Seeing Serena

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There has never been an athlete like Serena Williams. Dominating women’s tennis for two decades, she has transformed the game and inspired a new generation of players, including Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, while also influencing the racial dynamics of professional tennis. Beyond the court, Williams has become a cultural icon, engaging in discussions about body image and the challenges faced by working mothers. The narrative follows her return to tennis after giving birth, highlighting her controversial 2018 US Open final against Osaka and the 2020 season marked by a pandemic and protests against police violence. Gerald Marzorati, a tennis writer for The New Yorker, explores Williams's journey by visiting Wimbledon and Compton, California, where she and her sister Venus began their careers. He interviews former tennis greats, sports commentators, and Serena herself, observing her from various perspectives—courtside, on the red carpet, in fashion magazines, and on social media. This multifaceted portrayal results in an enlightening analysis and vibrant narrative that underscores Serena’s unparalleled status as the greatest women’s tennis player and a powerful Black woman with a unique global influence.