“Changed the Face of Tennis”: Hollywood Actress Lays Emphasis on Venus and Serena Williams’ Mother

In the women’s game, Serena Williams has been a revolutionary figure. One of the key people instrumental in her career, besides her father, has been her mother, Oracene Price. She has not been a coach in a traditional sense. Although, she did learn tennis on her own to help make her daughters learn the technical aspects of the sport. 

Recently, the premier of the movie ‘King Richard’ was held. Serena’s mother, Oracene Price, has a prominent role in the movie and her character is played by Aunjanue Ellis. She reveals the instances that mesmerized her with regards to Price. 

The Hollywood actress stated, “It means everything (to play Oracene). Miss Oracene changed the face of tennis as we know it. And people don’t know that… But the great part is before I met her I just heard the recordings that we had of her and I got to hear her talk about herself and to hear her tell her story. That meant everything and it was how I built the character I played.”

Serena’s mother is seldom more than a footnote while discussing the American’s rise to stardom. And it’s time that Price got her flowers, and with King Richard, Aunjanue Ellis is aiming to do just that. 

Serena Williams had a difficult campaign at the Majors in 2021  

Coming to tennis, Williams was last seen at the Wimbledon Championships. During her opening round match, she injured herself and as a result, had to retire during the early stages. After that, she decided to withdraw from the US Open due to a hamstring injury. 

Serena was unsuccessful in grabbing that elusive 24th Grand Slam in 2021; the closest she came was when she reached the semi-final of the Australian Open. She’ll be hoping to right that particular wrong at next year’s Happy Slam. 

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