Serena Williams: “I Don’t Understand What No Means, What Failure Means”

Are you fed up with those over-used gender stereotypes about women in sports? Serena Williams—Glamour’s June 2016 cover star—is. Above, watch as the legendary tennis champ takes out her frustrations in her natural habitat—on the court—and below, check out seven of the most inspiring soundbites from her cover story interview. From how she handles tough losses to the trait that keeps her going, Williams gets totally candid.

How she handles hardship and losses…I don’t understand what no means or what failure means; I only understand what yes means and try again means.

On being one Grand Slam away from tying Graf’s singles record…It’s not the end-all, be-all. It’s something I would like to achieve, but I’ve achieved so much on the court and off already.

On being called “the world’s greatest athlete”…I try to be the best that I can be every day. I have bad days. So am I the greatest? I don’t know. I’m the greatest that I can be.

How losing makes her better…I work harder. I study to see where I went wrong. But I carry the loss. I need to look at those losses as learning experiences.

Her stance on inequity in women’s sports pay…I really hope that I can be helpful in that journey because I do believe that women deserve the same pay. We work just as hard as men do.

On the importance having fun! If you dish it out, you should be able to take it. You can throw a dart at me, and I will laugh. I’ll throw a dart at myself.

What she attributes her positive legacy to…Humility is a defining trait all of us can forever learn, and I try to be as humble as anyone can be.