What was your initial reaction when you were asked to be co-chair this year? Did Serena give you any advice as co-chair in 2019?<\/strong><\/p>\nHonestly, my initial reaction was, oh my god, yes! There was celebration, disbelief, and even a great deal of gratitude. I don’t think anyone ever feels worthy of being co-chairman of the Met, so it was an incredible feeling. I remember feeling very proud when my sister was co-president, so I know she feels the same way about me. I’m still in disbelief; This is one of the greatest honors I have ever received. I plan to enjoy the entire experience.<\/p>\n
Tell me about your Met Gala jewelry.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nAll of my accessories on Monday nights are custom pieces, and they are truly designed to bring to life why only 6% of global sports science research focuses specifically on the female body. Every detail was thoughtfully crafted to connect with the story of Body of Science in a way that felt cohesive and expressive.<\/p>\n
How did Body of Science inspire the look of your Met Gala jewelry and other Met moments?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe created looks together that were really meant to draw attention to the women’s sports science research problem, including my pre-gala dinner look, press preview event look, and of course, my stuff for Monday night. I really wanted each look to tell an individual story in itself, as well as a larger story about the power of female bodies and the need to better understand them.<\/p>\n
Why is working with Gatorade a good fit for you? What are they working on that excites you?<\/strong><\/p>\nAs an athlete, Gatorade has obviously been a constant presence throughout my career. They have always led from the front when it comes to investing in the women’s game and moving the ball forward, and when they came to me about the body of science and being a meaningful part of the solution, they easily said yes.<\/p>\n
Congratulations on your recent marriage! What’s more nerve-wracking: walking down the aisle or climbing the Met Gala stairs, and why? <\/strong><\/p>\nWalking up the stairs to the Met Gala would definitely be more stressful for me. I’m naturally quite shy, even if it doesn’t always come across. I have always been deeply introverted, although over time I have become more of an “extroverted introvert.” So this moment feels a little more difficult. Walking down the aisle felt completely natural. I already knew that I wanted to marry my husband, so there was no nervousness.<\/p>\n
How has the sports science research gap impacted your career? Why is female-specific sports science data important in tennis and other sports?<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen Gatorade was first sharing Body of Science, I think I wasn’t surprised, but obviously a little disappointed that I’d spent decades optimizing my fitness and wellness to be the best on the court, and realized that it wasn’t optimized for me. It’s so important for women to have information, resources, and education that addresses us and our unique needs, and I’m excited that the next generation of female tennis players, as well as women at all stages of life, will have better, science-backed data to make decisions about their bodies. People keep asking, “What’s next for women’s sports?” And I think that’s a big part of it.<\/p>\n