Serena Williams Opened Up About the Wage Gap to Glamour
Serena Williams was interviewed for the June cover of Glamour and, as predicted, she gave us even more reasons to adore her. The star, who was recently named the highest paid female athlete in the world, shared her thoughts on the wage gap, Drake, having children, and competing at 30. While the entire interview is captivating, we've pulled some of Serena's most compelling quotes. And, Serena, we couldn't agree more: you are the greatest that you can be.
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On Being an Athlete in Her 30s
"Who says that your thirties is when you’re supposed to be done? I would like to know who made that rule! I was talking to my mom one time, like, ‘Gosh, I’m 30.’ And she’s like, ‘In your thirties you’re even stronger than in your twenties.’ I didn’t believe her, but I have played better in my thirties. And I played pretty well in my twenties, don’t get me wrong! But my consistency is better, my momentum is better, my wins are quicker."
On the Wage Gap in Sports
“These sports have a lot of work to do. And I really hope that I can be helpful in that journey because I do believe that women deserve the same pay. We work just as hard as men do. I’ve been working, playing tennis, since I was three years old. And to be paid less just because of my sex—it doesn’t seem fair. Will I have to explain to my daughter that her brother is gonna make more money doing the exact same job because he’s a man? If they both played sports since they were three years old, they both worked just as hard, but because he’s a boy, they’re gonna give him more money? Like, how am I gonna explain that to her? In tennis we’ve had great pioneers that paved the way—including Venus, who fought so hard for Wimbledon to pay women the same prize money they pay men, and Billie Jean King, who is one of the main reasons Title IX exists.”
On Drake Distracting Her During the US Open in 2015
"I don’t think that was fair. I’m the one who’s playing, who’s making mistakes or making winners. I’m not one to blame anyone else for anything. And I don’t think anyone else should either. I played a really good opponent that day. And I wasn’t at my best."
Bonus: Watch Serena Literally Serve at a Man in a Protected Suit
. . . as she dismisses the annoying things men say about women.