

Serena Williams’s Final Run
17 snips Sep 12, 2022
Wesley Morris, a Pulitzer Prize-winning culture critic for The New York Times, dives into the impactful legacy of Serena Williams as she retires from tennis. He reflects on her transformative role in redefining the sport, particularly regarding race and representation. Morris highlights the emotional moments of Serena's final U.S. Open, her defiance of traditional norms through style, and the barriers she broke alongside sister Venus. Their journey not only changed tennis but also resonated deeply within the Black community, marking a cultural shift.
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Origin Story
- Richard Williams saw a tennis player win $40,000 in a tournament.
- He decided to coach his daughters, Venus and Serena, in tennis, believing they could achieve similar success.
Challenging the Status Quo
- The Williams sisters entered a predominantly white sport, facing skepticism and disbelief.
- Their presence challenged the established norms and sparked conversations about race and elitism in tennis.
Match-Fixing Accusations
- When Venus and Serena began dominating, accusations of match-fixing arose.
- People questioned whether their father, Richard, was orchestrating their wins against each other.