12-time Grand Slam champion and founder of WTA Tour Billie Jean King spoke about her legendary compatriot Serena Williams’ future in the women’s game. The American will be turning 39 this September and since her return to the circuit as a mother, Williams is in the quest of 24th Slam title.
King feels the tennis layover amid the coronavirus might positively impact Williams’ tennis career.
“I think you have to look at it as a positive in that you have to figure out what you need to do. The one thing when you’re an older player is you have to be more fit than you ever thought possible. I played until I was 40,” King to CNN. She played singles tennis until the age of 40, later, she continued to play doubles tennis till the time she turned 46.
“Serena Williams is amazing” – Billie Jean King
In 2020, Serena Williams snapped her title-less streak since January 2017 as she won a title in Auckland. Later, at the Australian Open, she lost in the third round to China’s Wang Qiang.
Billie Jean later explained, how Serena can turn around her tennis during the break, build her game, and then bounce back invincibly once the circuit resumes.
“If I were Serena with this time off I would enjoy my baby daughter and my husband but I would also be, absolutely just from a physical point of view, driving myself and being absolutely disciplined to be so fit.”
“So when the tournaments start up again you definitely can be ready. But I think that’s the most important thing for Serena because once she starts playing matches, she is amazing,” King added.
With Williams making putting in a bit more effort in her game, she can definitely pull off big achievements once again in her career.
Post her maternity hiatus, Williams reached four Grand Slam finals, and each time she fell short by two sets. Since her Aussie Open 2017 title, Serena has been trying her best to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Slams.
Serena Williams Named Global Spokeswoman for Stuart Weitzman
Serena Williams has been tapped as the global spokeswoman for Stuart Weitzman. The tennis champion will be featured in the 2020 ad campaign, which spotlights women as pillars of hope and optimism for their communities.
The campaign features Williams on a platform, standing tall in silhouettes designed to lift one up.
“Now more than ever, is a moment to focus on hope and moving forward. I want women of every generation to be inspired to do so, one step at a time,” said Williams, who’s also the mother of a two-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia.
The campaign is part of Weitzman’s ongoing philanthropic partnership with Vital Voices Global Partnership. Together with Williams, Weitzman has selected two women leaders — and their organizations focused on lifting up women of color who have stepped up to support vulnerable communities in the midst of the coronavirus. They are Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno, cofounder of Future for Us, a platform dedicated to advancing women of color at work, and Ashlee Wisdom, founder of Health in Her Hue, a platform that connects black women to health-care providers, services and resources.
The black-and-white campaign was shot by Ethan James Green. Natasha Gross was the makeup artist and Angela Meadows was the hairstylist. Stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson selected an all-white palette to draw attention to the shoes. The campaign was shot in late January in Palm Beach.
In the ads, the 38-year-old Williams poses in Weitzman’s square-toe Aleena slide; the sculptural Anny pump, and the Manila lug-sole loafer, reintroduced with a monochromatic sole and updated hardware.
The campaign launches globally today, and will appear on the company’s social media platforms and via digital ads with select partners, as well as in their stores when they reopen.
Having done clothing collections with HSN and Nike, Williams introduced her proprietary fashion collection called Serena in May 2018. It is a direct to consumer business at serenawilliams.com.
Williams is ranked by the WTA as number nine in women’s tennis, has 73 career singles titles and career prize money of $92,715,122. Interestingly, she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as Sportsperson of the Year in 2015 sporting Stuart Weitzman’s black patent leather pumps.
