9 Motivational Quotes from Serena Williams

Serena Williams' historic win at Wimbledon on Saturday left the world in awe of her talent. Here's how she keeps her mental game sharp on and off the court.

learn more about Entrepreneur Staff

By Entrepreneur Staff Originally published

Julian Finney | Getty Images

After playing professional tennis for nearly three decades, 40-year-old Serena Williams announced her retirement in a self-penned essay for Vogue's 2022 September Issue, where she also serves as the fashion magazine's cover star.

"I've been reluctant to admit that I have to move on from playing tennis," Williams wrote for the magazine. "Maybe the best word to describe what I'm up to is evolution. I'm here to tell you that I'm evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me."

Williams, who has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other player in the Open Era, is expected to step on the court for the last time professionally at the 2022 U.S. Open in New York, which runs from August 29 - September 11. There, she'll have her last chance to tie Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam wins.

Below, we've gathered nine motivational quotes from the tennis icon, who knows how to give it her all — on and off the court.

On what makes a champion

"I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall." - The National, September, 2012

On successful women

"The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you're very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble." - Glamour, November, 2015

Related: Muhammad Ali's Greatest Quotes of All Time

On the drive to win

"I just never give up. I fight to the end. You can't go out and say, 'I want a bag of never-say-die spirit.' It's not for sale. It has to be innate." - LA Times, March, 2000

On fear

"I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger." - Time, February, 2015

On self-belief

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does." - Address to Mouratoglou's Academy, July, 2020

Related: LeBron James' Greatest Quotes

On being strong

"Being strong is never easy. Not in this world we are living in.... Standing up for yourself is not going to be easy, but it's always eventually respected." - Allure, January 2019

On failure

"You can't fail if you do something and it doesn't work out. That's success. Maybe it wasn't to the point of success where you wanted to do it, but it's still success." - People, November, 2016

On chatter

"When I'm down, I talk to myself a lot. I look crazy because I'm constantly having an argument with myself." – The Champion's Comeback: How Great Athletes Recover, Reflect, and Reignite, 2016

Related: Serena Williams and the 9 Most Successful Entrepreneur Athletes

On smiling through tough times

"I've had to learn to fight all my life – got to learn to keep smiling. If you smile things will work out." – The Champion's Comeback: How Great Athletes Recover, Reflect, and Reignite, 2016

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Growing a Business

6 Things You Gain By Embracing Failure and Learning From Mistakes

Are you going to look at failure as the end, or are you going to take what didn't work as a lesson and do better? It all depends on your attitude.

Business News

American Airlines Sued After Teen Dies of Heart Attack Onboard Flight to Miami

Kevin Greenridge was traveling from Honduras to Miami on June 4, 2022, on AA Flight 614 when he went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious mid-flight.

Money & Finance

7 Tips for Raising Money-Smart Kids

How to set your children up for success and ensure they have the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex financial world.

Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.