Serena Williams The former world number one appeared to be caught off guard by questions about her relationship with former President Donald Trump, which emerged during his criminal trial in New York last month, but she avoided politics in a recent interview with The New York Times.
Williams, who announced her plans to retire in September 2022 after a legendary career that saw her win 23 Grand Slam titles, appeared on the latest episode of The New York Times podcast. “interview,” It was released on Saturday.
American Serena Williams reacts after defeating Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
She spoke about a wide range of topics, including life after retirement, ahead of a new eight-part documentary set to premiere on ESPN+ next month.
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However, the conversation was between Williams and President Donald Trump.
The New York Times reported in May that a former aide testified during the trial that the two “spoke frequently.”
“So that’s what this interview was about?” Williams said with a laugh when co-host David Marchese asked if the two had spoken. “Really?”
She then seemed to flip the script, pointing out that she had spoken to several presidents, including the late Ronald Reagan.
FILE – 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump watch the women’s singles quarterfinal match between Serena Williams of the United States and Venus Williams of the United States during day 9 of the 2015 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York City, on Sept. 8, 2015. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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“I talk to a lot of presidents. Barack [Obama]I’ve spoken to the Clintons. I’ve spoken to every president who’s ever been here, including Ronald Reagan.”
Marchese then asked Williams what “they were looking for” in his conversations with her, but Williams did not respond.
“I don’t know. I’m not going there,” she said, laughing again.
Serena Williams attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
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The conversation returned to Williams, who spoke at length about her. Love of tennis, Although she says she sees no prospect of returning, she continues to work and talks about how she is trying to cope with retirement and raising a child.
“This is a life I’ve never experienced before,” she said. “You have to understand, my whole life, ever since I can remember, has been focused on one thing. I don’t know anything else. So this is all new to me. It’s like a whole new career. Of course, I love playing tennis, but that’s because that’s what I’ve always done.”
Williams continued by saying she’s happy that she “misses” tennis.
“I never expected to have such a great relationship with tennis after all that was said and done. It was a great loss. I miss it. I love it.”
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