The name Serena Williams is synonymous with the sport of tennis. While her ability to move fast on the court has earned her praise from spectators, Williams also proved her agility can play a major role off the court as well. On Wednesday (Nov. 4), Williams recounted a bizarre incident involving her chasing down a thief who attempted to steal her phone. Tennis star or Superwoman?
So how did Williams go from enjoying a casual Chinese dinner Tuesday (Nov. 3) night to channeling her inner superhero in order to stop a robbery in progress? The 34-year-old took to her personal Facebook account to explain just how crazy the incident was and why you should always follow your gut.
Williams and a friend were sitting at a four-person table eating their meal. Thinking nothing of it at the time, Williams sat her phone on the open chair next to her. When a man randomly stood a little too close in proximity to her and her phone, she began to get a little suspicious.
"Soooooo yesterday at dinner the CRAZIEST THING happened to me," Williams wrote on her Facebook page. "So this guy is standing next to me and something (I have now dubbed it my SUPERHERO sense) told me to watch him. My phone was sitting in the chair but I just didn't feel right. He was there too long. I tried to shake his this eerie feeling. However, I kept watching him from the corner of my eye."
Williams couldn't quite place her finger on it, but she knew something was off about this guy. She questioned whether he was actually a customer of the restaurant or waiting in line for the bathroom, but she kept that to herself.
"I kept watching him from the corner of my eye," Williams wrote. "Then when least expected low and behold this common petty thief grabbed my phone and swiftly left. I looked at the chair, then shouted 'Omg that dude took my phone!!'"
Soooooo yesterday at dinner the CRAZIEST THING happened to me. I was sitting enjoying some Chinese food (delicious may I...
Posted by Serena Williams on Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Instead of alerting a manager or police, Williams took matters into her own hands. She navigated her way in and out of the restaurant by hurtling over chairs and sprinting as fast as she could to catch up to him. Williams noted her past training sessions helped her endurance throughout the high-speed chase.
Once she caught up to him, the Compton native tried her best not to cause a scene. She asked the man if he "accidentally" took her phone. He couldn't help but stumble on his words while admitting the "mistake" he made.
She walked back into the restaurant, greeted by a standing ovation from the staff and fellow customers. The moment gave Williams a great sense of pride, so she shared some encouraging words for any woman dealing with a tough situation.
A photo posted by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Oct 22, 2015 at 2:41pm PDT
"Always listen to your superhero inner voice," Williams wrote. "Always keep your things close! Fight for what's right. Stand for what you believe in! Be a superhero! I was proud. I just showed every man in there I can stand up to bullies and other men. It was a win for the ladies! Just because you are a lady don't be afraid to step up to any challenge and not be a victim but a hero!"
Ranked number one in the world for the women's single division by the Women's Tennis Association, Williams is no stranger to victory. Read the full story here.
