Serena Williams: ‘It’s so hard for me to relax’

Aryna Sabalenka remembers watching the 2016 Australian Open final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber while having chocolate at a local cafe. Sabalenka, 24, has advanced to her first Grand Slam final after beating Magda Linette 7-6(1) 6-2 in the Australian Open semifinal. Seven years ago, Sabalenka was drinking chocolate and watching Kerber’s shock victory over Williams in the Australian Open final. “I remember that Kerber match against Serena. Yeah, I think I kind of remember it. There was TV in the cafeteria. She was buying chocolate. Like: “Oh, good match, good job. Can I have my chocolate?” Sabalenka recalled, according to Musab Abid. Since the beginning of the season, Sabalenka has spoken several times about her new attitude and behavior. In the past, Sabalenka used to get angry and frustrated very easily on court and that led to self-destruction. But at the start of the 2023 season, Sabalenka is doing her best to remain calm and collected in any situation. Sabalenka’s new attitude and demeanor have seen her reach her first Grand Slam final at Melbourne Park. “I’m not that boring I guess. I keep yelling ‘come on’ and all that stuff. I don’t think it’s that boring to watch. I hope so. Just less negative emotions,” Sabalenka said. 

Serena Williams refuses to slow down 

Serena Williams refuses to slow down even after choosing to end her illustrious on-court career. “I definitely am evolving because I feel like when you retire, it’s different. You put up your gloves, your club, your racquet, or whatever that is or your computer, and then you just relax and you go and you basically take life in, and that is not what I am doing. I just feel like, for me, retirement is such a big word for someone my age and I don’t think that really fits me. I never really fit in a box anyway,” she explained to Gayle King. “I just need an arm out of the box or a leg, something,” quipped the sporting legend. “It’s so hard for me to relax. I don’t know how to relax. I have to schedule it in my schedule. I’m not kidding,” she asserted, seated outdoors in her sprawling Florida home. Serena Williams has undoubtedly been an icon of women’s tennis throughout her impressive career, bringing much to the movement and to her own opponents with her enormous talent and achievements. The American champion recently retired from the sport, having reissued a series of records, including 23 Grand Slam titles out of a total of 73 on the WTA circuit (an all-time record in the Open Era, including men, since that the Spaniard Rafael Nadal is currently 22).