Best Serena Williams Quotes of All Time

Serena Williams' outburst at the 2009 U.S. Open was the most documented quote of her career. However, it's an exception to an otherwise long list of inspirational, reflective, prophetic and even whimsical sayings from the 17-time Grand Slam champion. 

An admitted prankster with an often wry sense of humor, Williams wears her emotions on her sleeve. The following represent her best quotes. 

Spoken like a typical teen with little perspective, after winning her first U.S. Open in 1998, Williams said, as per ASAP Sports: "I have 363 more days to go as the defending champ. It's definitely exciting."  

When speaking to the Guardian in 2009, Williams talked about her penny-pinching ways: "I'm so frugal, you wouldn't believe it..Growing up, my Mom and Dad were so much, 'Don't be like the average athlete, and have all this money and spend it all.' And I always like to want something. I don't want to have everything." 

On being lucky, Williams told ESPN: “Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.”

Often, Williams is short, sweet and to the point. She once said “Tennis just a game, family is forever" and "There's more to life than hitting a ball," as per The Guardian.

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It's fun to look back to see how Williams viewed her career ten years ago. A fashionista, at age 20, she reportedly told Women's Wear, "I don't think you can play well or do well unless you look good."

When she toured parts of Africa with sister Venus, she spoke to a group of girls in Nigeria about "breaking the mold," as per Tennis Quotes.

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"We were able to break the [mold] and win a lot of grand slams and change the face of tennis ... when tennis was very dominated by white people. It doesn't matter what your background is and where you come from, if you have dreams and goals, that's all that matters." 

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In 2003, Williams was asked about her legacy. She told ESPN "All I want is to have fun in what I'm doing every day. I don't want to break records. To become the greatest player ever could take me like...10 more years and I don't think I'll still be playing at 31."

Now, 32, Williams is the oldest player to hold the No. 1 ranking and the only active player in the Greatest of All Time conversation. 

Last year, in a much-talked about feature in Rolling Stone magazine, Williams responded to questions about when she might retire and what would be the reason.

"When I stop playing, it's not going to be because I'm sick of playing...It's going to be because I'm sick of practicing."