Serena to fight for equality until ‘the grave’

(Reuters) – Beaten Wimbledon finalist Serena Williams has said she has no plans to give up fighting for equality to focus solely on her tennis.

Williams’s hopes of matching Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles were dashed again on Saturday with a crushing straight sets defeat by Romanian Simona Halep.

Women’s great Billie Jean King said she felt Williams was spreading herself too thin in an interview midway through the tournament and urged the American to stop “being a celebrity” for a year and a half.

“She’s got a baby, she’s trying to help gender equity, particularly women of color. But it makes it much harder,” 12-times Grand Slam champion King told the BBC.

“I would like her to put everything else aside, because she’s got people working on those things.

“I wish she would just make a commitment for the next year and a half to two years and say, ‘I’m going to absolutely focus on what’s necessary for my tennis, so when I look in…