Serena Williams in Montreal: the great champion’s moments of vulnerability

Despite being one of the greatest athletes of all time, Serena Williams has experienced insecurities and her relationship with performance is not what you would first believe. Most of the time the glass was half empty.

“When I was playing, I didn’t enjoy it every day. In fact, I probably didn’t enjoy more days than I did. I think it’s in my nature,” the American confided during the Y event²presented Sunday at the Bell Center.

If Williams was in Montreal, it was mainly to talk with the popular psychiatrist Guillaume Dulud, who promised the thousands of spectators who also came to see astronaut Chris Hadfield and comedian Anthony Kavanagh an offline psychological analysis with the former tennis player.

The exercise provided an opportunity to learn more about Williams’ complicated relationship with performance. She always knew she had a special talent, but the moment she was about to perform scared her. So rain delays always brought her some comfort.

“I’ve always loved the rain and wondered why. (…) I did some research and realized that in California, where I lived, it never rained, so training had to be done. I was the only one enjoying the rain at Wimbledon. No stress, I could wait all day in the rain,” she said with a laugh, punctuating each of her answers with a moment of introspection.

“I had to work hard to light a fire inside myself and let it grow,” Williams continued. It is important not to extinguish this flame. I had a talent for tennis, but they helped me. They put coal and wood on my fire.”

This perfect pressure

More than anything, Serena Williams is a perfectionist. If her career has been so successful, it is because she has never stopped working hard.

“Diamonds are made under pressure, and I love diamonds,” she said, instantly charming the crowd.

Guillaume Dulude, himself a former swimmer who dreamed of the Olympic Games, understands this aspect very well, which was felt in their discussion.

“She has a lot of qualities that she developed that I didn’t have. I’m not a competitive person. “Improving yes, performing yes, but I’m not a guy who fights against others,” he explained after the locker room event.

Williams was also able to listen to her body to take breaks at appropriate times. We will also remember her final from 2019 at the National Bank Open, where she preferred to give up in the first round to Canadian Bianca Andreescu.

Despite his love for Montreal – his mastery of the French language continues to improve – this is not a glorious episode in his illustrious career. Losing was never an option for Williams, who learned that early.

“No one remembers your pain. Everyone remembers who won and how many Grand Slam titles you have. “That’s the hard truth,” she reminded.

Unfortunately for her, failures make headlines when you keep winning, and she knows that better than anyone.

He knows where he comes from

It was her father who wanted to turn Serena and her sister Venus into major tennis champions two years before they were born, adding fuel to the future world number one’s fire.

He encouraged her to do what she loved and above all he taught her his history. Knowing his roots, the past of his ancestors vis-à-vis racism and slavery allowed him to grow.

“I was stronger than everyone I faced because I came. There is no excuse for losing matches because I was mentally stronger because of what my forefathers went through,” Williams said confidently.

“The quality of his education is absolutely superb. His parents, his father, it’s too strong. It is truly a human project. (…) Family ties are strong. It’s really incredible and hard to achieve,” confided Guillaume Dulude a success story psychological.

It is in her two daughters that she now wants to instill the values ​​that made her the human being we know and admire today. They may end up following in mom’s footsteps on the tennis courts.

“Sports is very important for my daughters and for girls and women in general,” she said to thunderous applause. It builds confidence, it brings you so many things that women systematically lack.”

“My daughters will play sports. Will they play professionally? I hope so, but I don’t know. They will play sports to build mental strength, confidence and everything else they need.”