by Bob Stockton
Football has “Hard Knocks,” the NHL has “The Road To The Winter Classic,” but an insider’s look at tennis or even golf? Too hard to document, not enough access, and frankly when you are following just one athlete the road can get lonely, and kind of boring. At least that’s what many may think, but without the access almost 24/7 we would be hard pressed to find out.
That’s what makes the upcoming film “Serena” just a bit different and certainly worthy of a view when it premieres on EPIX Wednesday night at 8:00. Directed by Ryan White, fans get access to Williams as she attempted the Serena slam, but they also got to live her life through the eyes of those around her NOT named Williams; managers, trainers, massage therapists and friends. While we have seen other Williams’ documentaries that tell us the story of coming through Compton and rising under the often controversial hand of Richard Williams, this film really gives fans, sports fans, a look inside the grind that professional athletes put up with on the road; going from hotel to hotel, tournament to tournament, dealing with the pressures, the injuries and the controversies, along with the winning and the pressure.
We learn about Serena’s training routines, her interests off the court, the occasional crossing of paths with other luminaries, and what it is like to try and experience both the winning (The French and Wimbledon) and then the losing (at the US Open, where her Grand Slam quest came up short). There is a great amount of time spent off the court, as we learn more about Serena’s mental training than ever before, and see how that toughness plays out not just when she lifts the trophy, but when that last one in Flushing Meadows is denied and how a champion deals with defeat.
All in all, even non-tennis fans will have an enjoyable experience watching an insider’s view to one of the greatest athletes of her time, and even though you know the outcome of the matches, you learn much more about the person. As we heard toward the All England Club, Serena is a worthwhile watch.
