Serena Williams recently shared the surprising origin of her powerful forehand, one of the most feared shots in WTA history. Despite spending much of her career in the public eye, Serena’s new documentary, “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” offers fresh insights into her life and career, including a pivotal skateboarding accident.
Known as the greatest player of all time, Serena’s accolades are well-deserved. Her documentary is a must-watch for tennis and sports fans alike, filled with intriguing stories about her journey. One such story reveals how a skateboarding mishap contributed to her formidable forehand.
In a conversation with her sister Venus in the documentary, Serena explained how her passion for skateboarding and punk rock led to the incident. “All my dreams weren’t on the tennis court. I learned guitar and started listening to Green Day. I became a low-key punk rocker because I loved Bad Religion and Rancid. Back then, I loved to skateboard. That’s how I got a good forehand.”
Serena recounted, “One day at school, I didn’t want to be there, so I took my skateboard out and went skateboarding in the neighborhood. I fell and hurt my wrist really bad. I never told my dad.” The injury forced her to avoid backhands, leading her to focus on her forehand instead. “I couldn’t really hit backhands, so I was like, I want to work on my forehand today. I want my forehand to get better.”
Venus added, “We remember her forehand getting much bigger after that. I thought maybe I should have fallen.”
This story highlights how Serena turned adversity into advantage, a common theme among elite athletes. Early in her career, she relied on drop shots and lobs due to her smaller stature and lack of power. Reflecting on her development, Serena said, “For me, it was always about Venus and Serena. She was the phenom. My whole game was hitting lobs and drop shots. It’s nothing like my game today. I just wasn’t strong enough. So I would hit lobs and then I’d wait and move my feet really well, and I would hit drop shots. My matches would be, like, two hours.”
Serena’s skateboarding story is a testament to her resilience and adaptability, traits that have defined her illustrious career.