Thread by @NBCNews

When Serena Williams retires from tennis — whether it’s after the upcoming U.S. Open or sometime later — she will leave a legacy as the most dominant and influential women’s player in the game’s history. #NBCNewsThreads (1/11) nbcnews.to/3dgtGYX

It is Serena’s inspiring ascension from the mean streets of Compton, California, to becoming one of the greatest in tennis that has made her a pop culture icon and inspired Black girls across the globe to take up the sport. (2/11)

“I started playing because of her. I’m sure there’s so many other girls that started playing because of her, so she literally built champions,” four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka said to Tennis World magazine last year. (3/11)

Serena’s strength and control on the court are powerful. Off the court, she carried herself with aplomb, often reflective in her responses to probing questions, and at times, exposing her raw emotions. (4/11)

“I’d like to think that thanks to opportunities afforded to me, women athletes feel that they can be themselves on the court. They can play with aggression and pump their fists. They can be strong yet beautiful,” Serena said in a recent essay for Vogue. (5/11)

Serena has chosen to boycott a tournament after enduring racist jeers, she’s called out sexism after being deducted a point at the U.S. Open and she is also an avid supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. (6/11)

Kim Bell, a tennis fan, calls Serena a role model: “We relate to her triumphs and defeats on so many levels, and what she has accomplished transcends the sport we love and will impact Black and brown girls and women forever.” (7/11)

Her path to crafting an important legacy was not without controversy — and pain. Serena was at times petulant during a challenging match, or when losing, overshadowing monumental wins for her victorious opponents. (8/11)

“I’m far from perfect, but I have also taken a lot of criticism and I’d like to think that I went through some of the hard times as a professional tennis player so that the next generation could have it easier,” Serena wrote in her essay. (9/11)

In Compton, where she was raised, Serena is revered. “I can use one word for Serena Williams as it relates to this community,” Mayor Emma Sharif said. “’Inspiration.’” (10/11)

“She’s proud of where she comes from. And young people who live where she once lived can take a look at her successes and realize that anything is possible for them,” the mayor added. (11/11)
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