Tennis icon Serena Williams has inked a contract for two books with Penguin Random House, marking her inaugural pause for reflection on her extraordinary career.
She is preparing to release two books, with the initial one being a memoir that promises an “intimate” exploration of her childhood and extraordinary tennis career.
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The 42-year-old tennis legend, widely recognized as one of the sport’s greatest players, declared her retirement from professional tennis last year. “For the longest time, my singular focus was winning, and I never took the time to pause and contemplate my life and career,” she remarked.
“Over the last year I’ve really enjoyed taking the time with my growing family to celebrate my accomplishments and explore my other passions,” the mother of two added. “I couldn’t be at a more perfect place to be able to take on such a personal, intimate project.”
Penguin Random House (PRH) has revealed that Serena Williams’ upcoming memoir, which is currently untitled and has no set release date, will be an “open-hearted exploration of the experiences that have shaped her life”. The book will delve into how she navigated scrutiny and challenges in a mainly white and male-dominated sport, as well as “heartbreaking defeats both on and off the court.”
Williams will also discuss her perspectives on “embracing body diversity and expanding style boundaries in sports and popular culture” and “raising awareness about maternal health disparities.” Additionally, she will recount the story of her encounter with her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and her journey as a mother to her daughters Olympia and Adira.
More about Serena Williams
Born in Michigan, Williams began her tennis journey in California and then, at the age of nine, continued her training at a esteemed tennis academy in Florida. The early life of the Williams sisters was shown in the 2021 movie “King Richard,” which earned Will Smith an Academy Award for Best Actor.
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At the age of 14 in 1995, Williams embarked on her professional tennis career, portrayed her first grand slam title at the age of 17 during the 1999 US Open. Over the course of her nearly three-decade-long tennis journey, she clinched an impressive 23 major singles titles and amassed a total of $94,588,910 (£77,718,978) in prize money.
Serena with her sister Venus and author Hilary Beard, co-authored a self-help book titled “Venus & Serena: Serving from the Hip: 10 Rules for Living, Loving and Winning,” published in 2005. She also published her first solo autobiography, “Queen of the Court,” in 2010.
Furthermore, in 2022, she wrote a picture book titled “The Adventures of Qai Qai,” featuring illustrations by Yesenia Moises. This book drew inspiration from a doll owned by her daughter that gained popularity on social media.