Serena Williams pens letter on sexism and perseverance

When one of the greatest athletes in the world has something to say, it's wise to tune in.

In a letter for Porter Magazine’s "Incredible Women of 2016" issue, tennis powerhouse Serena Williams addresses "all incredible women who strive for excellence" with a message of perseverance despite the barriers (including sexism) they continue to face.

Williams details the opportunities she had as a child to pursue her dreams, acknowledging that not everyone had similar support and how she wants that playing field to even.

"For me, it was a question of resilience. What others marked as flaws or disadvantages about myself -- my race, my gender -- I embraced as fuel for my success," she writes before launching into her frustrations about equal pay for equal work.

Williams also opens up a topic that was tackled in a Nike ad earlier this year: the idea that she is the greatest female athlete.

"Do they say LeBron is one of the world’s best male athletes? Is Tiger? Federer? Why not? They are certainly not female," she explains. "We should never let this go unchallenged. We should always be judged by our achievements, not by our gender."

Williams ends the letter with an inspiring rally cry, asking young women to take inspiration from those before them to push for greatness. "We must continue to dream big, and in doing so, we empower the next generation of women to be just as bold in their pursuits," she says.

You can read the letter in its entirety on The Guardian.