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Serena Williams has opened up about a rumour that she ‘did witchcraft’ in order to beat an opponent during her playing career.
Williams was speaking on her new podcast, Stockton Street, alongside her sister Venus Williams and Grammy Award-winning artist Ciara.
The Williams sisters grew up on Stockton Street in Compton, southern Los Angeles, where they were coached by their father, Richard Williams, on the local courts.
In the episode, the trio share some of the wildest rumours that circulated about them during their careers.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner said: ‘The craziest thing I ever heard about me was that I did witchcraft, black magic because I was beating some girl a lot. She claimed that we did black magic to beat her.’
Serena’s sister Venus then adds: ‘From what I understand, someone in her team consulted a black magician to beat (Serena).’
Serena Williams revealed one opponent accused of her doing 'witchcraft' after losing to her
Venus then describes how that opponent then consulted a magician to try and beat Serena
A host of tennis players failed to win a single match against Serena during her 27-year career
A host of tennis players failed to win a single match against Serena. Most notably, Agnieszka Radwanska losing all 10 meetings with the American, including three Grand Slam matches. Her sister, Urszula Radwanska meanwhile, lost all five of her meetings with Serena.
As for current champions, this year's Australian Open winner Madison Keys failed to win all three of her games against Serena.
Meanwhile Venus described how some fans were adamant they had met her in places she had never been.
The 45-year-old said: ‘People kept telling me where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing, and I’ve never even been to that place.
'You just have to go along with it because otherwise they’ll fight you on it - that you were there and you did this thing with them - but I’m like “I’ve never met you in my life, get help!”’
The Williams sisters have set up their own podcast, named after the street they grew up on - Stockton Street in southern Los Angeles and where their father trained them on the local courts
Venus, 45, is still playing - her most recent match a first round defeat at the US Open in August
The sisters share an incredible 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them, and together than have also won 14 doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles.
Serena retired in September 2022, 27 years after turning professional and 25 years after winning her first ever major title.
And despite being a year older, Venus is still playing, her last match a first round defeat at the US Open in August to 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
