Before Serena Williams became a global sports icon in the world of tennis, her journey began far from the bright lights of Grand Slam stadiums. She was a young girl growing up in Compton, California, in a family that did not have the kind of financial resources often associated with elite tennis.
Tennis could be expensive, with coaching, equipment, court access and travel all adding to the cost. But the Williams family found another way. Serena and her older sister Venus Williams trained on public courts, sometimes relying on secondhand equipment, while their parents devoted their time and energy to helping them improve.
