Serena Williams has a starring role—this time off the court—in a commercial that will air during this year’s Super Bowl. It’s for Michelob Ultra, and also includes the likes of former quarterback Peyton Manning and basketball player Anthony Davis.
The spot has a surprisingly philosophical message: “Does joy lead to success, or does success lead to joy? Are you happy because you win, or do you win because you are happy?” The question feels especially pertinent now, during lockdown, when stress is at an all-time high.
Williams is the rarity among us whose life hasn’t changed too much: Tennis’s solitary nature means it has been able to go on, albeit with a limited audience.
She’s been able to continue traveling on tour, maintaining a fitness routine much as she always has. But she is, still, uniquely positioned to offer advice on work-life balance, particularly now that she’s taken on mothering a toddler (she gave birth to baby Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in the fall of 2017) alongside her champion athleticism.
Those dual responsibilities have, of course, changed the parameters of her day. “Because of my daughter, I wake up a little earlier now,” she says, on the phone from Adelaide.
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“Whenever I hear a voice, it is this mommy instinct and I automatically wake up, and she wakes up really early.” During the day, Williams can be found working out, often with a racquet in hand, but sometimes weights instead.
“[My workout] really evolves into what I need to work on for my body specifically because I am an athlete in addition to what my regular tennis routine is. The tennis never changes,” she says.
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“I do [tennis] a couple hours, two to three or four hours a day, and then usually two hours [of general working out].”
Williams finds a direct correlation between happiness and her job. “If you’re happy, then you win, and then you win because you’re happy. Imagine going out to work and being sad? You’re not going to play well,” she says.
“It’s important that in order to play well, you have joys in life and to have things to look forward to. You might not win every tournament, but still you can have an opportunity to look forward to just relaxing and having balance. I think that this is super important.”
As for how Williams maintains a level head amid the chaos of our present day? She spends time on Zoom, alongside her husband and daughter, connecting with her extended family every Sunday.
She’s also made a practice of reading Bible passages. “Life is really about balance. You have to balance spiritually, physically, and mentally,” she says.
“You also have to have fun and let go. That’s one thing that I think is important to talk about.” Her go-to in the fun department is karaoke, of course. Her songs of choice fall under the genre of ’90s rock and roll.
She laughs and says, “Random, I know.” Especially now, she notes, “it’s about finding those little moments off the court.”
