WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 4 (UPI) — Serena Williams has proven she is a hero on and off the court.
The tennis great shared on social media Wednesday a harrowing story of how she stopped a would-be thief from getting away with her phone.
The incident took place Tuesday night as Williams describes in a lengthy Facebook post accompanied by a fitting photo of the star athlete dressed up as Supergirl. As the story goes, Williams was enjoying dinner with a few friends including fellow tennis star sister Venus Williams, when suddenly a suspicious man ran off with her phone.
“I was sitting enjoying some Chinese food (delicious may I add) and this guy stands next to me,” Williams posted. “It was only 2 of us sitting at a 4 person table just chatting like we have not seen each other in years. Anyways I digress, so this guy is standing next to me and something (I have now dubbed it my SUPERHERO sense) told me to watch him. My phone was sitting in the chair but I just didn’t feel right. He was there too long. ‘Is he a customer?’ I thought ‘Is he waiting on the bathroom?’ nonetheless I tried to shake his this eerie feeling. However, I kept watching him from the corner of my eye. Than when least expected low and behold this common petty thief grabbed my phone and swiftly left.”
It was then that Williams’ superhero instincts kicked in as she hunted the culprit down, utilizing her athletic training in the process.
“I jumped up, weaved my way in and out of the cozy restaurant (leaping over a chair or two) and chased him down,” she continued. “He began to run but I was too fast. (Those sprints came in handy) I was upon him in a flash!”
“In the most menacing yet calm no nonsense voice I could muster I kindly asked him if he “accidentally” took the wrong phone. He stumbled on his words probably not expecting this to happen. While he was thinking of the right thing to say and eventually he said “Gosh you know what I did! It was so confusing in there. I must have grabbed the wrong phone.”
The thief then quickly realized he had stolen from the wrong person and promptly returned the stolen property. As Williams returned to the restaurant, she received a hero’s welcome and a standing ovation. Williams ended her story wanting women to learn from her experience and to always stand up for what’s right.
“I just showed every man in there I can stand up to bully’s and other men. It was a win for the ladies! Just because you are a lady don’t be afraid to step up to any challenge and not be a victim but a hero!”
