Serena Williams recently participated in an episode of Kevin Hart's show "Cold as Balls" at Fanatics Fest in New York City. The tennis icon, who made a comeback at Wimbledon last month, discussed her singles performance and her motivations for continuing to play.
Williams, who was eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon after a straight-sets defeat, spoke about the mental and physical challenges she faced. "That was hard mentally for me because it was totally preventable on my end," she told Hart, referencing a knee injury that impacted her movement. "And in the match, in the second set, I was like, 'I can't move.' And I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, I can't move.' And it was almost even embarrassing."
She added that neglecting preventative measures led to her swelling and pain, hindering her ability to perform. "If I had just done one thing, I wouldn't have swollen. I would have been able to move, and who knows what would have happened? I don't know. But I would've at least had a little bit more fun out there instead of being in so much pain."
Despite the disappointing Wimbledon outcome, Williams indicated she still has more to give to tennis, emphasizing a shift in her perspective. "I do. I do have more, but only because it's fun," she explained. "I've never played for fun. I mean, I've played for fun, but this is different. I'm playing literally for fun and literally so my girls can see me and they can see what I can do. And it's a completely different ball game."
Williams expressed hope that she can continue playing without pain and highlighted the enjoyment she found in the experience, even with the challenges. "And hopefully now I can play without pain, which I think I will be, but it was so fun to be back out there. And honestly, it was so humbling. I felt so appreciative. I've always loved the fans, but this made me just feel on a whole level of appreciation. And I got to enjoy that."
She noted that competing at the highest level can sometimes prevent players from appreciating smaller moments. "When you're playing at a top level, sometimes you don't get to enjoy the small thing. And I got to enjoy all the small things. So it was really cool."
