Serena Williams opened up about the lessons she learned after her surprise loss at the Australian Open and her new Super Bowl ad about making the first move during her appearance on Good Morning America Thursday.
The 37-year-old, who was defeated by Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinal at the Australian Open last week, admitted that she is still learning ‘little things’ in the 10 months she has been back to competitive tennis.
‘I learned that when I’m in the lead . . . I’m a closer, I’m really known to be a closer,’ she told GMA anchor Robin Roberts. ‘It’s little moments like that, that you just don’t think about because you spend so much time away.’
All smiles: Serena Williams, 37, appeared on Good Morning America Thursday fresh off of her shocking loss to Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinal at the Australian Open
Hugs: The tennis star received a warm welcome from GMA anchor Robin Roberts
Smile! She posed for pictures with Robin and Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd
‘I’ve learned little things that I used to do that I have to be like, “Oh, okay, I remember that. Oh, so now I won’t do that again,’ she explained.
Serena, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, suffered life-threatening complications after she gave birth to their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in September 2017.
While speaking about her return to tennis, she stressed that she has ‘only been back for 10 months,’ noting that ‘it’s really been miraculous.’
‘Everything that I’ve done in 10 months has already been crazy,’ she said. ‘It’s still little lessons that I’m learning and I’m happy for those lessons.’
Despite the minor setbacks, Serena made it clear that she loves being a mother, saying having her daughter is the ‘best thing I’ve ever done in my life.’
‘It’s really been miraculous’: The athlete, who welcomed her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in 2017, pointed out she’s only been back to competitive tennis for 10 months
Grateful: Serena, pictured during her quarterfinal match at the Australian open, said she is still learning ‘little things’ and is ‘happy to have those lessons’
Family: Serena, who is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, said having her daughter is the ‘best thing I’ve ever done in my life’
Her little girl is only a little over a year old, but Serena is already focused on teaching her how to embrace being a strong woman.
‘I want to teach her that it’s okay to make the first move,’ she explained. ‘It’s okay to ask and to say, “Listen, I want a chance at being in this play, like put me in” or ‘Give me this first opportunity.” There is so many different ways to showcase that.’
The mother-of-one recalled making the first move in her own career when she pushed to enter her first tennis tournament.
‘I literally made the first move,’ she said. ‘My dad said I was too young and I was so small and I wasn’t ready, but I knew I was ready and I made that first move. I want my daughter to be able to do the same thing.
‘We are taught as a society that we have to wait and be second, but that’s not true,’ she added. ‘We can be first. I only like being first.’
Outfit of the day: Serena looked chic in a white Marc Jacobs coat and a patterned skirt from her eponymous fashion line
Hey there! She waved to the camera as she headed into the show
Star power: The tennis legend also opened up about teaming up with Bumble for the dating website’s empowering new Super Bowl ad _pictured) about making the first move
Going for it: ‘The world tells you to wait, that waiting is polite, but if I waited to be invited in, I never would have stood out,’ Serena says in the clip, which features a young woman
Although she is happily married, Serena has teamed up with Bumble for the dating website’s empowering new Super Bowl ad.
‘It really talks about embracing — and women embracing — making the first move, whether it’s on a date in terms of let’s go out on a date. Nothing else, you know,’ she said with a laugh. ‘I am not teaching my daughter that.’
Serena explained that it’s important for women to make the first move in every aspect of their lives, including their careers and potential friendships.
‘There is nothing wrong with doing that,’ she stressed. ‘Instead, of waiting for things to come to you, it’s important to take that opportunity and make [that first move].’
During the interview, GMA shared a clip from the upcoming Super Bowl ad, which shows Serena in a chick white tennis dress, standing on a court by herself.
‘The world tells you to wait, that waiting is polite, but if I waited to be invited in, I never would have stood out,’ she says in the clip.
Working woman: There is also footage of Serena looking glamorous in her office
Memories: On her desk is a framed portrait of her walking down the aisle with her husband on their wedding day
Movers and shakers: Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd joined Serena and Robin on stage to talk about the ad, calling the Grand Slam champion her muse
The ad goes on to show a young girl getting off the bench she is sitting on and walking towards a tennis court.
There is also footage of Serena looking glamorous in her office and a close-up of a framed portrait of her wedding photo.
‘So make the first move — in work, in love, in life — and don’t wait to be given power,’ she continues. ‘Because here is what they won’t tell you, we already have it.’
Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd joined Serena and Robin on stage to talk about the ad, calling the Grand Slam champion her muse.
‘From the very first second we founded Bumble, I had Serena in mind,’ she said, telling the star: ‘You are the ultimate first mover in every aspect of your life.’
Not only is Serena starring in the commercial, but they also enlisted an all-female production team, which was important to both of them.
‘That was really important to us, especially that we are airing this during the Super Bowl, something . . . celebrated more for men,’ Serena said. ‘It’s like, why not make a huge statement?’