“Wouldn’t Naturally Put Her in It”: Serena Williams on Playing Tennis With Daughter Olympia

Serena Williams has opened up on her daughter Alexis Olympia and how she is on the court. In an interview with popular American talk show host Stephen Colbert, Serena said that her daughter seems to have an innate talent for tennis though she is not sure “where she got that from”.

Calling little Olympia “a perfectionist on the court”, the 23-time Grand Slam champion said she never imagined she would let her daughter play tennis at her age but realized that it was the “safest way” she could bond with her during the pandemic.

To a question on whether the American would consider putting Olympia in tennis, she said the sport does take a lot out of an individual and she “wouldn’t naturally put her in it.”

Serena said that tennis is “all-consuming”, “stressful”, “a lot of work” and “a huge commitment” and she wouldn’t wish for her daughter to go through all that in order to make a career in the game.

Serena will be her daughter’s biggest cheerleader if she ends up playing tennis

Serena said that if her daughter wants to pursue tennis as a career option, she wouldn’t stand in her way. “If that (playing tennis) was something she wanted to do, I would absolutely be like, ‘Oh my god, she should totally do that,” Serena said.

The American added that though she would be the biggest cheerleader for her little one if she ends playing tennis, it isn’t the first thing she would want her to pursue.

Serena is currently under quarantine in Adelaide ahead of the Australian Open. Having not won a single Grand Slam title in three years, the 39-year-old American would head to Melbourne Park, desperate to get the monkey off her back.

A 24th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open will put her on level with the legendary Margaret Court, who currently holds the record for the most number of career Majors across the men’s and women’s fields.

Read More: “Relied on her more than ever”: Serena Williams Opens Up About Her Mother’s Unexpected Support

Serena raised visions of ending her Grand Slam title drought at the US Open last year but eventually went out in the last-four stage to Belarussian Victoria Azarenka.