Serena Williams on Motherhood, Tennis, and Redefining What Comes Next

Serena Williams has never been just a tennis champion. She has been a trailblazer, a cultural icon, and an outspoken advocate for women balancing multiple roles. In a wide-ranging conversation with philanthropist Melinda French Gates for the series Moments That Make Us, Williams opened up about the lessons she learned from her parents, the transition from athlete to mother, her near-fatal health experience, and her determination to invest in the next generation of innovators.

From the beginning, Williams’ journey was shaped by vision and belief. Her father, Richard Williams, declared that both Serena and Venus would one day be the top two players in the world, a dream that seemed impossible for two young girls from Compton. “He always told us we were going to be the best,” Serena recalled. “When you’re told that every day, you believe it. Words have power.” Her mother, Oracene Price, played an equally vital role. Serena described her as “the spine of the family,” providing stability, values, and relentless support while her father pushed their athletic ambitions forward.

That foundation of discipline and confidence carried Williams through one of the most remarkable careers in sports history. But becoming a mother brought new challenges—and new inspiration. She admitted that she always knew she wanted to have children, but the timing came as a surprise. During the 2017 Australian Open, she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter Olympia. Rather than ending her career, it gave her new purpose. “I had an opportunity to have a child and to keep playing,” she said. “So many athletes told me they didn’t think they could do both until they saw me. That felt good, to inspire people that you can be a mom and an athlete.”

However, motherhood also revealed the harsh realities of the U.S. healthcare system. After giving birth, Williams suffered from dangerous blood clots but initially struggled to be taken seriously by medical staff. Only when her doctor intervened was her condition properly treated. “There’s definitely something wrong there,” she said, pointing to the alarming maternal mortality rates faced by Black and brown women. By sharing her story, she has helped raise awareness about an issue too often ignored.

Williams also spoke candidly about the myth of the “perfect mother.” Like many women, she felt the pressure to live up to unrealistic expectations, but she has since embraced a more open and personal approach. “There are no rules,” she said. “It’s how you raise your child in your house. I love to talk to my kids, to be open, so they’ll talk to me.” That honesty, she believes, is more valuable than striving for perfection.

Beyond her personal life, Williams is determined to use her influence to open doors for others. Through Serena Ventures, her investment fund, she has championed women and entrepreneurs of color who are often shut out of traditional venture capital. “When I learned that less than two percent of VC money went to women, I knew I wanted to do something bigger,” she explained. Her philosophy is simple: invest in good ideas, regardless of who they come from. For her, curiosity led the way, starting as an angel investor and eventually building a professional fund designed to shift the narrative of who gets to build the future.

Despite her many roles—athlete, mother, investor, advocate—Williams insists she is simply being herself. She does not set out to be a symbol; she acts from authenticity. “I didn’t mean to talk about maternal health. I was just writing about my experience. I didn’t mean to start a fund. Things just happened. When you’re authentic, it’s more relatable. People can say, ‘She’s just like us.’”

Spirituality, too, remains central in her life. She credits her mother for instilling faith and grounding her in humility. “For me, it’s the foundation. It kept me balanced in my career because I always understood there was more to life than tennis.”

As the conversation drew to a close, Williams reflected on the constant evolution of her journey. She has moved from chasing perfection on the court to embracing balance in life. Whether raising her daughters, supporting her ventures, or advocating for women’s health, she continues to learn and adapt. “Life is about learning,” she said. “What did you learn from the past, and can you apply it now?”

For Williams, the answer has always been growth, resilience, and inspiration. She remains a living example of what it means to defy limits. “You can be a mom, you can be an athlete, you can be whatever you want. There are no limits.”