Serena Williams debuts new 'Queen' apparel in Queens

For Serena Williams, spending Monday afternoon on the grounds of the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, wasn't just about fashion. It was about inspiration.

"Whatever you do have fun," Serena said. "That is so important."

But she added that you should always be humble, no matter how far you get in life. She invoked a saying that humility is greatness.

Serena spoke to dozens of so-called young queens from tennis clubs across the city who were invited take part in the special event with their idol. Some participants said they were intimidated to be so close to her but also so inspired.

While Serena is considered one of the most dominant athletes of this generation, her passions aren't just on the court. Fashion and dance, specifically ballet, are among them. She incorporates both into her game.

"When I'm on the court, it's super important to have the highest fashion trend to always kind of set the trend," she said. "And that's kind of how it has been since I started tennis."

More than 20 years after turning pro, Serena's fashion game is only getting stronger. This year, she partnered with Nike and fashion designer Virgil Abloh for the Serena Williams "Queen" Collection.

"Tennis is such a fun sport. You can go out there and just look amazing and play great," Serena said. "You can wear a skirt or pants or whatever you want to wear and you could still look amazing."

Serena will be wearing her Queen Collection in Queens this month at the U.S. Open, where she looks to tie Margaret Court's record with her 24th grand slam title.