Venus Williams Shares Lessons on Winning Big, Failure and Self-Belief

Venus Williams has built one of the most accomplished careers in tennis, but some of her most useful lessons go far beyond trophies.

Speaking to Loyola Marymount University’s Class of 2026 at undergraduate commencement, the tennis champion shared lessons shaped by professional victories, losses, family, faith and the long process of learning how to pursue big goals without being ruled by fear.

Her message was direct: winning requires the courage to go for it.

"No one is going to say you've deserved it because you were a nice person, or 'isn't it time for your lucky break?'" she told graduates, families, and LMU community members gathered in Sunken Garden for undergraduate commencement. "The wins go to those who go for it."

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, five-time Wimbledon champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist, encouraged graduates to think about success as something built through intention, resilience and a willingness to risk failure.

Photo credit: Loyola Marymount University

That message carries obvious relevance for young tennis players. In tennis, as in life, improvement often comes from uncomfortable moments: the matches lost, the pressure points missed, the mistakes that expose what still needs work.

"In failure you learn so much more about yourself than you ever would winning."

"If you haven't failed, you haven't tried, and if you haven't pushed hard enough, you took the safe route," she said. "It's unrealistic to think you won't be afraid or you will never fail or make mistakes. But it is possible to frame fear and put it in its place."

For junior players, that may be the most important takeaway. Fear is not a sign that something is wrong. It is often part of competing, growing and stepping into bigger challenges. The goal is not to eliminate fear, but to keep it from making the decisions.

Photo credit: Loyola Marymount University

Williams also credited her parents and her upbringing in Compton, California, with helping shape the discipline, mindset, spirituality and resilience that carried her through one of the most influential careers in sports.

Rick Macci, Williams’ former coach, saw those qualities early. He told Florida Tennis that Venus was “like my own daughter” and said her “work ethic was unsurpassed.” 

Looking back on her 1994 professional debut after not playing a match in three and a half years, Macci called it “beyond epic” that she could “walk off the street” and beat the No. 58 player in the world, and then nearly defeat the world No. 1.

Macci recalled seeing Venus win that match and “jump up and down at the net like a human pogo stick with beads flying everywhere” with her trademark “VW smile” remains “one of best moments of my life.”

Source: Loyola Marymount University

"One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was my self-belief," Venus said.

That self-belief has been central to Williams’ path on and off the court. Beginning at age 14, she quickly took the tennis world by storm, rising to the top-ranked position, breaking records and winning numerous championships. Away from competition, she has combined business acumen with a competitive spirit to build ventures spanning art, design, wellness and entertainment.

Throughout her remarks, Williams returned to the idea that success is not only about the final result. It is also about setting goals, visualizing what is possible, continuing to grow and finding pride in the process.

She closed by reminding graduates to celebrate the work that brought them to that moment.

"It would be a disservice to you and your hard work if we did not celebrate you today, and the sacrifices you and your loved ones have made, if we don't finish on anything but pure joy," she said. "And I hope you found joy in the journey that brought you to this moment. That's why we embrace the process and the sense of pride that comes with accomplishment."

For tennis players, students and anyone chasing a difficult goal, Williams’ message is simple but lasting: go for the wins, accept that failure is part of the path, and build the kind of self-belief that can survive both.

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Source: Loyola Marymount University. Additional commentary provided to Florida Tennis from Venus Williams' former coach Rick Macci.

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