Serena Williams recently played what might be her final professional tennis match.

With 23 singles, Grand Slam titles to her name and more in doubles and mixed doubles,

she's had a singular remarkable career.

Along the way, she's had an enormous impact on culture inside and outside sports, and

even as she steps away from this phase of her life in tennis, she started more conversations

about the way athletes, public lives change as they get older.

I'm Linda Holmes, and today we're talking about tennis superstar Serena Williams on

Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR.

Joining us today is the co-host of NPR's Code Switch, Jean Demby.

Hi, Jean.

It's good.

Let us all get to finally see you after all this time.

It absolutely is.

And also joining us is Saraya Nadia McDonnell, Senior Culture Critic for Anscape.

Welcome back, Saraya.

Thank you for having me once again.

I am so delighted that you are both here because even I, who do not discuss tennis that much,

have discussed tennis with both of you.

And listen, you guys don't need me to tell you who Serena Williams is.

The conversations about the superlatives she deserves are mostly about the distinctions

between being the best women's tennis player of all time, or the best tennis player of all

time, or the most dominant athlete of all time.

...