“It’s shameful that our society penalized women just for being themselves,” she continued. “I tried to compare it to other setbacks I’d had in my life and career, and for some reason I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was about so much more than just me.”
Pointing out the media’s portrayal of the incident, she added, “I thought I was doing the right thing in sticking up for myself. But I had no idea the media would pit us against each other. I would love the chance to live that moment over again.”
Crediting her 2-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia with giving her the strength to stand up for herself, Williams concluded, “Ultimately, my daughter is the reason I use my voice, the reason I picked up a racket again. Love breathes life and newfound perspective into people. It’s not about quitting when someone presents a challenge; it’s about getting up when you are down, dusting yourself off and asking, ‘Is that the best you got?’ Because I have God with me, and I can take whatever comes my way.”
