Speaking to African American players' histories in the game, she said, "We did some great things in tennis, with Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson, but it wasn't that one player who was winning multiple, multiple Grand Slams."
In doing so, she subtly corrected Common, who, early in the conversation, stated that Serena and sister Venus Williams more or less put tennis on the map for black people, and became the first African Americans to succeed greatly in the sport.
In truth, Gibson won 11 major titles (in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.) Ashe claimed five of his own. To their credit, Serena and Venus have 22 and seven major singles titles, respectively, along with 14 doubles crowns (all as a tandem) and two mixed doubles titles each.
But this isn't about tallying, and there's no score kept across the generations. Althea and Arthur were pioneers. So, too, are Venus and Serena.
"We literally took the globe and shook it, me and Venus, because we came from Compton, we came from nothing," Serena told her friendly interviewer. "In tennis, you kind of have to have something. And we came and ... we conquered."
She delivered that last part with a laugh, a knowing laugh. Now 35 years young, beyond well traveled and perhaps even a bit world-weary, Serena knows that she can say things today without a hint of controversy. Her statements speaking to her still-building legacy do not seem far-fetched these days, not even to her more ardent detractors.
Questions swirl around constantly at this point as to whether Serena is the greatest tennis player ever, male or female, and among the greatest athletes ever—even the GOAT. No one should be surprised that she has thoughts on all that: