Serena Williams says she once dreamed of becoming a gymnast, but her father, Richard Williams, pushed her to stay focused on tennis a decision that left her heartbroken as a child.
In a conversation with her sister Venus, Serena explained that when she was 10 years old, she considered gymnastics as her backup plan if tennis didn’t work out. But their father shut down the idea completely, telling her she could no longer say she wanted to be a gymnast. Serena said the moment crushed her, making her feel as though one of her biggest dreams had been taken away.
Venus added that their father’s reasoning wasn’t without logic. Gymnastics requires athletes to start very young, and Serena had already grown too tall for the sport, making a future in gymnastics unrealistic. Ultimately, his tough guidance steered her toward tennis, the path that led her to legendary success.
Serena went on to win her first Grand Slam at 17 and ultimately ended her career with 23 major singles titles before retiring in 2022. Today, she continues to champion women’s sports and recently played a major role at Athlos 2025, a women-focused track-and-field event created by her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
While Serena remains one of the sport’s greatest icons, current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has recently surpassed Serena’s single-season prize money record, earning over $15 million in 2025 thanks to titles at the US Open, Miami, Madrid, and Brisbane. Sabalenka’s success reflects the rising level of competition in women’s tennis.
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