Ruadhán Jones
Former world no. 1 Serena Williams has revealed in an interview that she has used the Covid-19 lockdown to study the Bible, having previously described faith as her secret weapon.
In an interview on her return to tennis following the restrictions, Ms Williams said the virus gave her the time to reflect on the scriptures.
“A lot of my time off, I’ve been studying the Bible,” Williams said in a Zoom call with ESPN. “And I feel like the main thing is really believing in God’s kingdom.”
The tennis star also said that she believes the Bible holds the key to overcoming racial prejudice in the face of increased tension in the US over the treatment of African Americans – particularly by the police.
She said: “Personally, I think after, well, over 400 years of having black people treated a certain way, to expect change – and it hasn’t happened in that long – I feel like it’s going to take a long time. Ultimately I think the only thing that can fix it is what I believe.”
Ms Williams has previously thanked God for blessing her throughout her career, crediting him for her success.
“I was down and out and he helped me today and I just said prayers, not to win but to be strong and to be healthy and in the end – I was able to come through so I have to give the glory to him first and foremost,” she said.
Her faith has also helped her through dark periods in her life and following the death of her sister, she said she devoted more time to her faith.
“I tried to develop a better relationship with God,” she told The New York Times in an interview. “You have a strong solid foundation, the Bible says, you won’t crack, but the man who built his house in the sand, his house went down spiritually. I have a really strong foundation. That’s how I was raised.”