On tennis, love and motherhood | Serena Williams and Gayle King

TL;DR

In this interview, Gayle King talks to Serena Williams about her accidental pregnancy announcement, her career as a tennis player, her relationship with her sister, and her plans for the future.

Transcript

Gayle King: Have a seat, Serena Williams, or should we say, have a seat, mom. (Cheers) So no doubt, you guys are like me. You saw the release of Serena in that great yellow bathing suit last week and when I saw it, all I could think of was, "Gosh, why couldn't she have waited til we sat onstage for TED?" I was very selfish, I know. So I asked you a... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤰 Serena Williams accidentally shared a picture of herself in a yellow bathing suit that revealed her pregnancy to the public. She had been keeping it a secret.
• 📸 Serena had been taking weekly photos to track her pregnancy progress, but accidentally pressed the wrong button and shared the photo.
• 🎾 Serena found out she was pregnant just two days before the Australian Open, and was unsure if she should still play. However, she decided to compete and ended up winning the tournament.
• 🥇 Serena's success and determination in tennis is addictive to her. Winning is a feeling she always wants to experience again, and losing brings her valuable lessons.
• 👩 Serena has a close relationship with her sister Venus, both on and off the court. They support each other, even when competing against one another.
• 🌟 Serena looks up to tennis players like Steffi Graf and Monica Seles for inspiration and has worked hard to become the best.
• 💪 Despite scrutiny about her body, Serena is comfortable and proud of her physique. She wants to inspire other young girls to be happy with themselves.
• 💍 Serena is engaged to Alexis Ohanian and is planning a medium-sized wedding. She also plans to continue her tennis career and work on her fashion line after giving birth.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was Serena Williams' reaction when she realized the picture of her in a yellow bathing suit had been leaked?

Serena Williams explained that it was an accident and she did not intend for anyone to see that picture. She had been taking pictures of herself each week while tracking her pregnancy progress but didn't share them with many people. However, she accidentally pressed the wrong button on social media and the picture was made public.

Q: How did Serena Williams feel when she found out she was pregnant right before the Australian Open?

Serena Williams expressed that she was nervous and unsure of what to think when she found out she was pregnant just two days before the Australian Open. She had concerns about playing the tournament due to the potential risks in the early stages of pregnancy. However, she made the decision to focus on the tournament and went on to win it.

Q: Did Serena Williams play differently knowing that she was pregnant during the Australian Open?

Serena Williams admitted that it wasn't easy playing while being pregnant. She mentioned that there are common symptoms like sickness and fatigue that pregnant women experience, but fortunately, she did not have morning sickness. She had to mentally compartmentalize any extra emotions or stress and channel all her energy into performing at her best, as she was expected to win every tournament she participated in.

Q: How did Serena Williams respond to the inappropriate comments made by Ilie Nastase?

Serena Williams stood up for herself and her fellow female tennis players by speaking out against the inappropriate comments made by Ilie Nastase. She emphasized the importance of supporting and lifting each other up, especially for young women looking up to her as a role model. Serena believed it was crucial to address the comments and make it clear that such behavior was inappropriate and unacceptable.

Q: Will Serena Williams continue playing tennis after giving birth?

Serena Williams is determined to continue her tennis career after giving birth. She draws inspiration from her sister Venus, who is a year older and still competing. She also looks to other athletes like Roger Federer, who is older than her and still achieving great success. Serena sees this new phase of her life as a new challenge and plans to come back to the sport she loves after giving birth.

Q: Was Serena Williams pressured to get married after the proposal from her fiancé Alexis?

Serena Williams did not feel pressure to get married and had never considered herself the marrying type. She was focused on her career and felt that marriage might interfere with her goals. In fact, when she was proposed to by Alexis, she initially felt angry because it happened during her training season. However, she appreciates the love and support from her fiancé and recognizes the importance of their relationship.

Q: Did Serena Williams always feel comfortable with her body growing up?

Serena Williams admitted that as a teenage girl growing up in the public eye, she did not always feel comfortable with her body. She had insecurities about being small and not understanding why she had muscles. However, after winning the US Open and achieving her goals, she realized the importance of being happy with her body and embraced it. Serena encourages others, especially young girls, to love themselves and be happy with their bodies.

Q: What has Serena Williams learned from losing?

Serena Williams views losing as a valuable learning experience. She hates losing but acknowledges that her losses have played a significant role in shaping her into the athlete she is today. Losing has taught her important lessons and motivated her to work harder to reach her goals. Serena encourages others to learn from their losses, live in the present, and avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Serena Williams accidentally shared a picture of her in a yellow bathing suit, revealing her pregnancy, on social media before she was ready to announce it

• Serena found out she was pregnant just two days before the beginning of the Australian Open, but still went on to win the tournament

• Serena and her sister Venus have a strong and supportive relationship both on and off the court