Serena Williams once opened up about her journey of transforming her heartbreak into triumph in her 2009 autobiography, ‘My Life: Queen of the Court.’ Williams wrote about how, following her breakup with an American football player, she went on to make tennis the focal point of her life. It was driven by a desire to prove her worth and make her ex-boyfriend regret breaking up with her.

In her autobiography, the former World No. 1 revealed that the emotional pain caused by the breakup pushed her to achieve the feat known as the ‘Serena Slam.’ This accomplishment entails winning all four Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open, the French Open, the Wimbledon Championships, and the US Open—culminating in both a career Grand Slam and a non-calendar year Grand Slam.

When Serena Williams Opened Up About Making Her Ex-Boyfriend Regret Dumping Her

Between 2002 and 2003, Williams completed the Serena Slam, beginning with her victory at the 2002 French Open. It was followed by triumphs later that year at Wimbledon and the US Open, concluding with her win at the 2003 Australian Open.

In her autobiography, the 23-time Grand Slam champion recounted the impact of the breakup, revealing how it shattered her self-esteem. She expressed that the emotional turmoil pushed her to make tennis her “salvation.”

“The guy tore my heart in half. The worst part was that he left me thinking it was me. He left me thinking that I was ugly. So I decided that tennis would be my salvation,” Serena wrote.

Serena Williams wrote that she wanted to make her ex-boyfriend regret his decision to break up with her. The American stated that she aimed to achieve such greatness in tennis that her face would be everywhere, serving as a constant reminder of what he had lost.

“I would get so-and-so to regret how he had treated me. I wanted him to see me everywhere, to stay in this guy’s face, to be a constant reminder of what he had, to rise above his shabby treatment. It was all about lifting myself from the dirt he left me lying in,” she added.

Serena Williams Completed ‘Serena Slam’ Twice in Her Career

Serena Williams accomplished the feat of achieving the “Serena Slam” twice during her career—first between 2002 and 2003, and again from 2014 to 2015.

Williams‘ maiden run for the Serena Slam began with a victory at the 2002 French Open, followed by triumphs at the Wimbledon Championships, the US Open, and the 2003 Australian Open. In each of the finals of these Grand Slams, the former World No. 1 defeated her sister, Venus Williams.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion began her second Serena Slam campaign at the 2014 US Open, where she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the final.

The following year, Williams defeated Maria Sharapova to win the 2015 Australian Open and then triumphed over Lucie Šafářová in the 2015 French Open final. The culmination of her second Serena Slam came at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships, where she defeated Garbiñe Muguruza in the final.