Serena Williams: 'I Don't Love Tennis' (VIDEO)

(Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar)
Serena Williams of the U.S. (L) and Samantha Stosur of Australia hold their trophies after Stosur defeated Williams to win the final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, September 11, 2011.

By Sami K. Martin , Christian Post Contributor

January 3, 2012|3:27 pm

Serena Williams has admitted that she is not exactly a fan of tennis but “can’t live without it.” She made the announcement right after winning her opening match against Chanelle Scheepers in the Brisbane International tournament.

Williams told reporters, “I don’t love tennis today, but I’m here. I can’t live without it -- there’s a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it. I have never liked sports and could never understand how I became an athlete.”

She entered the tennis world at 13 and has had a successful career ever since, winning Olympic gold, Wimbledon and the French Open. The Women’s Tennis Association has named Williams the number one female tennis player five times. She, along with sister Venus, brought newfound energy and attention to the game.

Serena was well-known for her flashy outfits and, at times, unsportsmanlike attitude. In 2009, Williams walked over to a judge after being cited for a foot fault and said, “If I could, I would take this…ball and shove it down your…throat.” She later apologized, saying that she is “a very intense person and a very emotional person.”

Williams has also been active in charity work, including the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Race for the Homeless, the Special Olympics, Stop the Violence, and others. In Sept. 2011, UNICEF named her a Goodwill Ambassador, saying “Serena Williams isn’t just a world tennis champion, she is a champion for children-and a passionate advocate for providing every child with a quality education.”