After Serena Williams hung up her racket in September 2022, following a two-decade illustrious career gilded with 23 Slams, everyone thought she would steer away from the limelight. Well, who knew she was just getting started to shine off court? Especially in the entertainment world. In April 2023, the 43-year-old legend introduced her own multimedia company, 926 Productions. Of course, the move came following the immense success of the Academy Award-winning movie King Richard, which depicted Serena and her sister Venus Williams’ journey and how their father Richard Williams shaped it to lead them to tennis glory. Two years down the line, now, Serena’s set to executive produce a new project for Netflix. It’s based on a best-selling book called Carrie Soto Is Back. Do you know Serena has an interesting connection with this tennis-themed novel?

On Monday, Serena took to her Instagram story to make a big announcement. She is going to collaborate with streaming giant Netflix. She’s set to executive produce Carrie Soto Is Back. It’s a book published in 2022 and written by popular American author Taylor Jenkins Reid. The upcoming TV series, based on the book, is written and executive produced by Amanda Kate Shuman.

The story revolves around an iconic tennis star, Carrie, who’s accomplished all the big milestones. But when she feels her Slam-winning record is in danger because of a young and rising female tennis star, Nicki Chan, Carrie decides to come out of retirement. She makes this move six years after bidding farewell to the sport.

But wait, how is this fictional story related to Serena Williams? Well, back in 2022, in an interview with Goodreads at the time of the book’s release, author Taylor Jenkins Reid reflected on how Serena acted as a source of inspiration. When asked if the protagonist was connected to any real-life player, especially Serena, Reid revealed, “It’s not coincidental. My incredible respect for the Williams sisters is part of what makes me interested in tennis.”

Continuing further she added, “I wouldn’t write a book about tennis without the influence of just the absolute glory that has been their journey, but also specifically Serena’s quest to get as many Grand Slam titles as she has managed to do.”

Reid emphasized that what intrigued her to write this character was not just “the facts” but also “the story that is being told. Carrie Soto comes from that. The Williams sisters have influenced her only in that they have made me realize how strong and compelling a tennis story can be.”

Apart from the 23-time Slam champion, Reid also cited several other tennis figures. “There are a number of athletes that I read about: the Williams sisters, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King. I read about a lot of different people before I started to understand exactly who Carrie was as an athlete,” she remarked.

It won’t be the first time Serena will be producing a TV series. Two years ago, in 2023, she executive produced COPA 71. And, it earned various accolades, including the Thinking Audience award at the 2024 Athletic Club’s Film Festival. But even before its release, Serena’s husband Alexis Ohanian was ecstatic about it. So much so, that he came up with a special gesture on social media.

When Alexis Ohanian cheered for Serena Williams’ off-court milestone

For the uninitiated, Copa 71 was made in collaboration with actor Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios. It tells the story of the 1971 Women’s World Cup which wasn’t approved by soccer authorities, including FIFA. But the event eventually took place in Mexico with the help of the Federation of Independent European Female Football. Following a revamp in FIFA’s format, this tournament got forgotten until COPA 71 was released in September 2023.

When the first look trailer was launched, in August, it created buzz among moviegoers. Serena Williams‘ husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian was left impressed. Being in awe of the trailer, he reposted it on X. Ohanian wrote, “Serena First: @weareangelcity, Next: #COPA71, After that: 😏” Context? Well, he reflected on his wife’s increased focus on soccer. Before COPA 71, she also became a co-owner of the Angel City FC alongside her husband and daughter, Olympia. Angel City FC is one of the clubs in the NWSL.

Serena was also excited about Copa 71. In an interaction with Variety in February 2023, she said, “Copa 71 tells the story of one of the most inspirational and significant moments in women’s sports history.”

Showing her gratitude to be able to bring an incredible story to the screens, she added, “It’s an honor to partner with my sisters and Westbrook Studios to help bring this magical story to light, which has been buried for far too long.”

What are your thoughts on Serena’s amazing transformation from a tennis legend to an entrepreneur? Let us know in the comments below.