Despite being one of the greatest athletes of all time, Serena Williams has experienced insecurities and her relationship with performance is not what you might first believe. Most of the time the glass was half empty.
“When I was playing, I didn’t enjoy every day. In fact, I probably didn’t enjoy more days than I did. I think it’s in my nature,” confided the American during the Y2 event presented Sunday at the Bell Center.
If Williams was in Montreal, it was above all to discuss with the popular psychiatrist Guillaume Dulude, who promised the thousands of spectators who also came to see the astronaut Chris Hadfield and the comedian Anthony Kavanagh, a psychological analysis without a net with the former tennis player.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GUILLAUME ST AMAND
The exercise provided an opportunity to learn more about Williams’ complicated relationship with performance. She always knew she had a special talent, but that the moment she had to perform scared her. So, rain delays have always brought him a certain comfort.
“I always loved rain and wondered why. […] I did my research and realized that in California, where I lived, it never rained so you had to train. I was the only person at Wimbledon enjoying the rain. No stress, I could wait all day in the rain,” she said with a laugh, punctuating each of her responses with a certain moment of introspection.
“I had to work hard to feed the fire in me, to allow it to grow,” Williams continued. It’s important not to extinguish this flame. I had a talent for tennis, but they helped me. They put coal and wood on my fire.”
This perfect pressure
Serena Williams is a perfectionist more than anything else. If her career has been so successful, it is because she never stopped working hard.
“Diamonds are made under pressure and I love diamonds,” she said, immediately charming the crowd.
Being a former swimmer himself who dreamed of the Olympic Games, Guillaume Dulude understands this aspect very well, which was felt in their discussion.
“She has a lot of qualities that she developed that I didn’t have. I’m not a competitive person. “Improve yes, perform yes, but I’m not a guy who fights against others,” he explained in a dressing room after the event.
Williams was also able to listen to her body to give herself breaks when needed. We will also remember her 2019 final at the National Bank Open, where she preferred to give up in the first round in front of Canadian Bianca Andreescu.
Despite his love for Montreal – his mastery of the French language continues to improve – this is not a glorious episode in his great career. Losing was never an option for Williams, who learned that early on.
“No one remembers your pain. Everyone remembers who won and how many Grand Slam titles you have. “It’s the hard truth,” she recalled.
Unfortunately for her, setbacks make the headlines when you win all the time, and she knows that better than anyone.
She knows where she comes from
It was her father, who wanted to make Serena and her sister Venus great tennis champions two years before they were even born, which added fuel to the fire of the future world number 1.
He encouraged her to do what she loved and above all, he taught her his history. Knowing his roots, the past of his ancestors vis-à-vis racism and slavery, allowed him to grow.
“I was stronger than everyone I faced because of where I came from. There is no excuse for me losing matches, because I was mentally stronger because of what my ancestors went through,” Williams said with conviction.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GUILLAUME ST AMAND
“The quality of his education is absolutely brilliant. His parents, his father, it’s too strong. It’s truly a human project. […] Family ties are strong. It’s really incredible and difficult to achieve,” confided Guillaume Dulude, calling it success story psychological.
It is to her two daughters that she now wishes to instill the values that have made her the human being we know and admire today. They might end up following in mom’s footsteps on the tennis courts.
“Sport is very important for my daughters and for girls and women in general,” she said to thunderous applause. It builds confidence, it brings you so many things, which women systematically lack.”
“My daughters will play a sport. Will they play professionally? I hope so, but I don’t know. They will play sports to build their mental strength, their confidence and everything else they need.”
