Serena Williams is widely regarded as the best women’s tennis player of all time. The American superstar dominated the women’s game for nearly two decades, winning everything in her path. The 23-time Grand Slam champion was just as entertaining off the court as she was on it.
Throughout her career, Williams has entertained fans with witty remarks during interviews, whether on-court after a win or at a press conference. She has never been afraid to be herself and has provided some iconic quotes. Here are five of the sassiest quotes from Serena Williams:
#5 “I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger”
In a 2015 interview with The Times, Serena discussed her inner strength that helped her overcome difficult circumstances, such as the controversial Miami Open in 2001, where she faced allegations of match-fixing and was booed throughout the final. “I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger,” Williams said.
#4 “I’m drama, and I don’t want to be drama”
At the French Open in 2009, Serena faced Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in a contentious match. Despite losing the first set, she staged a comeback to win the match, and during her post-match conference, she acknowledged her dramatic persona but insisted that she didn’t want to be involved in such antics. “I’m drama, and I don’t want to be drama,” Williams said.
#3 “I’d rather definitely be No. 2 and hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any”
In 2009, despite Serena’s Wimbledon victory, she was ranked second in the world behind Dinara Safina, who had never won a Grand Slam title. However, Williams was not fazed by the rankings. “I think if you hold three Grand Slam titles maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour. I’d rather definitely be No. 2 and hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any,” Williams said.
#2 “I went on court with a ball, a racquet and hope… That’s all I had.”
Following her Australian Open win in 2015, Serena delivered an emotional post-match speech reflecting on her tennis career. She revealed that she carried hope onto the court with her during difficult times. “I went on the courts with just a ball and a racket and a hope, and that’s all I had,” Serena said.
#1 “Am I the greatest? I don’t know, I’m the greatest I can be.”
In 2016, when asked about being considered the “greatest of all time” (GOAT) by fans during a Glamour magazine interview, Serena remained humble in her response. “I try to be the best that I can be every day. I have bad days. So am I the greatest? I don’t know. I’m the greatest that I can be,” Serena Williams said.
