Courtesy

“I'm terrified of cats and my husband just got one,” says Serena Williams. We're chatting over Zoom about her new jewelry partnership with Zales when slowly, the furry pet approaches the tennis champion. Despite 23 Grand Slam titles and a lifetime of empowering female athletes around the world, she's visibly startled. While few can relate to the G.O.A.T, it's humbling to know she has a slight ailurophobia. “All I can see is a tiger.”