It’s a full life for this tennis champ. Known for her colourful outfits, Serena has become a style icon for the tennis world. In fact, she has converted her flamboyance into a winning business proposition with Aneres her clothesline.

Three years after she launched, Serena is all set to take her life outside the US to Europe and the Middle East. India could also be a possibility. No stranger to the spotlight, Serena enjoyed every bit of the attention she got and she walked the ramp with designer Shantanu and Nikhil for their special line for HP.

Q: 2004 to 2006, as I said, were difficult years for you. You had injury issues, you dropped down from the ranking. How did you deal with that? How do you deal with criticism, how did you deal with people saying she’s lost her touch or she is out of shape? How do you deal with that as a sports person because this is everything that you always fought for?

A: Every sportsperson has to deal with it at some point of time. It’s not how you deal with it, it’s how you recover that makes you a true champ.

Q: So what is the Serena method? Do you check out or switch off? How do you get your bearings back together?

A: I’m always myself and I always have fun in what I do. I think it is important to enjoy life and enjoy what you do. I learned that’s I wanted to do, I wanted to enjoy my life and just kind of have fun.

Q: You are a very provocative person as well. We’ve seen you making a statement in the US Open when there was a controversial call and you walked out in an orange T-shirt that said “that the ball was actually in”. That’s not what a lot of sports people would go out and make that sort of a statement, but that’s who you are?

A: The ball was clearly in. I kind of let that go years ago.

Q: Give us a sense of your day, when you are not actually on the court and you are not competing as part of a tournament, what is a regular day for you like?

A: I don’t have a regular day at all, I don’t. Everyday varies, I can’t even give any one an actual day, I’m always doing something different.

Q: Are you a very emotional person because we have heard or seen reports of you breaking down at press conferences, do you get caught up in the moment?

A: I would say I’m very emotional, I’m very sensitive.

Q: Sensitive to what, would it be criticism?

A: Not criticism, just in general. Not necessarily sensitive on press, media and things like that, but in other aspects of my life. But I definitely do wear my emotions on my sleeve.

Q: Does it bother you, the fact that there is constant media attention, there is constant media glare, every moment of your life is being looked at, analysed, talked about. Does that bother you at all or have you just gotten used to it?

A: I have gotten used to it. Sometimes it’s hard, if it’s your personal life or you are just hanging out, or you just write something that people take it out of context. That can be difficult.

Q: Who would you regard as your mentor? I know your dad has played a big part in your career for both, you and Venus, but who would you regard as your mentor?

A: I always admire what my parents did and what they still do to this day. They are just amazing people.

Q: I remember your dad pulled you off the National tour in 1991 because of racist instances. But do you think that because of you and Venus things have really changed for African American?

A: My dad didn’t pull me and my sister off for racism, he just didn’t want us to be involved, and he wanted us to go practice and train and get ready for the real deal.

Q: But did you ever have to face any racism while you were playing?

A: We live in a society in the United States where 40 years ago we were dealing with a lot of things.

Q: And it is different now you think?

A: I would say only 40 years ago you were dealing with segregation and things of that nature. So it’s really not that long a time, that’s only maybe one generation. So yes, there are still some things out there for sure.

Q: Just in terms of being a brand ambassador for your country as well because there’s been so much talk and so much written about. Do you try and clear those misconceptions that you try and clear the air about what America stands for today?

A: I just think that if you lead a good example then hopefully people see what you are. I pretty much stand for me, I don’t know if I stand for America, I can’t say I do. I can only be myself because there are so many different personalities in America. It’s not like I can be the one person who stands for my country.

Q: But you are a young person, you are an achiever who has gone out and done whatever you needed to do on your own, independently and against the odds, battling a lot of the challenges. So in a sense, you are a symbol of hope and aspiration.

A: Thank you very much.

Q: So apart from the clothesline, are we actually going to see you get involved in any other business activities?

A: I hope so. I guess I have a creative brain and I really think that I would just love to be some form of an entrepreneur. But as long as I’m enjoying myself I think that is what matters most.

Q: Any plans of retiring or you are having too much fun at the moment?

A: Right now I’m having way too much fun, I cannot even look that far in the future.