Serena Williams‘ latest GQ cover may have caused ample debate, but there’s no denying her status as a winner. Hence, it’s fitting that the publication has named the tennis titan – Champion Of The Year.
In her accompanying interview feature, the mother of one opens up about the highs, the challenges, and the new – including her start-up fashion brand ‘Serena.’
Peep excerpts below…
On Pros & Cons Of Being So Accomplished:
“It feels good. I mean, I go out there, and I win, and it feels good.
But I also, unfortunately, you know, I’m always thinking, Okay, so what’s next? What can I do? How can I improve? You know, What did I do wrong? It’s just a vicious cycle. It doesn’t matter if I win a Grand Slam, I’m always thinking about Okay, I won—now what’s next?
On Her New Self-Titled Fashion Line:
“I never thought I would have a start-up. And it’s been so much work, and it’s so chaotic, and I’ve never been more stressed out in my life. Just like, literally, meetings after meetings and call after call. But at the same time, it’s like I’m stressed out, but my hair isn’t falling out. Because I’m having fun. I’m doing everything, I’m doing the designing, I’m leading the calls, I’m doing the COO search. So I’m literally on the phone every night until, like, 10 p.m.”
On Learning To Soak In Her Wins:
“A good friend of mine, Sheryl Sandberg, we’re really close. When I won my last Grand Slam, she’s like, Serena. I think it was Wimbledon, a couple years ago. She’s like, ‘You’ve got to celebrate this.’ I’m like, ‘I know,’ and she’s like, ‘No, you need to celebrate and enjoy this moment,’ and I’m like, ‘All right…’
That is something that I need to personally work on. Everyone has to work on something. I’m still learning to embrace being, for lack of a better word, great.”
Your thoughts?
[Photo credit: GQ]