Filmmaker and devoted sports fan Spike Lee was at the 2014 US Open on Labor Day to take in some matches and rolling out spoke exclusively with the proud Brooklyn native. When asked about his most memorable moments watching tennis, Spike gave a very simple answer. “Serena! Serena and Venus to me,” he said, while sitting outside of a suite inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Lee continued, and elaborated on why the sisters are his best tennis memories. “I just think that they got great talent but you know, people forget their father. I don’t care what people think about Mr. Williams. When his daughters were ducking bullets in Compton, he said I’m going to teach my daughters to be the greatest tennis players ever. So I have got nothing but praise for Mr. Williams.”
After her victory over Kaia Kanepi in the fourth round, rolling out asked Serena about Spike. “I’ve known Spike for many years. We always have dinner. He has a house down the street from mine in Palm Beach. I sometimes go over there and we eat dinner. We play tennis together. He’s super intense. He wants me to play as hard as I can. I’m like, ‘Spike, are you sure?’ I mean, come on. He’s such a great person. I love his kids. We all just get along.”
Spike Lee, super intense while playing tennis against Serena? That’s can’t possibly play out well for Lee. Instead of dodging bullets in one of the most crime-infested areas in California, Serena and Venus are now dodging the competition in tennis tournaments. With four victories, Williams is three wins away from her third straight US Open title, and her 18th Grand Slam title. Easy to see why the story of Serena and Venus Williams is memorable to Lee, and hopefully he can immortalize them on the silver screen in a film.
