After she was denied yet again the opportunity to win her 24th Grand Slam by Simona Halep at the Wimbledon finals on Saturday, Serena Williams vows to keep on fighting for equality till she hits her grave.
Serena Williams who was speaking after the Wimbledon finals said she has no plans to give up fighting for equality to focus solely on her tennis.
The American who on Saturday 13th July 2019 for a record third straight finals failed to win a Grand Slam as she struggles to tie the record already set by Margaret Court after her defeat to Romanian Simona Halep, left some strong statement at her post match press conference and directed towards Billie Jean.
Billie Jean King said she felt Williams was spreading herself too thin in an interview midway through the tournament and urged the American to stop “being a celebrity” for a year and a half.
“She’s got a baby, she’s trying to help gender equity, particularly women of color. But it makes it much harder,” 12-times Grand Slam champion King told the BBC.
“I would like her to put everything else aside, because she’s got people working on those things.
“I wish she would just make a commitment for the next year and a half to two years and say, ‘I’m going to absolutely focus on what’s necessary for my tennis, so when I look in the mirror when I’m older, then I can go back in my mind and know I gave it everything I had.'”
Williams, was asked to respond to Billie Jean’s statement, to which she said:
“The day I stop fighting for equality and for people that look like you and me, will be the day I am in my grave,” she said.
King, herself a celebrated pioneer in gender equality and social justice, later clarified her comments on Twitter.
“I would never ask anyone to stop fighting for equality,” the American 75-year-old wrote.
“In everything she does, Serena shines a light on what all of us must fight for in order to achieve equality for all.” She said
Serena Williams lost the game to Halep 6-2 6-2 to end up without a Wimbledon.