Serena Williams disclosed that a disappointing romantic experience in her early twenties fueled her athletic drive. The retired tennis legend, celebrated as one of the greatest of all time, revealed she was ‘ghosted’ by her first boyfriend. In an episode of her new ESPN docuseries, “In The Arena: Serena Williams,” she reminisced about spending time in Wаshingtоn DC with him, describing it as her first serious relationship at that age. Reflecting on being abruptly ignored, she cryptically referred to him as ‘so and so.’

The 42-year-old explained that this setback motivated her to intensify her focus on tennis. “I got ghosted,” she admitted, highlighting how she transformed this personal disappointment into determination. “It wasn’t even that serious, but I used that and made it way more significant,” she remarked, adding, “So, when he ghosted me, I used that as an opportunity to sаy, ‘He’s gonna regret this for the rest of his life.'”

Williams acknowledged her competitive nature, admitting she was driven by a desire for vindication. “I’m gonna make sure that this person never forgets me. I’m gonna make sure that this person sees me everywhere for the rest of their life,” she declared, expressing gratitude for the experience that spurred her onward.

Later in life, Serena found enduring love with Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, whom she married in 2017. Together, they have two daughters: six-year-old Alexis Olympia and their youngest, Adira River, who will soon turn one in August.