Serena Williams, who feels “new power” of her pregnancy, is already preparing for an Australian Open title defense in January.
In an extensive interview with Vogue regarding motherhood, body image and race, Williams said he had set himself a goal to play Melbourne.
“It’s the most outrageous plan,” said Williams, 36, who expects his first child next month.
“I just want to put that there, that’s, like, three months after giving birth. I’m not walking anything back, but I’m saying it’s pretty intense.”
Williams said during her pregnancy dismissal that she had kept a watchful eye on the world of tennis, including her sister’s career Venus to the Wimbledon final.
And she has her eye on matching Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. She was already pregnant when she won her 23rd at the Australian Open last January.
“Obviously, if I get a chance to get out and reach Margaret, I’m not going to let that go,” Williams said. “If anything, this pregnancy has given me a new power.”
Williams says she has had a “love-hate relationship with the idea of power” as it relates to her game, sometimes annoyed that her skill and strategy seemed to be overlooked.
“As I have grown, I have begun to feel different, power is beauty, strength is beauty, so now on the court I want people to think that I am powerful,” he said.
But she is dismayed to think that many interpret her determination in court as “bad” – something she believes has to do with race.
“I feel like people think I’m bad,” he says. “I really think that the other girls in the locker room will say, ‘Serena is really nice.’ But Maria Sharapova, who could not talk to anyone, could be perceived by the public as better. Why is that, because I am black and so I look bad? That is the society we live in. They have to be two Times better, especially women. I’m perfectly fine with having to be twice as good. “
