Serena Williams: ‘If I were a man, I would have been considered the greatest athlete ever a long time ago’
The 22 Grand Slam winner has spoken out about her experiences of sexism and racism in her record breaking career to date
SERENA WILLIAMS believes she would have been considered one of sports’ all-time greats if she had been a man.
The 35-year old tennis icon, who reached a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title this year, suggests sexism is still rife in the sport.
“I think if I were a man, I would have been in that conversation a long time ago - like, six, seven or eight years ago," Williams said last week in an hour-long interview with award winning rapper Common for ESPN’s ''.
"Any kind of man, white or black, it doesn't matter," she continued.
"I think being a woman is just a whole new set of problems from society that you have to deal with, as well as being black, so it’s a lot to deal with — and especially lately.
"I’ve been able to speak up for women’s rights because I think that gets lost in colour, or gets lost in cultures.
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"Women make up so much of this world, and, yeah, if I were a man, I would have 100 percent been considered the greatest ever a long time ago.”
Williams ties Steffi Graf's record for the longest consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 - despite falling to No. 2 behind Angelique Kerber in September after 186 consecutive weeks at the top.
Despite being continuously targeted by body shamers online and feeling a urge to voice her thoughts on political events, violence in the African American community and racial abuse, Williams has battled to overcome her self-preserving instinct to keep her opinions to herself.
She said: "It’s very challenging because sometimes when things are blatantly wrong and blatantly unfair and blatantly racist or sexist.
"I just have to go and put on a brave smile and not let anyone know how I feel on the inside so they don’t get that satisfaction even though on the inside I would be dying."
Williams has also learned to "embrace" her appearance and refrained from reading press coverage documenting her game, her personal life and her athletic body.
"There was a time when I didn’t feel incredibly comfortable about my body because I felt like I was too strong," said Williams, who reached three Grand Slam finals in 2016, winning one.
"I had to take a second and think, ‘Who says I’m too strong? This body has enabled me to be the greatest player that I can be.’
"And now my body is in style, so I’m feeling good about it. [Laughs.] Like, I’m finally in style! It took awhile to get there."
