"I thought my day couldn't get better, next thing the President of USA wanted to talk"- When Serena Williams got surprise phone call from Bill Clinton

By Pritha Ghosh

Modified Dec 29, 2024 12:14 GMT

Serena Williams Bill Clinton — Bill Clinton (L) and Serena Williams | Image Source: Getty

Serena Williams once shared how thrilled she was when former U.S. President Bill Clinton reached out to speak with her after her 1999 US Open victory. She called it an unforgettable experience.

Williams had a dream run in New York, defeating stars like Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis in the final. The victory was historic, making her the first Black woman to win a Major since Althea Gibson in 1958 and the first Black American since Arthur Ashe in 1975.

The American's joy knew no bounds when she received a congratulatory call from former President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, who were in New Zealand. Reflecting on the moment in her post-match press conference, she shared:

"I thought for sure my day couldn't get any better. The next thing they told me is the President of the United States wanted to talk. I was, like, wow."

The 23-time Slam champion added:

"It's just too exciting to compute right now. It's really amazing for me to even have an opportunity to be compared to a player as great as Althea Gibson."

"One of her best friends told me she wanted to see another African American win a slam before her time is up. I'm so excited I had a chance to accomplish that while she's still alive," she continued.

About the author

Pritha is one of the driving forces behind Sportskeeda's tennis & baseball coverage, serving as an assistant content manager and editor. What began as a casual escape from her tiring biotechnology degree course in early 2022 has blossomed into a passion she loves, cherishes, and breathes every day.

Pritha’s love for the sport was spawned by her dad who showed her clips of "GOAT" Steffi Graf’s matches. Despite a thwarted dream of playing professionally due to injury, she finds solace in reporting the sport, while also mentoring other writers to ensure every article is error-free and top-notch. She double checks credible sources, such as the tournament/player handles and big tennis media outlets, and gives proper credit where required.

Pritha's journey at Sportskeeda is marked by nearly 2000 articles and close to 12 million views, with the "dream-come-true" moment of having her article shared by Chris Evert serving as a highlight of her career. A lifelong Wimbledon fan, Pritha also adores Rafael Nadal, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka.

When she's not seeking unique angles to elevate tennis coverage at Sportskeeda, she loves to channel her inner astrophysics "nerd" by exploring new sci-fi series and movies. A big Lionel Messi, Lewis Hamilton, and Randy Orton fan, she is always ready to engage in sports conversations anytime, anywhere, albeit not without a cup of coffee.

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Edited by Pritha Ghosh