Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, became a Jehovah’s Witness on Sunday, marking a significant turning point for the recently retired tennis legend.
The baptism took place in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the Jehovah’s Witness Assembly. Serena, who announced her departure from the court in September of last year, has previously indicated her wish to devote her time to her family and faith after retiring from the sport.
“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”
She is reputed for her outstanding achievement in her career that spanned over two decades-winning 23 grand slam titles, the most by any player in the open era and second-most of all time.
“Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it.” – Serena had said in an interview with Vogue.
