Published 01/20/2023, 9:50 AM EST
Playing the role of a tennis player is not an easy job. But ‘King Richard’ fame Saniyya Sidney nailed the role of the elder William sibling Venus Williams. However, a fun fact, the 16-year-old never knew how to play tennis before she even auditioned for the role of the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Not only that, for the American actor, when she got selected to play the role of the form of world number one, it was the first time she ever got a chance to meet the tennis legend. However, Sidney has always admired the Williams elder sibling but meeting her for the first time face to face made her nervous.
Saniyya Sidney on learning tennis and meeting Venus Williams for the first time
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The 16-year-old American actor in an interview with Wmagazine talked about how she never played tennis before she auditioned for the role of the elder William sister. And since then her journey has been incredible and all thanks to the seven-time Grand Slam Champion who helped her to become a true copy of herself.
Demi Singleton, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Saniyya Sidney attend the 2021 AFI Fest Closing Night Premiere screening for “King Richard” at TCL Chinese theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 14, 2021. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
“I didn’t know how to play tennis at all. I was so bad. I started lessons when I was auditioning, to say I had tennis experience. I’m left-handed, but I had to play right-handed. The serve was probably the hardest thing I had to learn. But I was up for it. Eventually, it becomes part of your muscle memory. And I became Venus!” she said.
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And she also praised the former world number one while she called her, “an amazing, down-to-earth person with an amazing heart.“
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Furthermore, a few months back, the 16-year-old actor who played the role of the younger version of the seven-time Grand Slam champion opened up about a different side of the tennis legend.
Sidney on the comic Williams version
During an event, the 16-year-old talked about her shooting days when she was filming for the Richard Williams’ movie. And while recalling her shooting days, she also thanked the seven-time Grand Slam champion for trusting her. And giving her the greatest opportunity of her career.
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Additionally, she also talked about how the form of world number one always made her laugh on the sets and she is probably the funniest person she has ever got chance to meet. The American tennis player has one of the funniest conversations on the tennis court. And one of them took place back in 2000 when the seven-time Grand Slam champion won her first Wimbledon and her first Maiden major tournament. After winning her first Wimbledon title when the Tennis Legend was asked about her victory. While she talk about how strange it felt to win the first major tournament she also stated her Wimbledon victory as a Nightmare as it’s something she has often dreamt off.