After 27 years in professional tennis, Serena Williams shares a personal account of her most meaningful Grand Slam appearances and deconstructs the milestones of her legendary career in a new eight-part docuseries. Each episode explores the pivotal moments in Williams' life on and off the court, illustrating the series of steps that, when reflected upon, show the incredible distance traveled over the course of her career.
When is "In the Arena: Serena Williams" airing?
Episode 1 of the ESPN+ original series premieres Wednesday. New episodes are available each Wednesday at midnight ET.
How can fans watch the program?
"In the Arena: Serena Williams" will be available on ESPN+. Fans can get more information in the series' streaming hub.
How many episodes does the docuseries include?
"In the Arena: Serena Williams" includes eight episodes.
Episode 1: "Out of the Shadow"
After years of overcoming the odds and playing in the shadow of her older sister, Venus Williams, 17-year-old Serena Williams, who began her tennis career on the public courts of Compton, California, wins her first grand slam at the 1999 US Open.
Episode 2: "Into the Light" (July 17)
As Serena struggles to follow up her first grand slam, Venus wins four major titles in two years. Serena eventually finds her groove, but it means going head-to-head against the top player in the world, her sister, and only one can be the winner.
Episode 3: "Point of No Return" (July 24)
After the death of her sister Yetunde Price, Serena Williams is overcome by grief and depression, leading her to drop out of the top 100 rankings. Williams enters the 2007 Australian Open battling her emotions and tough competition.
Episode 4: "The Deep End" (July 31)
The isolation of tennis begins to take a toll on Williams, prompting her to enhance her game with the help of a new team. After reclaiming the No. 1 ranking, Team Serena must rally around her after life-threatening health problems to prepare her for the 2011 US Open.
Episode 5: "The Perfect Storm" (Aug. 7)
After losing in the first round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, Williams hires a new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. As she navigates her thirties and sets her sights on a calendar Grand Slam, Williams reflects on the similar path followed by her friend Roger Federer.
Episode 6: "Exodus" (Aug. 14)
In 2015, Williams makes her return to Indian Wells, a tournament in Southern California that holds painful memories for her and her family. Williams, her sisters and Mary Joe Fernandez share firsthand accounts of the event, which led Williams to boycott Indian Wells for 14 years.
Episode 7: "Love All" (Aug. 21)
During the Italian Open, love is in the air when Williams meets Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit. Shortly after getting engaged, Williams heads into the 2017 Australian Open with the hopes of winning her 23rd Grand Slam, all while carrying a secret.
Episode 8: "This is You" (Aug. 28)
As she begins a new chapter of her life, Williams enters the end of her career. After giving birth to her daughter, Olympia, Williams returns to the court before announcing her retirement from the game of tennis ahead of the 2022 US Open.
How can fans access more tennis content from ESPN?
Check out the ESPN tennis hub page for the latest news, in-depth profiles and more.