Serena Williams looks like she has a #1 Best Selling book on her hands.
In the wake of a bad line call, at a pivotal point in her US Open 2009 Semi Finals match against Kim Clijsters Serena has taken to her blog to write to her fans about her upcoming biography book, called On The Line.
She’s sold me on it already! Anyway, here’s what Serena Williams writes about the pressures of being a high profiled sports star and the woman with the fastest serve in tennis.
Says Serena:
The thought of the weight I carry can sometimes be paralyzing, to some, but for me, I enjoy it. I enjoy being told I’m too fat to win, or my career is over – I’ve seen my glory days. This is what everyone was saying about me publicly, in papers, quietly at home. But as Maya Angelou said, “And still I rise.”
In my book “On the Line” it focuses on my fall from grace.
At the time in 2003, I had it all. Fame, friends, companies ready to sponsor me, grand slams wins. I hardly ever lost. Until it all came crashing down.
It started with surgery. Will I be able to play again? No one knew that my quadriceps muscle had completely detached from my knee. The doctors had to re-attach it.
Then came the tragic violent death of my sister.
Losing is synonymous to my life on & off court, which often leaves me on the line. But the loss of my sister made me wonder, is tennis even worth my time?
In bed and inconsolable, I did not know where to turn.
In a search for clarity, as a people, we search for the letters, letters that form words, words form expression. I could find no clarity.
All I knew is I had it all, and now – now I was at the bottom of the bucket- could I rise again? Did I even want to rise?
Growing up with my family was an experience I would love to do again. I was the youngest of 5 girls, so I pretty much got my way and got anything I wanted – which you will read in the book all the “younger sister” things I did. To sum it up, I was BAD. I never thought that my life would take me to where I am now, and how grateful I have been to be apart of something so cool, so amazing.
I never thought I would be winning so many matches.
I never thought I would travel the world.
I never thought I would play and do something I adore so much for money.
I never thought I would have to fall from the mountaintop to appreciate everything.
I never thought my faith would be tested.
I never thought I would have to tell my mom, that her daughter, my sister is dead.
There are many things I never thought I would even share with you all, but I really put it all on the line.
It will help you understand me, who I am. I am human, I make mistakes. I’m not a robot and I can’t win them all. I don’t even want to, because losing helps you appreciate being alive!
In my book “On the Line,” I want everyone to not only enjoy it, but I would like everyone to learn from it- how to stay strong when it seems like everyone is pulling against you.
How to stay positive, how to pull through. Because in the end, there is a light that always gets brighter- you just have to keep reaching for it.
Xxx,
Serena Williams
