I loved Monica Seles, and then I studied Monica Seles. It was as if I were playing her matches, too. That’s how I started to move so fast up the rankings, because I learned the lessons from Venus’s losses instead of the hard way, from my own. When she lost, I understood why, and I made sure I wouldn’t lose the same way. I followed her around the world and watched her. I’d travel to tournaments with Venus as her hitting partner, and if there was an open slot, I’d play. It made me work harder, turning me into a savage fighter. I was so sad when I didn’t get all the early opportunities that Venus got, but that helped me. If you watched King Richard, then you know that when I was little, I was not very good at tennis. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz in Vogue, April 2003. Night matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows. Some of the happiest times in my life were spent waiting in that hallway in Melbourne, and walking out into Rod Laver Arena with my earphones in and trying to stay focused and drown out the noise but still feeling the energy of the crowd.

I’m not sure every player sees it that way, but I love the performance aspect of it-to be able to entertain people week after week. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to look at this magazine when it comes out, knowing that this is it, the end of a story that started in Compton, California, with a little Black girl who just wanted to play tennis.

I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. There is no happiness in this topic for me. Praise to these people, but I’m going to be honest. There is a clear Norwegian identity to Hasla, and while looking closely you might even see a little bit of Valle in the intricate designs.Ĭlick the link to read more about the jewelry designer here here.Photographed by Annie Leibovitz with sister Venus Williams in Vogue, May 1998. The sisters have been there ever since, drawing inspiration from the breathtaking surroundings and raw Norwegian nature. The workshop was established by Grete Fossen and Ørnulf Hasla in 1984. Valle is located in the south of Norway, where their family has lived for generations. As sisters, they work closely at the Hasla workshop in Valle. The brand name stems from designer Anne Hasla and brand manager Gunnhild Hasla’s family name. By taking inspiration from the organic shapes of the Norwegian mountains and Pablo Picasso’s cubism, Hasla creates jewelry that makes you move closer and actually look. The necklace and chain have a 1-micron gold plating.Īnne and Gunnhild Hasla have figured out what makes a piece of jewelry more than something sparkling that hangs around your neck. Wear the necklace alone, or layer it with other necklaces and chains to create your own look. Our take on the classic letter necklace is a petite, yet bold look. Hasla Letter necklace S with 50 cm gold plated silver chain.

S letter chain