One of the greatest tennis players of all time, Serena Williams, has attributed part of her success to a tough break-up with her first boyfriend. The American ace, known for her dominance on the tennis court, revealed that being ghosted by her boyfriend was a turning point in her career.
Williams, who has won 23 major singles titles in the Open Era of tennis, shared how her ex-boyfriend’s sudden disappearance fueled her drive to succeed. “A few days after the US Open final, I’m in DC with my sister [Venus],” Williams recounted in the documentary, In The Arena: Serena Williams. “I see this guy that I’m dating, so and so, and I stayed at his house for a couple of weeks. It was the first relationship I ever had. I was in my twenties.
“I go home. He ghosts me. I got ghosted. It wasn’t even that serious, but it was like I used that, and I made it way more serious than what it was. So, when he ghosted me I used that as an opportunity to say, he’s going to regret this for the rest of his life.”
The break-up fueled Williams to become one of the most dominant female athletes in history, as she reigned as world number one for 319 weeks and won a staggering 84.6% of all her singles games throughout her career.
Williams’ story serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination needed to reach the pinnacle of success in the world of tennis. Her ability to turn a heartbreak into a driving force behind her success is a testament to her mental strength and unwavering focus on her goals. As she continues to inspire the next generation of tennis players, Williams’ story of triumph over adversity will forever be etched in the annals of tennis history.
