(Adulation)
KELLY: Williams reported recently that she plans to, quote, "develop away from tennis" after the current year's competition. What's more, assuming this is to be sure the last time the world will see her in real life, her heritage is now settled both on and off the court. Chanda Rubin is a previous top 10 expert tennis player and an observer for Tennis Channel. We contacted her at the U.S. Open tennis title in New York. Chanda Rubin, welcome.
CHANDA RUBIN: Thank you for having me.
KELLY: So you are an individual from a tiny club, the club of individuals who have played Serena Williams and beat her. How is it gazing across the net, holding on to return that serve?
RUBIN: It can be a piece threatening just on the grounds that, you know, as a player, you realize that she has perhaps of the best serve, on the off chance that not the most ideal serve in that frame of mind of the ladies' down.
KELLY: Yeah.
RUBIN: It's a considerable weapon. She can hit it to each recognize in the court, in the assistance box. So you don't frequently see it coming. You can't actually foresee. So it comes down on your serve. So there's various things that become an integral factor while you're confronting Serena Williams.
KELLY: I was returning and finding out about that match. Furthermore, I think the detail I love the most was something that she told a large number of you won.
RUBIN: Yes. I played her in competition in Los Angeles, and I had the option to dominate that game in a tiebreak in the third set. That is the nearest a match can truly be. Also, toward the finish of that match, you know, she was so kind to warm me up the following day. Furthermore, just to give you a little reference, that won't ever occur. On the off chance that you beat a player or you play someone, the following day, they would rather not have at least something to do with you. Thus she was adequately benevolent to warm me up. Also, from that point forward, she told me, presently go win the competition. Also, I said, alright, guess what? I figure I ought to.
(Giggling)
RUBIN: And, obviously, I did. You know, when you beat Serena, you feel like, OK, I'm playing great. Also, I can deal with any other person across the net.
KELLY: I mean, we discussed her serve. We discussed what it resembles to beat her, you know, somewhere around once. What is your take, however, made her so predominant for such countless years? - in light of the fact that she wasn't simply extraordinary that year or the a seemingly endless amount of time later or the year later. She'd been perfect for, similar to, quite a while.
RUBIN: Decades. Evening consider it is unbelievable. Also, you know, my thought process separates her is, you know, the actual abilities that she has. You know, she's strong starting from the earliest stage. She can face anyone and outhit most players, in the event that few out of every odd player at some random point. As you're managing that element too. How would you make up for lost time to her shots? How would you attempt to peruse and get a leap on things?
Yet, I think what has permitted Serena to overwhelm is the strength of will that she has. It is the capacity to get into an essential second in a match and raise her level, to simply submerge herself in the opposition within reach, to not avoid that. Furthermore, I thoroughly consider the course of a match, a great deal of players, they can't match that.
KELLY: And a piece of her heritage, clearly, and of her sister Venus' also is that these were two Black ladies who spent piece of their young life in Compton overwhelming a game that had been seen for such a long time as white, as elitist. You know, you came up as one more Black female player a couple of years in front of them. So you've strolled that walk. I wonder, what amount does it seem like they've changed the game?
RUBIN: I think they've changed the game massively. You know their story, most importantly, is one that is inconceivably extraordinary. What's more, I don't think we'll see that again in sport. It's difficult to win competitions over here all day every day, to have that sort of consistency, and they had the option to make it happen. Then you toss into the way that they were so particularly powerful as players. You see, you know,
their games and how much fun it was to watch them. You know, they were forceful. They were going after players. They showed feeling, Serena specifically. Venus was a piece calmer. However, even that differentiation made it intriguing. And afterward they're going toward one another. Well, presently you're getting this
multitude of eyes on the game, and the way that they are two Black ladies by then and minorities in a predominately white game, it just brought such a lot of interest. Furthermore, you have now an entirely different segment of, you know, children and players who can relate and who are keen on the game.
KELLY: So you - once more, you've strolled this stroll to play at such a significant level and afterward to sort out when now is the ideal time to leave the game. What's more, I simply wonder, any guidance as she's going into this next part of her life?
RUBIN: I mean, it's difficult to think about, you know, any exhortation that I could provide for Serena at this stage. You know, such a large amount what she's doing is a strange area due to what her identity is. I really do think the change out of the game and into the following period of her life, I feel that can be precarious. Furthermore, I figure it will be fascinating to perceive how she moves toward it, having more opportunity, not having as much time taken up with rehearsing and preparing. Also, I would simply urge her to embrace everything.
KELLY: She is currently one Grand Slam title away from tying the untouched record. How would you rate her possibilities of one more U.S. Open prize?
RUBIN: Well I, first and foremost, have and will go on record saying I don't think Serena needs to win another major. Overcoming this first round, that is a tremendous achievement. You know, the principal rounds of any large competition, not to mention a huge homerun, are generally precarious. Furthermore, I think for Serena, when she gets moving, you got to like her possibilities. Also, how amazing would it be assuming that she had the option toward the finish of the current year's U.S. Open to hold the prize? Still far to go. Be that as it may, being fun watching the ride is going.
KELLY: Chanda Rubin, bless your heart.
RUBIN: You're gladly received.
KELLY: Chan Rubin of Tennis Channel.
