"She has a demand for excellence" - Serena Williams' agent gives some insight into what motivates the WTA legend

Although Serena Williams has not given up her quest to claim her 24th Grand Slam title, longtime agent Jill Smother believes the American has nothing left to prove.

Smoller stated that although people were putting pressure on Williams to win a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title, the former World No.1's legacy was already set in stone.

“At 23 or 20 Slams, she shouldn’t have to hit another ball for us to say what she’s done is historic,” Smoller said. “Yes, there’s that 24, but the times were so different back then. How do you compare 23 Grand Slams in this day and age to a record set 100 years ago when the tennis was so different?

“She doesn’t have to hit another ball to have her greatness set in stone. I do know there’s still some stuff undone and she likes to be able to control her narrative and legacy.”

Furthermore, Smoller revealed the 40-year old motivates herself, and has overcome all the adversity faced in her career.

“She has a demand for excellence,” added Smoller. “She wants to be able to do everything on her own terms and be in control of her narrative. What’s kept her motivated each time is that she didn’t feel like she was done.

“You put an obstacle in front of her and I’ll give you a person who will put their head down and will stop at nothing to accomplish what they have set in front of her.”

Williams is currently rehabilitating from a torn hamstring, but is scheduled to return to the courts at the 2022 Australian Open.