Serena Williams is one of the most decorated athletes in history. She has won 23 Grand Slam titles, four Olympic gold medals, and numerous other championships. But there’s more to Serena than just her incredible sporting achievements. Here are 10 things you might not know about the world-famous tennis player.
1. She has a fear of flying
Despite her many years of travelling for tournaments, Serena still hasn’t overcome her fear of flying. In fact, she even once declared that she would retire from tennis if she had to keep flying around the world!
2. Her favorite food is French fries
No matter how healthy she eats during training or competition, Serena can’t resist her favourite junk food snack – French fries!
3. She’s a huge Marvel fan
Serena is a self-proclaimed geek and loves all things Marvel. She even has a tattoo of the superhero character Spider-Man on her left thigh!
4. She’s fluent in French
In addition to English, Serena is also fluent in French – another language she picked up while travelling for tournaments.
5. She owns her own fashion line
Serena isn’t just a world-class athlete, she’s also a successful businesswoman. She launched her own fashion line, Aneres, in 2006 and has since expanded into other areas such as cosmetics and home decor.
6. Her sister is also a professional tennis player
Serena’s younger sister, Venus Williams, is also a professional tennis player. The two have played each other numerous times throughout their careers, with Serena coming out on top most of the time.
7. She was once ranked as the world’s No. 1 female tennis player
In 2002, Serena became the world’s No. 1 ranked female tennis player – a title she held for three years. She currently holds the record for most Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined.
8. She has her own foundation
Serena is very philanthropic and established her own foundation in 2004 to help underprivileged youth get access to education and sports programs. To date, the Foundation has raised over $20 million.
9. She’s a huge Beyonce fan
Serena is such a big fan of Beyonce that she even named one of her cats after the singer! She also has a tattoo of the word “Sasha” on her right wrist, which is reportedly a tribute to Beyonce’s alter ego.
10. She’s engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian
In December 2016, Serena announced her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The two are now expecting their first child together.