Serena Williams revealed that her dream of becoming a gymnast was derailed by her father, Richard, as the 23-time Major champion explained that while she admired gymnastics, her parent insisted she pursue tennis, shaping her career path.
At ten years old, Serena considered gymnastics as a backup plan if tennis failed but her dad refused to allow the option, believing tennis would offer her the greatest opportunities to succeed in life.
Although he was later proved right, this moment left her feeling devastated and forced her to focus solely on the sport he envisioned, surrendering one of her ambitions and passions for success.
“I desperately wanted to be a gymnast,” Williams said, speaking to Venus. “One day my dad was like, ‘What would you do if it doesn’t work out in tennis?’
“I would say, ‘I want to be a gymnast’. One day my dad took me aside and he’s like, ‘You can’t say that anymore’.
“I was also like 10 years old. When I tell you I was devastated, my heart sank, and I felt like, ‘You crushed my dreams of being a gymnast!'”
Her older sister, Venus, who has won seven singles slams, reflected on their father’s reasoning, noting that gymnastics requires early specialization and Serena had already grown taller than most elite gymnasts.
So her father’s strict guidance ultimately ensured her future success in tennis instead of a sport with limited prospects.
“She was already too tall, and you have to start really young,” Venus added. “The ship had sailed, in the right direction though. Right straight to Flushing around the corner.”
Serena embraced tennis fully, winning her first Major singles title at the US Open in 1999 at age 17 and over her career, she collected 23 Major singles championships, set numerous records, and retired in 2022 with her final appearance at the US Open, solidifying her legacy.
Beyond her tennis career, Serena remains active in promoting women’s sports and attended the second edition of Athlos, a track-and-field event created by her husband Alexis Ohanian, which gathers top female athletes and celebrates achievements beyond tennis.
Williams played a central role at Athlos 2025, crowning winners with Tiffany crowns and supporting the event’s mission to raise visibility for women in sports.
Athlos surpassed its debut edition in every metric, showcasing her ongoing influence in athletics.
Aryna Sabalenka eclipses Serena
While Williams is a celebrated former tennis champion, the current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has now surpassed her single-season earnings record as the Belarussian earned $15,008,519 in 2025, overtaking Serena’s $12,385,572 in 2013.
Her 2025 season includes victories at the US Open, Madrid Open, Miami Open, and Brisbane International meaning she has 21 WTA singles titles, including four majors, nine WTA 1000 wins, and six doubles titles.
After struggling with ranking consistency in 2022, Sabalenka achieved World No. 1 status in 2023 displaying an aggressive and consistent style of play.
She defended her Australian Open title, won the US Open, and finished as year-end No. 1 for the second consecutive year.
While Serena‘s career remains historic, Sabalenka‘s recent accomplishments show the evolving standards of women’s tennis.
Her achievements reflect both her talent and the continuing competitive landscape that current and former champions navigate.
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