Tennis icon Serena Williams has officially stepped into a new role off the court — as executive producer of a Netflix adaptation of Carrie Soto Is Back, a bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Though retired from professional tennis since 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has stayed busy with projects in the entertainment world. Her latest venture will see her co-executive produce the film through her company, Nine Two Six Productions, alongside Caroline Currier and in partnership with Picturestart.
Carrie Soto Is Back tells the story of a fictional tennis legend who, at age 37, comes out of retirement to defend her Grand Slam record against a new rising star. While the main character is not based directly on Williams, author Taylor Jenkins Reid has credited Serena’s career as a major inspiration.
“My incredible respect for the Williams sisters is part of what makes me interested in tennis,” Reid said in a 2022 interview. “Serena’s pursuit of Grand Slam titles was a key influence in writing this book.”
This is not Williams’ first time working behind the scenes. She co-produced the 2024 docuseries In the Arena: Serena Williams and the 2021 Oscar-nominated film King Richard, which told the story of her and sister Venus Williams’ early tennis careers under their father’s guidance.
Williams now joins a growing list of legendary athletes entering the film and TV industry. Names like Tom Brady, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo — who recently launched a studio with director Matthew Vaughn — are all exploring new creative roles off the field.
Despite her busy post-retirement schedule, Williams still makes appearances at tennis events. She was recently seen supporting Novak Djokovic at the Miami Open.
In addition to her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena Williams is a former World No. 1, an Olympic gold medalist, and the only tennis player to complete a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
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