…And her name is Serena Williams

This week has been a long time coming and it almost seems as if the Hollywood stars aligned and decided to drop this mega-hit movie, Straight Outta Compton at the same time that a little girl from South Central, LA born just a few years before NWA would change the music game, would be the unexpected, uninvited mega-Watts (see what I did there) superstar that would change the game of tennis and women’s place in sports. Regardless, or better yet, in spite of what advertisers or marketing “know-it-alls” might say, or where they invest their dollars, it’s Serena Williams’ world and we’re all just visiting!

It cannot be overstated how historic this particular moment is for the world of tennis, sports, America and African Americans. Unfortunately, it’s all too common these days for pop culture and the media to bloviate over the significance of an artist, athlete or celebrity…just look at the hours, days, weeks and months wasted on trying to substantiate Donald Trump’s circus of a presidential campaign. However, this is real and Serena’s Grand Slam campaign highlights in the best way possible what can be achieved if you have a strong family foundation that emphasizes faith, family, education, loyalty and hard work.

It would be compelling just to be the three-time defending US Open Champion going for her fourth in a row and it would be impractical to list here all the milestones Serena Williams is amassing through this seemingly never-ending display of excellence at the highest level, but here’s a few:

• World No.1 Serena Williams is on a 28-match winning streak at Grand Slam level having won the 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros and 2015 Wimbledon – her second non-calendar year Grand Slam.

• Serena is trying to win her seventh US Open title (wouldn't just be the first Grand Slam she'll have seven of, but also the most US Open titles for a woman in Open Era – currently tied with Chris Evert at six)

• Serena has made over $73 million in prize money and by comparison, Sharapova earned $35 million.

• The legacy Serena Williams and her sister Venus have built with the likes of Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend, Victoria Duval, Sacha Vickery, Heather Watson, Tornado & Hurricane Black, etc. is transformational and extends well beyond players of African ancestry.

• The 2015 US Open Women’s Final has sold out already and is the first time it has done so ahead of the Men’s Final and it’s trending as the excitement and anticipation of Serena’s unparalleled mark on history draws closer.

Leading up to the US Open Draw Ceremony and her first Press Conference everyone was primed with their obligatory questions about the elephant in the room, PRESSURE!!…and how do you deal with it? And while she gave very thoughtful and honest answers about feeling more pressure to win at Wimbledon to complete the second “Serena Slam”, I wanted to inject some historical context, if given the chance and we were. Given her recent interview where she was asked about Maria Sharapova making more endorsement money than her, Serena explained that it may not be meant for her to be that top earner and she was grateful for the doors opened by Althea Gibson, Zina Garrison, Arthur Ashe and her own sister Venus Williams and that she is trying to open doors for the next generation, so the next might be that top earner.

So I asked, “Have you seen the new documentary about Althea Gibson that was being screened throughout the opening week?”

Serena Williams responded: “I have not seen it yet. I knew it was coming out around the OPEN (US OPEN). I’ll definitely have to check that out.”

And, I had the opportunity to ask a follow-up question, “Everybody talks about the pressure, is that something by seeing those previous players allows you to bear it easier?”

Serena proceeded with a thoughtful response, “Well, I just look at someone like Althea and Zina. Let’s face it, I have it a lot easier than them. There are so many barriers that have been broken. When I look at it in that point of view, that aspect, a whole weight is like lifted off my shoulders. I’m doing well and I’m really happy to be here.”

Her new campaign is #BESERENA but she’s humble and gracious enough to acknowledge #AltheaCameFirst.

We’re even happier for you Serena and can’t wait until you raise our national trophy again, “Straight Into the Record Books” is the title of her movie. #411SportsTV and #Whatsthe411Sports

The Qualies: A jam-packed, exciting event at the US OPEN

The first week of the US OPEN is not what many people may think. In fact, it isn’t even the US Open, it’s actually the US Open Qualifying Tournament and it’s one of the biggest tennis competitions on the planet, awarding almost $2 million in winnings. As it does every year, the “Qualies,” as it is commonly called, is packed into four days, from Tuesday, August 25th to Friday, August 28th. The Qualies showcase 128 men and women routinely ranked from 105 to 250 in the world. Each player must try and win three matches to secure one of the 32 spots available in the main draw, 16 men, and 16 women.

This time of year is always filled with excitement and anticipation of seeing the greatest tennis players in the world on our home turf, New York, USA. There is no greater feeling than arriving at the USTA National Tennis Center and picking up the media credentials that allow #What’sThe411Sports & #411SportsTV to cover the biggest annual event hosted in NYC and maybe the country.

The Qualies: Early Exits from US OPEN

The US OPEN spans a full three weeks, starting with the Qualifying Week for all the unseeded and in some cases former established players, like fan favorite Nicholas Almagro of Spain, who lost after an incredible three set match 6-7, 6-4, 4-6 to Guilherme Clezar and his raucous Brazilian fans, late into Thursday evening. And it’s been an extremely difficult “Qualies” for the Americans, with many hopefuls, like former World Juniors Girls Champion, Taylor Townsend, who had to play World #1, Serena Williams, in her opening match last year after getting through Qualies and 2014 sensation, Victoria Duval, whose dad miraculously survived the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Professional tennis players Victoria Duval (left) and Taylor Townsend

On the men’s side, the very lengthy 6’10” Reilly Opelka of Florida and last year’s local standout, 19 year-old Noah Rubin from Long Island are also out after the second round.

Tennis Legend Althea Gibson Gets Long-Awaited Recognition

The other amazing celebration that always signals the start of the US Open Championships is on August 25th, the birthday of US Open and major champion winner and first African-American to win a major tennis tournament, Althea Gibson.

Tennis legend, Althea Gibson

This amazing tennis legend is finally receiving appropriate recognition this year because of a long overdue award-winning documentary on her life’s triumphs and travails. It’s ALTHEA week all this week and the documentary film is being screened at six venues in seven days giving it momentum going into its airing on PBS’ American Masters on September 4th.

Behold the US Open Food Tasting Preview

Another “Qualies” week celebration is food and more precisely, gourmet food, was the name of the game at the always well-attended US Open Food Tasting Preview that brings all the top chefs who are contributing dishes to this year’s US Open.

Not to rub it in, but some of the selections were out of this world, like Marea’s Lobster Burrata and Champions Bar and Grill’s Costata, a 40 oz. dry aged tomahawk ribeye steak. And, to make it all taste even better was beverage host, Grey Goose’s signature, Honey Duece cocktail.

Glenn Gilliam, What's The 411Sports Host (in front), with renown Celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto who makes Serena Williams favorite sushi dishes

US OPEN: A Place to See World-class Tennis and Meet New Friends

But the best part of the US OPEN’s Qualies Week is that it is free to attend (the rest of the US OPEN tournament is a paid event, sorry) and the people you meet everywhere on the tennis center grounds…usually at the food court, or at least often.

Glenn Gilliam, What's The 411Sports Host (center), with newfound friends at the 2015 US OPEN

I met two wonderful gentlemen, Joe “King” Cole, and Edwin Douglas, both 90-years young.

Cole, who lives not far from me in Southeast Queens, plays tennis twice a week and takes it indoors during the winter months. He lives in Cambria Heights and plays at the Rochdale Tennis Courts behind the Count Basie School at 133-25 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard during the summer and at Alley Pond Park inside the bubble when it’s cold.

Joe "King" Cole (left) and his friend William Klint from Pennsylvania at the 2015 US OPEN in New York City 

Both gentlemen have won the Senior Olympics title for their age group in tennis and Mr. Douglas met Althea Gibson in her prime at the original home of the US OPEN in Forest Hills back in the 1960s. Sharing stories about the game we love with wise and proud men like these are what makes the US OPEN so special…see ya on the courts and on the TV. #411SportsTV