There are few people in this world who are recognisable only by their first names. Fewer still who are women in sport. Serena is one of those truly exceptional humans.
The fact that she narrows that niche further still, as a woman of colour, maybe shouldn't matter, but it does. Because Serena Williams has changed what it means to be a sportswoman, to be a successful Black woman, to be a mother, to be so much more than the sum of all of her achievements.
As she walks away from the professional tennis court for the final time in her playing career, Serena brings with her the record for Grand Slam titles of any player in the Open era.
Ad But she also sweeps in the train of her magnificent, Vogue cover couture gown, a generation of change off the court that is even more profound, even more enduring, even more wide reaching.