We have watched Venus and Serena Williams dominate the tennis world for over two decades and now they are sharing their life story with the world. King Richard tells the story of how Venus, 41, and Serena, 40, were able to become who they are today with the help of their father Richard Williams.
Will Smith stars as Richard while Venus and Serena as well as their two other sisters serve as producers. The story goes that the family grew up in Compton, California and their parents saw something special in them and so their father pushed them to be the exceptional tennis players we see today.
"There are so many ways to tell this story. But I think telling it through my dad was the best way because he had the idea. He knew how to do it," Serena toldEntertainment Weekly.
With 30 Grand Slams between them, it's no question that Richard is the reason for their successes, but there were many occasions where they had to compete against each other to hold the title of champion. Venus and Serena have faced each other on the court 31 times with the last one being in August 2020 and Serena declared victory in the majority of their matches.
But while Serena has seen more success and is much more in the spotlight than her big sister, she wouldn't be here without her. Venus turned pro first and Serena soon followed. However, just because they compete often, it doesn't make them rivals.
Serena acknowledged how much of an influence Venus is on her life and career. "There would be no Serena if there wasn't a Venus. She was my hero and she still is my hero. She'll do something and I'm like, 'I'm doing that too,'" she said.
Venus shared the same sentiments as her little sister. "It's kind of difficult for me to say, 'Oh, this film shows me,' said Venus. "Because me is Serena. And there's no me without her, and I could have never done what I've been able to achieve on the court without her. It's so symbiotic."
King Richard premieres on November 19.
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