Serena Williams: The Greatest Female Athlete

People know who she is by just mentioning her first name. She is arguably the greatest female athlete in the nation. She has won 4 gold medals, 34 total grand slams, 6 US Opens, 6 Australian Opens, 3 French Opens, and 6 Wimbledon’s. Serena Williams is on her way to making history by scoring a true grand slam if she wins a few more games at the US Open. Playing since the age of 4, Serena Williams has learned how to incorporate physical, mental and emotional toughness onto the court. She is a true example of an athlete high in both ego and task orientation, through her self-determination, confidence, and sportsmanship. These characteristics were evident on Day 7 of the 2015 US Open during her match against underdog Madison Keys. Tennis is

She has been practicing the game ever since she was a little girl, by trying to improve in her weak spots, completing vigorous training programs with her fitness coaches, and perfecting her serve until it hits consistency. The Journal of Sport Behavior states that “when task-oriented, an individual focuses on learning, improvement, and meeting the demands of the activity” (Eisenbarth & Petlichkoff, 2012, 388). Williams refers to herself as a student of the game, telling reporters that she is “always yearning to learn more”. The Journal of Sport Behavior also states that “task-oriented athletes believe sport success stems from working hard, exerting high levels of effort, and improving skills. Moreover, task-oriented athletes tend to select challenging tasks that require effort for successful completion” (Eisenbarth & Petlichkoff, 2012,

This would correct her muscles acting in the wrong way from the bad shot and teach her muscles how she should have hit the ball. Williams told a reporter that she would talk to herself and say things like, “It’s now or never Serena, get it together”. Self-criticism is helpful in keeping the proper mindset during any competitive game. Her technique was so well-developed and clean that she finished every set with few errors. Along with hitting with proper mechanics, Williams is also very strategic on the court. From the countless number of matches she has played in her lifetime, Williams has learned how to efficiently move her opponent around the court and finish the point out quickly. With arguably the best serve and return serve in the game, it is easy for Williams to win the point on only her first or second shot. The amount of rallies between Williams and Keys was limited because Williams would win the point