In the new ESPN+ documentary series “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” premiering Wednesday, Williams and those who know her best reflect on her legendary career and share behind-the-scenes insight into her most memorable moments. Here is a sneak peek at a few of those unknown anecdotes.
Serena is a huge — and very specific — superhero fan
Entrepreneur and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has been married to Serena Williams since 2017, and the two have several joint ventures, but there’s at least one thing they don’t see eye-to-eye on.
Ohanian: “I grew up loving Marvel and Serena loved DC, and you might think two people with such different backgrounds as us wouldn’t necessarily be able to get along, because, obviously, Marvel is superior to DC. And I told her that, because it’s true. She was not as, let’s say, convinced by that argument as I would have liked.
“We had good conversation about it. It did surprise me, not just because I think DC is inferior to Marvel, which it is, but she was so into DC, and knew the details of Superman canon and other DC heroes canon. This wasn’t just a superficial like, ‘Hey, I’ve watched a few movies.’ This is like, ‘I have deeply studied the text and I have strong opinions about this lore.’
“She knew enough about Marvel to be dangerous, but clearly, she hadn’t spent enough time with it, because if she had, she would know that it was better. But it’s OK. She was busy winning Grand Slams and whatnot.”
Serena’s house is filled with tennis history — and sometimes, dog poop
Sascha Bajin, the 2018 WTA Coach of the Year, served as Serena Williams’ hitting partner from 2007 to 2015, a period during which she won 13 Grand Slam titles. Bajin even lived in Williams’ home for several years in order to be available for practice whenever she needed.
Bajin: “I have to say that I was very surprised in how quickly Serena took me in. She was a celebrity. She was one of the biggest names already back then in tennis, so the fact that she just took a kid from Munich and trusted that kid to be at her house and to live with her, and then I walk in [to her house] and I see seven, eight Wimbledon trophies. I see four, five, six U.S. Open trophies. You walk in there, and it’s like you live in a museum.
“… Actually my very, very first night, and I don’t know if Serena knows this, but the very first night in her house … I open the door and I swear I stepped in dog poop. So I’m like, ‘No, this can’t be happening.’ The first…
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