Before the final curtain fell on Serena Williams' illustrious 27-year career, she made sure to let everyone know the impact that the Williams sisters made as two of the greatest tennis players the sport has ever seen.

In her August 2022 Time Magazine issue, Serena got candid about what she believes she and her elder sister have done not only for the world of tennis but for women's sports at large.

“We changed the game of tennis,” Serena said. “We changed how people play, period. People never attacked, people never took balls early, people never served like this. People never had to play so hard to beat two B**** girls from Compton.”

Apart from setting a standard on the court, perhaps the impact that she created for the young and coming women of colour in the sport was one of Williams' biggest achievements.

“Confidence and self-belief,” the icon said when asked about her legacy. “And teaching other Black kids, in particular Black girls, they can do it too.”

There is no wrong in saying that Serena Williams is the greatest women's tennis player of all time. If you don't believe it, her accolades will speak for themselves.

Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era, plus 14 doubles titles with Venus Williams and 4 Olympic gold medals.

She held the world No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks, completed a Career Grand Slam, and earned multiple WTA Player of the Year awards.

But after all of her success, it came down to her daughter, Olympia, blowing on a dandelion to wish for a baby sister, which led Williams to consider leaving the court for good.

And surely enough, almost a year after Serena announced her retirement, Olympia's wish came true.

Serena Williams Made Her Daughter's Wish Come True

Serena Williams retired from professional tennis at the US Open in September 2022.

On August 23, 2023, Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, announced on social media the birth of their second daughter. The couple named her Adira River Ohanian.

"I'm grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama," Alexis Ohanian wrote on Instagram, where the happy family posed for pictures.

Serena, listening to her five-year-old daughter wanting to have a baby sister of her own, just goes to show her dedication towards motherhood now, after spending her prime years winning titles on the court.

Fast forward four years, and 44-year-old Serena Williams shocked the world again with her dramatic weight loss post-retirement, as she fully leans towards business ventures and, most of all, spending time with family.

Was the legendary Serena Williams able to inspire you at any point in your life?

Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Souvik Roy