First published 2009
Serena Williams opens her story as a small girl gripping an adult tennis racquet nearly her own size in Compton, California. She refuses to put it down. Her father coaches her on public courts scattered with broken glass and drug paraphernalia. Williams faces each barrier with relentless determination as she climbs toward tennis greatness. Injuries threaten to end her career. The tragic shooting death of her older sister devastates her world. Critics attack her unconventional playing style and approach to the sport. Through each setback, Williams finds ways to fight back and reclaim her position. She captures major championships and reaches the number one world ranking three times, including after her 2009 Australian Open victory. Beyond tennis, she builds success in philanthropy, fashion, television, and film. Williams examines how the same strength that made her a champion drives her pursuits off the court. This memoir reveals the personal costs and triumphs behind her extraordinary achievements.
Genres: biography, autobiography, sports, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational, overcoming-the-odds, rags-to-riches
Setting: California, Compton
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
272 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: violence