Champ calls for end to racial strife

LONDON: Serena Williams said she was saddened by the gun violence and deteriorating race relations in the US, admitting she fears for the safety of her own family in the current volatile climate.

The 34-year-old tennis star lifted a seventh Wimbledon title and recordequalling 22nd major on Saturday, before addressing her country’s turbulent week.

Five police officers were shot dead by a black extremist in Dallas, Texas, during a march to protest against police brutality.

The peaceful Dallas demonstration was one of several nationwide over the deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota earlier in the week.

“I have nephews that I’m thinking, Do I have to call them and tell them, Don’t go outside. If you get in your car, it might be the last time I see you,” said Williams in an emotional press conference at the All England Club.

“That is something that I think is of great concern because it will be devastating. They’re very good kids.

She added: “I don’t think that the answer is to continue to shoot our young black people.

“Violence is not the answer. The shootings in Dallas were very sad. No one deserves to lose their life, doesn’t matter what colour they are, where they’re from. We’re all human.”

Gun violence has personally touched Williams and her family in the past.

In September 2003, her elder halfsister Yetunde Price was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Compton, the crime-plagued suburb of Los Angeles where Serena grew up.

The 31-year-old worked as a personal assistant to Serena and tennisplaying sister Venus.

Price was sitting in a car with her boyfriend at the time of the shooting.

He escaped uninjured in the incident in which a neighbour said a dozen shots were fired.

“We have to learn that we have to love one another,” added Serena.

“It’s going to take a lot of education and a lot of work, I think, to get to that point.

“But I think, in general, the entire situation is extremely sad, especially for someone like me. It’s something that is very painful to see happening.”