"What Serena has done, is transcended our sport" ✨ Billie Jean King, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Andy Murray and Todd Martin discuss Serena Williams' legacy both on and off the court 🙌 #BlackHistoryMonth
(VIDEO) "She inspired a lot of people across the world": Serena Williams' legacy praised by Billie Jean King and Andy Murray in piece for Black History Month
Tennis NewsWednesday, 25 October 2023 at 14:31
Billie Jean King and Andy Murray were among those who praised Serena Williams' legacy in a recent Sky Sports piece for Black History Month which examined the tennis legend's profound impact on the sport.
Williams had a hugely successful career and is often considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The American turned pro in 1995 and was 17 when she won her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open. She went on to win a total of 23 majors and spent 319 weeks as World No. 1.
The 42-year-old played her final match at the 2022 US Open, bowing out in the third round against Ajla Tomljanovic. Since then, she has welcomed her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian and has continued her work for Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on funding founders from diverse backgrounds.
King and Murray praise legacy
Now, several athletes have been reflecting on Williams' legacy in the sport, including former World No. 1's King and Murray, as well as Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee and former tennis player Todd Martin.
"I've known Serena since she was six - she was in one of our team tennis clinics and I knew there that she and her sister [Venus] were special. In fact, we had them hit for the audience," said King
"Our first black woman was Althea Gibson, who won Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958 but what Serena has done has transcended our sport. And that's what you want from every champion from every sport really.
"She's got so many new people playing our sport, not just black children, but everyone.
"This is only the first half of her life because what tennis has done for her and her generation. She was able to make $100m on the court and many millions off it, so she's been great for us but we've been great for her.
"The second half is going to be much greater thank what she's done on the court, I think. She's going to help girls and girls of colour, women and women of colour," the 29-year-old continued.
Murray also praised Williams, calling her an inspiration to people across the world and using the reaction to her retirement in 2022 as an example.
"The response to her retiring at the US Open, the atmosphere during her matches was incredible. You listen to all of the players talking about her and so many of the young up-and-coming female players talk about how much she inspired them to pick up a racket.
"Serena has been a huge part of all of their careers, that's how long she dominated for and how long she was on the tour for. It's obviously sad for tennis that she chose to retire but what an unbelievable career she had, and she did a lot for the sport, but she was a lot bigger than that. She inspired a lot of people across the world," he said.
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