“There's a fire in there that doesn't settle for anything less … that's what Serena is made of, and that's her greatness.”
That's what Newsday photographer J. Conrad Williams, Jr. sees when he looks through the treasure trove of photos he has captured over Serena Williams' electrifying, decades-long tennis career.
"No matter what stood in her way, she was gonna fight through it," he added, while sitting down in the newsroom recently to look back at his favorite shots of Williams, who announced her retirement last month.
While holding this image he shot in 2002 of Williams playing in the U.S. Open, he said, "To photograph Serena Williams was a joy because she was always so exciting ... she was like a spark plug everywhere on the court."
Serena Williams plays in the U.S. Open on Sept. 3, 2002. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Watch the video above to see which visual moments stood out for our award-winning photographer as he offers his commentary on Williams' power and athleticism, her relationship with her sister Venus, her emotional defeats and of course, her memorable victories like this one over Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals of the 2011 U.S. Open.
Serena Williams jumps for joy after defeating Caroline Wozniacki in their semifinals match at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows on Sept. 10, 2011. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
"This was like an explosion ... as a photographer when you shoot something like this you say to yourself, 'I got the picture!'"
