It was an hour of television intent on pulling tennis fans out of their offseason doldrums.

Serena Williams sat down with rapper Common—a forever friend and former boyfriend—for a low-key Q&A literally labeled as "in depth." The venue was ESPN, part of its series promoting The Undefeated website. Common introduced the episode by intoning words that are on many observers' minds in a year in which Serena fell from the top spot in women's tennis.

"You only get one Serena in many lifetimes," he said.

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"Do you feel like you are supremely misunderstood?" Common said to start the conversation.

Serena answered at length, as she did many times throughout the discussion.

Serena spoke to being black in America and representing the United States in international competition; even as an independent contractor competing in a global touring sport.

"I'm really proud to wear this color every single day of my life," Serena said.

In the interview, she addressed hearing of police violence against unarmed young black men stateside while playing at Wimbledon this past summer. It was beyond sad when she admitted that, once upon a time, she wished to have a son when older, were she to have children. Now? She would prefer to have a daughter in light of how dangerous life can be for people such as her nephew and other young men of color.

"And the fact that that crossed my mind—in 2016, it's going to be 2017—is … Why do I even have to think about that?” she wondered.

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:

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In “The Undefeated In-Depth" episode, Serena turned to matters of sexism, racism and body image. It's notable that she also addressed body contentment:

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This likely isn't the last we will see of her before the 2017 WTA season begins. But for now, it is enough. She is enough.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.