Serena: ‘It hasn’t been easy being a black tennis player’

In a press conference in Philadelphia, the 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams spoke about the challenges she is facing as a mum and the unfair treatment that pregnant black African-American women are getting.

Serena already ended her season and she is enjoying a lot of free time with her daughter Olympia. ‘I always have these insecurities that I’m not good enough as a mom. We all go through these different emotions that we all don’t feel comfortable talking about.

But I think we should. It hasn’t been easy being a black tennis player in a sport that black people typically didn’t play. There was no manual for that, really. My sister, Venus, obviously came a year before me. She opened so many doors for me and pushed a lot of boundaries’, said Serena.

The former world No. 1, who will start her 2019 season at the Hopman Cup in Perth, added: ‘I did some research and I was alarmed that our black mothers are not being taken care of. It’s in this country that is supposed to be so technologically advanced.

Why are we treating out mothers like this?” It’s really unacceptable. I feel like if I can help save lives – that’s one of the best things that you can do.’ Serena also spoke about the advertisement video she had a few weeks ago.

She was signing for charity. ‘I was like OK, I’m not a singer. Anyway, long story short – it’s a great ad. … It is amazing what early detection can do. It can change your life. I thought it was really important to do that’, said Serena.