Spoiler alert! This is the ending to the movie. “King Richard,” so beware if you haven’t seen it yet.
The biopic “King Richard”Casts Will Smith as the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams – and finds Venus revisiting the first defeat of her pro career.
The film, which is now available to stream on HBO Max and in theaters, offers up to a staggering amount of content. “a version of ourselves, not our complete selves or who we are at the moment,” Venus Williams tells USA TODAY. “So in that sense, it’s interesting to watch a past you.”Her sibling adds: “Those memories aren’t too much of a distant past for us.”
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“King Richard” follows the young career of Venus Williams (played by Saniyya Sidney) from around ages 10 to 14, when she made her pro debut at Oakland’s Bank of the West Classic tournament, as well as the trajectory of sister Serena (Demi Singleton), a year younger. The movie’s finale depicts Williams’ early success at the tournament, dominating Shaun Stafford in the first round, but also her defeat as she’s ousted in the second by No. 2-ranked Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
“I’m pleased with her performance, but I’m also happy that she lost,”After the match, Richard Williams spoke his true self. “It gives us a chance to go home and let her be a 14-year-old for the rest of the year.”
In the film, Venus is consoled by Richard and her mom Oracene (Aunjanue Ellis) but as the dejected teen leaves the building, she’s met by a crowd of cheering fans who stuck around to show their love.
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Venus Williams, when asked about that match, said she remembered it. “not knowing what I was doing. I mean, I had a huge lead. She took a bathroom break and I fell apart.”Sanchez Vicario called a break after she won the first set with 6-2. Sanchez Vicario won 11 more games when she returned to the court, first winning the first set 6-2, then defeating Williams 6-0 in second.
“I just remember distinctly thinking, ‘Gosh, I should have won that match. I shouldn’t be going home.’ And I knew I had to improve myself,”Williams now. “I think that’s what I took out of it. It wasn’t anything I ever said to anyone, but inside, I knew that I should have won. So I guess I was hard on myself at the time.”
But did the veteran, who was a bit squeamish, take advantage of the novice? In the film, Sanchez Vicario (Marcela Zacarias) leaves for so long that everybody starts getting antsy, including Venus, and Richard eyes the bathroom suspiciously.
Serena Williams admitted that “she did take a long break.” And Venus Williams doesn’t remember how long “but it was definitely a thing. I don’t hate her for it at all.”
“I was young. Take a break on me now, it’s like, ‘Great! You can keep going.’ But at the time, would I have won that match without the break? You can’t ever say. But probably.”
Oscar Dixon Contributing
