Venus Williams: getting equal prize money remains my biggest accomplishment

Former World No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams says her biggest professional accomplishment was working on the equal prize money issue for women, in an interview with People magazine.

Venus Williams on her biggest professional accomplishment

Venus played an instrumental role in ensuring the governing bodies of Wimbledon and the French Open award men and women with equal prize money and she says that remains her biggest professional accomplishment. “That was something we had been working on since the 1960s. It was long overdue.”

The 40 year old Venus also spoke about the recent Black Lives Matter movement and says she wants to create more opportunities for black youth at the grassroots level. "We need to make sure lives are saved and preserved—to me, that’s number one. We change that by recognising and giving a voice to what’s happening in our world. We also need to address other invisible faces of racism, from how we hire to whom we cast on television shows. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for Black youth at a grassroots level, especially with tennis and education. It’s important for me to help give minorities, disadvantaged youth and Black children the opportunity to play sports and have an education—just as I was given those opportunities. In turn, that gives them the opportunity to be excellent.”

While her father was instrumental in her tennis career, Venus says her mom has been her inspiration to pursue her creative side. "Throughout my career, my mom has challenged me to pursue my creative side. Her support and encouragement is what led me to realize my love for fashion and design and to get degrees in those fields. I’m incredibly fortunate to have someone like her in my life who pushes me to be better than my best self. That’s the meaning behind EleVen—always working to be an 11 out of 10.”

Venus Williams' seven Grand Slam singles titles are tied for 12th on the all-time list and 8th on the Open Era list, more than any other active female player except her sister. She has reached 16 Grand Slam finals, most recently at Wimbledon in 2017 and has also won 14 Grand Slam Women's doubles titles, all with Serena Williams; and two mixed doubles titles. Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in singles and three in women's doubles, along with a silver medal in mixed doubles, tying her with Kathleen McKane Godfree for the most Olympic medals won by a male or female tennis player and is the only tennis player to have won a medal at four Olympic Games.     

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3dMB0Gk