Serena Williams is one of the most successful tennis players of all time, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name. But even with all her success, Serena has experienced her fair share of challenges and obstacles throughout her career. One of the most difficult moments for her came when she felt estranged from her parents, who were not watching her games.
In a candid interview, Serena revealed that her relationship with her parents had become strained over the years, with her father, Richard Williams, and her mother, Oracene Price, often absent from her matches. For Serena, this was a painful experience, as she had always looked up to her parents and wanted their support.
“My parents stopped watching my matches. Like they did in the beginning but now they just leave. My dad doesn’t come my mom doesn’t come” Serena said with a slight frown.
Serena’s complicated relationship with her parents
Serena’s relationship with her parents had been complicated from the beginning. Her father had taken a very hands-on approach to her and her sister Venus’s tennis careers, coaching them from a young age and steering them toward success on the court. While this had led to their incredible achievements, it had also caused tension between them.
As Serena’s career took off, she found herself increasingly at odds with her parents, who had their own opinions about how she should play and what her priorities should be. The situation came to a head when they stopped coming to her matches, leaving Serena feeling abandoned and alone.
However, there’s a happy twist to the story. The arrival of her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in 2017, has helped to bring the family closer together. In an interview with Vogue in 2018, Serena spoke about how motherhood had changed her perspective on her own parents, and how she had become more forgiving of their past disagreements.
This moment between Serena Williams and her daughter are the reason why we love sports today pic.twitter.com/QcENXEloox
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 22, 2023
“I think sometimes, as a young person, you don’t realize that your parents are human beings,” Serena said. “But once you become a parent yourself, you understand what it’s like to have that kind of love and responsibility for someone else.”
Serena’s mother, Oracene Price, has also been a big part of her daughter’s journey into motherhood. Serena often speaks about how her mother had been a source of support and advice during her pregnancy and after the birth of her daughter.
