Barely a week after her infamous 'meltdown' during the final of the US Open, Serena Williams decided to talk about her fashion business and motherhood, rather than the tennis court, as she spoke to a business trade group in Las Vegas.
Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slams, was invited on stage at the National Retail Federation trade show on Friday.
Williams had faced heavy criticism for arguing with match umpire Carlos Ramos during the course of the US Open final, which she lost to Naomi Osaka. She received three code violations and was also fined $17,000, even as the incident led to claims that there were double standards in the game as a similar outburst by a male player would not have invited action.
Sarah Robb O'Hagan, chief executive of Flywheel Sports, lauded Williams for calming the audience at the US Open final after it started booing. O'Hagan said, “It isn't the first time you [Williams] have had to deal with unfair judgement against you, and yet you have this amazing ability to come back with such courage and grace."
Williams was also praised for her numerous comebacks in a career that has spanned two decades. However, Williams preferred to talk about her fashion business, telling business owners to “Really figure out 'what I can do to revamp [my business] and bring it back to the top'.”
Williams also confided she was “working incredibly hard” at being a mother.
(With agency inputs)
