A tribute to the G.O.A.T

Serena Williams is the epitome of a powerful woman. She owns her talent, strength, and opinions. In short-she is an icon. Last month she talked about the U.S. Open being her final tournament. Yesterday was the second round of the U.S. Open. Serena, currently ranked 605 in the women’s singles standing, beat Anna Kontaveit, the player ranked second. That in itself is impressive as is the fact that Serena is 14 years older than Anna. 40 year old bodies do not move and work like 26 year old bodies…

But here’s what I think is even more significant. Serena returned to tennis time and time again when people counted her out.* She came back from injuries, mental health struggles, and having a child. I can’t pretend to know what it is like to get back in Grand Slam shape after any of these issues. 

I do think it’s important to acknowledge my own illustrious tennis career. As a high school freshman I played third singles. In theory that was because I was the third best player on the team. In reality it was because the team just started that year and there were about five players total. My sophomore year I was “demoted” to the first doubles team. I am not a team player. I do not trust people to do things the way I do. I have control issues. I am working on them in therapy. So we had a doubles team consisting of one player who wasn’t happy to have to be a teammate and another who thought she was too good for doubles. It wasn’t good. We didn’t work together. We didn’t like each other. And then one day she didn’t run for any shots and I threatened to hit her in the head with my racquet. I was demoted to third singles. We were terrible. I switched to track the next year and that is a story for another day (#longjump). The end. 

In her on-court interview after the match yesterday there was a moment that was spectacular. Here’s how it went:

Interviewer: Are you surprised at yourself with your level (of play)?

Serena: Literally CHUCKLES

Interviewer (apparently just  realizing who she’s talking to-the damn G.O.A.T.): No. I know.

Serena: I’m mean, I’m just Serena, you know.

Just Serena. Just the greatest tennis player (and maybe athlete) of all time. Just a barrier breaking, African American woman who is a role model to millions of women and girls. Just a player who rocked a catsuit in protest of gendered dress codes in tennis. Legendary. Her comment in that interview is a lesson to us all. We can’t be shy about owning our accomplishments, ladies! Serena knows she is good. It’s not a fluke. It’s because she works hard. We do too. We have to own our accomplishments (this isn’t bragging!) because if we don’t someone else will take credit for our amazing work. 

Here are some tips on how to claim credit without being insufferable. If you still aren’t ready to toot your own horn, have someone else do it for you. Maybe even get together with a few women and decide to form a group (coven?) where you purposely highlight each other’s work. Don’t fly under the radar. Be like Serena. Be the G.O.A.T. in your office!

*Let’s be honest, people were counting her and Venus out for years. Until they started kicking everyone’s asses.