Serena Williams: What Fuels a Champion

What makes a champion? The simple answer to this often-asked question is that there's no singular trait that makes a champion. It's an alchemy of many traits, plus the fuel that ignites them.

What are the traits that make Serena a champion? How about a killer serve, power off both sides, solid fundamentals and technique. Add to that intense passion, determination, and other-worldly confidence -- to name just a few that are always on display when she takes the court.

The fuel that ignites these traits is the most compelling part of this equation, and also the most unexpected. A particular comment from her post-final press conference stands out, especially if you have read her autobiography On The Line.
It all comes down to Serena's need to prove her worth!

Serena, the youngest of the Williams daughters, grew up thinking that she was ugly and not as good as her older sister Venus. She always looked up to Venus; the older, prettier and better sister, and wanted to be just like her. As Serena once stated, when she was younger she wanted to actually be Venus.

Who wouldn't feel that way in that same situation. Venus was the anointed one. Everyone wanted Venus -- for appearances and potential endorsements. Venus was the one picked to be a star. Richard tried to warn us about the younger Williams, but no one listened. It was always about Venus, and never about Serena.

Nothing drives a performer to excel more than being ignored or being told they aren't good enough. I'm an ex-professional dancer who has danced with two major modern dance companies, guested with others, toured the world and even choreographed my own work. In dance terms one could say that I was successful.

Early on I was told I'd never be a dancer because I was too big, had bad posture and flat feet. All of those things were true, and I was insecure as it was about wanting to do this thing that I knew would be difficult. But those words didn't come a random stranger, they came from my drama teacher at the time, and I never forgot how deflated I felt that even a drama teacher would say something like that to a student. The words stung, but a good resentment can sometimes spur great success.

I worked hard and eventually became a professional dancer in a touring dance company. Yet even working professionally for some years after, I would still feel the occasional "slight". After one particular audition for a job that I really wanted (and felt sure I was going to get it), the director said "You don't have that special something I need to see in order to join my company." Again, I worked hard to prove the doubters wrong and bury my own demons. Ten years beyond that audition and those stinging words, I retired from dance after a wonderful career with a company in San Francisco. With career achievements and lots of great memories under my belt.

And so it goes with Serena. She worked hard to get beyond the "What about me?" stage in her career to eventually eclipse her older Sister. It was Serena who won the first Williams family singles grand slam title. It is now Serena who has a whopping 13 grand slam singles titles. Still, the slights hurt her just as much.

In 2001, Serena played Kim Clijsters for the Indian Wells title after getting a walkover from an injured Venus in the semifinals. The crowd felt that Venus had pulled out of the semifinal on orders from Richard Williams so that this would be Serena's turn to win a championship. Venus was booed on that day, but the worst was yet to come.

During the final on the day after, not only were Richard and Venus booed when they appeared in the stands to support Serena, Serena was booed throughout the match. Kim was applauded at every turn. So too were every single one of Serena's errors. It was brutal for the then 19-year old, who has never forgotten that day. It's the singular reason that she and sister Venus have never played there since.

After being treated like Venus' shadow for so long, and feeling "less than", ugly and ignored, she was desperate to prove that she was a good tennis player too. No, not good -- the best. She wanted to be perfect, and to be the best. And never again to be anyone's shadow, even a sister she loved dearly! And still she was booed on the threshold of a big title as though she had done something wrong.

Fast forward to our Bank of the West champion, Serena Williams. More than ten years after that day, the inflicted wound, bitter resentment, and subsequent driving motivations are still evident. During the press conference, Serena was asked if she could feel the support of the crowd. This is what she said:

(AUDIO - Serena Williams answers a question at her final press conference about whether she could feel the crowd support during the final)

For those unable to play the audio, Serena mentions how much she has missed the crowds and their support during her time away from the game. In fact, individual fans can have a big effect in lifting her spirits her when she's having a tough time on the court, as when one lone fan supported her with a "Come on Serena" during that infamous Indian Wells final.

Even after the passage of so much time, that day at Indian Wells sticks in Serena's psyche like a thorn. She still feels the hurt of a young girl who was booed by seemingly the entire stadium. The boos were an affirmation that it was her fault this had happened, and that she didn't deserve to be playing for this title. That she was not worthy -- that she was not good enough.

The incidents of bad "luck", most notably the one that caused her to be defaulted in the 2009 US Open semifinal against Kim Clijsters, are more evidence of the same. No one rooting for her, only against her. More obstacles being placed in her path, no matter how hard she tries to overcome those feelings from the past.

She's worked so hard to be successful and it was all slipping away again. The gamesmanship of Justine Henin in the 2003 French Open semifinal with the infamous "raised hand" episode, and the ensuing scorn of the French crowd. The bad line calls against her in 2004 US Open semifinal match against Jennifer Capriati that cost her the match. Apologies from officials afterward didn't take away the sting of yet another missed Slam opportunity.

As much confidence as Serena exudes - and she exudes a great deal, intensely so in person - there is still an extremely sensitive young girl inside. The one who feels perceived slights so very deeply. The girl who wants, no NEEDS, to prove that she is worthy and good enough.

After a week of watching her play and win her first title since coming back from the brink (of numerous surgeries and health scares), it hit me. THIS is the fuel that stokes her desire to be a champion!

Of course there are other factors that fuel her desire as well. A huge one is increasing the number of Grand Slam titles on her CV. At this stage in her career, Serena has an intense desire to dent the record books in as many ways as she can while she can. It's part of the reason she plays down to her potential at lesser events but seemingly at will lifts her game for the slams.

She realizes that she may never catch Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Margaret Court or Helen Wills Moody. Those women have posted huge numbers of singles slams titles in a way that's hard to replicate on the current women's tour. But it would still mean the world to be considered one of the all-time best. To be a member in that elite category of women on top of being the most dominant player of her generation.

Ultimately, maybe what fuels any champion is the basic need to prove something: to ourselves as well as to others. For Serena it seems to be the need to prove that she is not ugly child she once viewed herself as, not the shadow to her more popular older sister, and not good enough. Also the need to prove something to all the "haters" who have doubted, booed, made her feel not worthy of her status in the game -- To prove them all WRONG!

Serena, you have accomplished your goal.