Serena Williams has done it all in tennis, but there’s so much more to come. After winning her record 20th grand slam title, Williams will compete in the 2017 Rio Olympics for the United States. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Serena Williams has done it all in tennis, but there’s so much more to come. After winning her record 20th grand slam title, Williams will compete in the 2017 Rio Olympics for the United States. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Rio de Janeiro (CNN) — Serena Williams is already the most recognizable face of the 2016 Rio Olympics — she’s almost as much of a household name as the Games’ slogan, Psy.
And while she’s used to being a household name, she didn’t know the world would rally around her just for playing in the sport she loves.
Not being able to speak English as a second language, Williams had to learn the Brazilian way of playing tennis — with the help of a translator.
But instead of being cautious, she was determined to do what she does best — become the greatest tennis player on earth.
“I never once worried about what anybody thought of me,” Williams said.
And now, she’s about to make a splash in her second Olympics.
Her first was winning the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and she’s spent more than two and a half years here competing in three separate sports — swimming, gymnastics and tennis — along with helping to coach up some of the world’s top athletes.
She’s won five more grand slams, but she’s never won a gold medal.
So, just how has she done it?
The woman who goes where no one else wants to
Williams is only 23 years old, but she has long been the world’s most dominant tennis player.
Williams has won 15 consecutive grand slam titles and 25 grand slam doubles titles. She has won 22 Grand Slam singles matches.
While Williams is known for winning on the biggest tournament courts in the world, her success was built on the success of her serve, forehand and backhand.
Her serve and forehand are now among the