Serena Williams Fund,” which contributes to various global issues. Williams has also worked on an initiative that provides every mother and her children access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.

Evert talked about Serena’s retirement

Serena recently played her farewell match at the US Open. But prior to the tournament, her compatriot, Evert, talked about her retirement from tennis. Evert previously stated that Serena has been struggling with a lot of injuries in her 40s. As a result, she was not getting enough training time on the tennis court.

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Additionally, Evert said that Williams was being knocked out by players she would usually beat. She further added that it was the “perfect time” for Williams to move away from the tennis court while stressing that Serena should not be concerned about her rankings.

Watch This Story: When Serena Williams had a hilarious challenge for Naomi Osaka’s former coach

Written by:

Anurag Gusain

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Anurag Gusain is a Tennis Author at EssentiallySports. He has completed his Bachelor’s degree in English from Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University. Being a huge tennis fan, he enjoys watching superstar Rafael Nadal play.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas