‘In the Arena: Serena Williams’ director on what makes a GOAT

Gotham Chopra is the director of “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” an eight-part docuseries that examines Williams’ most formative moments on and off the court and features firsthand perspective from the 23-time Grand Slam (singles) winner. Coproduced by ESPN, Religion of Sports, Tom Brady’s 199 Productions and Williams and Caroline Currier’s Nine Two Six Productions, “In the Arena” is an expansion of the Emmy-winning “Man in the Arena: Tom Brady” series, also directed by Chopra. The docuseries premieres on Wednesday on ESPN+. New episodes are available each Wednesday at midnight ET.

The director discussed Williams’ legacy and her evolution from tennis.

ESPN: “In the Arena: Serena Williams” — how did this project start?

GOTHAM CHOPRA: I’m in the business of GOATs. I’ve always enjoyed working with the greatest and trying to deconstruct the components of greatness. I had breakfast with Serena a couple of months before we started shooting, and the first thing she said to me was, “Boy, you’re persistent.” I think Serena, while she still kind of refuses to use the word “retired,” she’s in a place where she’s reflecting. It was a slow evolution over the years. But it was the right thing at the right time.

When we started filming, she was six months pregnant. Then she gave birth, and there was a new human being there. Obviously, there was a physical transformation. She’d moved from one stage of her life to the next.

ESPN: How do you build trust while filming?

GC: It happens before the cameras start rolling. It’s a relationship. But I also think there’s something therapeutic about this process, especially when you’re asking someone to reflect. [Serena] and I now communicate regularly. She’s part of the process. I’m not a reporter; I’m a filmmaker and storyteller, and I’m working with you to figure out what story you want to tell. What parts of yourself are you willing to share in this moment? And I’ll push. The function of a relationship is earning that trust. But the secret is time. You need that time.

ESPN: How did the series evolve from the idea you pitched?

GC: The 23 Grand Slams have been chronicled. You can watch them and hear all the commentary. You form a point of view. Then you start talking to the subject or some of the people around her — Venus, or her coaches, her mentors — and then you start to get these anecdotes about what you thought you…