Serena Williams entered the sport in 1995 when the sport had very few players like her. However, she broke through the glass ceilings as she re-defined tennis in her over 2 decades-long career. But it wasn’t a smooth journey. Critics repeatedly questioned Williams’ strength. During hard times, fans stood by Williams as she continued her dominance. And one of her supporters was the famous author, J K Rowling. However, almost a decade after defending Serena Williams, the author has made her presence known to protect herself and Williams once again.

On November 28th, Rowling shared a screenshot of the publication, Politics For You that posted, “BREAKING Children’s author J. K. Rowling questions the legitimacy of Serena Williams’ Grand Slam victories and Olympic medals. “Let’s just say I have my doubts””. Rowling gave a scathing reply on X, saying, “Would someone who isn’t blocked by the misogynistic, cowardly p—ks at @PoliticoForYou share this with them?”

However, Politico For You has since deleted the post. This didn’t deter Rowling, who again criticized them for spreading misinformation. “The misogynistic, cowardly p—s of @PoliticoForYou have deleted their post, confirming that, while they are indeed cowardly p—s, they’re not quite as dumb as they may appear.” Rowling is undoubtedly a formidable force when defending herself and those she supports. 9 years ago also, she showed exactly that.

Back in 2015, during the Wimbledon championships, Williams was on the way to her 6th Grass title. On 11th July, a day before the grass slam’s finale, JK Rowling applauded Williams tweeting, “#SerenaSlam! I love her. What an athlete, what a role model, what a woman!”

Later, Serena Williams defeated Garbiñe Muguruza in the final, 6–4, 6–4 to win the ladies’ singles tennis. It was her 21st major singles title overall. With the win, Williams completed her second “Serena Slam” (a non-calendar year Grand Slam), having won the preceding US Open, Australian Open and French Open. However, not everyone was happy with Williams conquering the center court.

One fan, with the username, Rob (diegtristan8), took to X to share their displeasure with the fact. They said, “Ironic then that the main reason for her success is that she is built like a man.” Rowling clapped back at the fan for the rude post. She said, “@diegtristan8 “ she is built like a man“. Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You’re an idiot.” 

Though the post by the fan might have been removed, Rowling words still stand tall for the American legend. Three years later, she once again publicly supported Williams following her controversial 2018 US Open.

When J K Rowling defended Serena Williams after 2018 US Open debacle

Serena Williams claimed her 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open 2017 and took the season off after that, to avail maternity leave from tennis. However, the American legend was back on the court soon after giving birth to her first daughter, Olympia Ohanian. However, her comeback on the home grounds didn’t go as planned.

She lost the 2018 US Open finals to the Japanese star, Naomi Osaka, marred with an alleged controversial call from the umpire. In the aftermath of the match, Mark Knight’s cartoon, in the Australian Newspaper, Herald Sun, depicted Williams in what many fans considered inappropriate. And Rowling once again took to X, to show her displeasure for the same.

As reported by Independent, she said, “Well done on reducing one of the greatest sportswomen alive to ra–st and se–st tropes and turning a second great sportswoman into a faceless prop.”

It’s unlikely to doubt Serena Williams’s legacy for anyone who has followed tennis for around 3 decades that she was in the circuit. Nonetheless, it’s good to see Rowling fearlessly standing for what she believes in and the people she supports.