In the latest cover story for NET-A-PORTER\u2019s digital title, PORTER<\/a>, the tennis star, 44, reflected on how difficult it was to have a different physique than other athletes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hard because when I was playing in the beginning \u2013 the first 15 years \u2013 my body was different,\u201d she told the outlet. \u201cI had big boobs; I had a big butt. Every athlete was like super flat, super thin and beautiful, but in a different way. And I didn\u2019t understand as an athlete how to deal with that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt does affect you mentally. Absolutely,\u201d she continued. \u201cYou think you\u2019re large for your whole life and you look [back] and you\u2019re like, I was fit. Yeah, I had big muscles. I didn\u2019t look like these other girls but not everyone looks the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve\/ PORTER \/ NET-A-PORTER.COM<\/p>\n Serena Williams wears ALA\u00cfA swimsuit and shoes, and BY PARIAH earrings. Photographed by Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve for PORTER, NET-A-PORTER.COM. All items can be purchased via the shoot at NET-A-PORTER.COM<\/p>\n The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now<\/a>!<\/p>\n Williams explained that the comparisons and criticism took such a toll on her body image that she ultimately decided not to read any comments about her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was 17, when I won the Open for the first time, I took a decision there. I was so young, but I said I\u2019m never going to read anything about me,\u201d she said. \u201cAt the Open, there was so much positivity, and I thought, I don\u2019t want my head to get too big. I wanted to stay humble. I also thought if it\u2019s negative, I don\u2019t want to read it. I never really read an article after that.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s one of the reasons why the 23-time Grand Slam champion is often praised for her resiliency, because she\u2019s been able to block out the noise.<\/p>\n \u201cGrowing up and being Black in tennis, it\u2019s just like, well, that comes with negativity\u2026 You have something mean to say, get in line. You got to go way back. It\u2019s going to take you a few days to get there. Join the crowd,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t hear the noise. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. How am I going to sit here and change someone\u2019s thought? If [you] don\u2019t like me, you don\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve\/ PORTER \/ NET-A-PORTER.COM<\/p>\n Serena Williams PORTER cover<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0<\/p>\n Williams said she\u2019s glad that things are starting to change and get better for the young Black tennis players who are at the top of their game today, like Coco Gauff<\/a> and Naomi Osaka<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s changed,\u201d she said. \u201cNo one\u2019s calling these girls the [things] I was called. People would say we were like men and all this other stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to let anyone bring me down,\u201d she continued. \u201cI put enough stress on myself. The last thing I\u2019m going to allow is someone else to do that. But I\u2019m so happy that girls nowadays don\u2019t have to go through it as much. I mean, I think internet trolls are different. So, you have that to deal with\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n To see the full interview with Serena Williams read PORTER at https:\/\/www.net-a-porter.com\/en-us\/porter\/article-511c5a2f78ecf782<\/a> and\/or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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