Serena Williams has a 2-book deal, starting with an ‘intimate’ and ‘open-hearted’ memoir

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams, one of the most dominant athletes in tennis history, is ready to embark on a new chapter of reflection. She has recently signed a two-book deal with the Random House Publishing Group. The first book, an intimate memoir, will delve into the various aspects of her life, from her childhood and early tennis training that was dramatized in the 2021 film “King Richard,” to her remarkable career and the challenges she faced along the way. The book does not have a title or release date yet.

In a press statement, Williams expressed her excitement for the project: “For so long, my sole focus was on winning, and I never took the time to look back and reflect on my life and career. Over the past year, I’ve enjoyed spending time with my growing family, celebrating my accomplishments, and pursuing other passions. I couldn’t think of a better time to embark on such a personal and intimate project, and I’m thrilled to partner with the team at Random House.”

The second book, which is also untitled, will offer inspiration to readers. Random House revealed that the book will feature Williams sharing her insights as a philanthropist, advocate, and successful entrepreneur with Serena Ventures. It will be a guide for modern living, drawing from her experiences in uplifting a diverse generation of young women who aspire beyond the confines of traditional expectations.

At the age of 42, Williams officially announced her retirement from professional tennis, emphasizing that she is “evolving” away from the sport rather than retiring. Her decision came shortly before the 2022 U.S. Open, where she had a remarkable victory in the second round against Anett Kontaveit but ultimately faced defeat in the third round against Ajla Tomljanovic.

Throughout her career, Williams secured an incredible 23 Grand Slam titles in singles and an additional 14 in doubles alongside her sister Venus. She held the world No. 1 ranking for more than 300 weeks and earned four Olympic gold medals. Williams has been widely recognized for breaking racial and gender barriers in tennis and beyond, inspiring countless women athletes to embrace their strength and authenticity.

In a powerful essay published in Vogue last year, Williams expressed her hope that her success would empower women athletes to be unapologetically themselves on the court. She emphasized the importance of playing with aggression and embracing personal style, ultimately redefining the limits of athleticism and beauty.

Williams has previously published a memoir in 2009 titled “On the Line” and a picture story called “The Adventures of Qai Qai” in 2021.

Random House described her upcoming memoir as an open-hearted exploration of the experiences that have shaped her life. Williams will candidly discuss overcoming scrutiny and discrimination in a predominantly white and male-dominated sport, navigating personal losses both on and off the court, finding love with tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, championing body diversity and breaking style norms in sports and pop culture, raising awareness about maternal health disparities, and embracing her role as a devoted mother to her daughters, Olympia and Adira.

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AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.