Serena Williams recently shared a surprising accusation she received during her career while speaking on her podcast. Another player on the WTA Tour made the accusation, but Williams chose not to reveal the player’s identity.
Williams, along with her sister Venus Williams, launched their podcast, “Stockton Street,” in September 2025. The podcast is named after the street where the Williams sisters grew up in Compton, California. In the first episode, the sisters interviewed each other, and it was filmed at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena Williams Recalls ‘Craziest’ Accusation She Has Heard About Herself
In a recent episode, Venus and Serena Williams were joined by American singer and songwriter Ciara, who discussed wild accusations and rumors they faced during their careers.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion recounted an incident where a player on the WTA Tour accused her of practicing “witchcraft” because she consistently defeated that player. This player claimed that Williams used “black magic” to win their matches.
“The craziest thing I ever heard about me was that I did witchcraft and black magic because I was beating some girl. So she claimed that we did black magic to beat her from what I understand,” Williams said.
Venus added that the accusation against her sister included claims that she and her team consulted a “black magician.”
“Someone and her team consulted a black magician,” Venus Williams added.
Excited to share that music legend and friend @Ciara joined @VenusWilliams and me backstage at her NYC concert on this episode of Stockton Street. We dive into trusting our instincts, balancing work, celebrating our unique journeys and so much more. pic.twitter.com/pRrVT2ho6G
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) October 29, 2025
On the tennis side of things, Williams won 39 Grand Slam titles during her career: 23 in singles, including seven titles each at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, six at the US Open, and three at the French Open. She secured 14 Grand Slam titles in doubles alongside her sister, Venus, and also claimed two major titles in mixed doubles.
Williams achieved the World No. 1 ranking in the WTA rankings for both singles and doubles. She also won four Olympic medals for her country, three in doubles and one in singles, among many other accolades. She retired from professional tennis in 2022, following her appearance at the US Open.
Serena Williams Received the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award in Sports Category
Earlier this month, Williams was honored by the Spanish Royal Family, who awarded her the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. This prestigious award has also been bestowed upon notable athletes such as Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Pau Gasol, and Carlos Sainz, among others.
This year’s award ceremony took place at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, Spain. Williams became the fifth tennis player to be honored with this award, following in the footsteps of Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Steffi Graf, and Rafael Nadal.
The award was presented to the 23-time Grand Slam champion by Leonor, the Crown Princess of Asturias. Other members of the Spanish royal family, including King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and the Crown Princess’s younger sister, Infanta Sofía, were also in attendance.
After the ceremony, the former World No. 1 took to social media to share a series of pictures showcasing her stunning red ensemble, which she wore during the event.
