Just two days before the 2017 Australian Open, Serena Williams rang her husband Alexis Ohanian to immediately fly out to Melbourne.

What was waiting on the other side? Six positive pregnancy tests inside a paper bag. With her head determined to swat every opponent out competing for the next eight weeks, her body was seemingly divorced. As Serena would put it, it had “already switched allegiances.” Suddenly, winning was no longer a need; it was a desire. Success, titles, and the checks that come with it were no longer the only reason for waking up in the morning.

Serena won the singles title at the 2017 Australian Open winning the first seven matches, all in straight sets, leading up to the finals. And it came with a hoard of new experiences in her body that she wasn’t accustomed to. Up until this point, she knew of knee busts, ankle rolls, playing with a taped-up Achilles heel, and spasms. But this — metallic taste in the mouth, incomprehensible reasons for “strange” fatigue between points — was going to shift the stakes of the game for Serena forever.

READ: Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian faces shocking health struggles

Seven years have passed since, and seldom do athletes get into a sedentary lifestyle even after retirement. And that’s exactly what happened to her. “The more that I don’t play sports professionally, the more that I think, ‘Okay, this is what I’ve done for literally my entire life, and how do I optimize and keep it up?’”

And there’s another reason. She has two young children: Olympia, 7, and Adira, 1. Setting a good example is one, but staying fit for her kids was a priority for her naturally. And though there may have been a time she thought she was a super-human, she knows that isn’t the case. Add to this the fact that she has suffered through knee injuries, pulmonary embolism, shoulder issues, etc. throughout her tennis career, one can relate to her thought process. In a new interview with PEOPLE (Thursday), it was a show of humility on the part of Serena and that her life in a day is just as similar as the next person,

“Athletes and musicians, I feel like sometimes we think that we’re untouchable and that’s just not true. I literally don’t think of myself any different than anyone else. And I love to try to post relatable content. And I’m not doing it on purpose, it’s just who I am.

“I have the same struggles trying to fit in these darn skirts and I want to follow my health levels too. And I just think it’s so cool for people to see that, especially for me growing up in Compton.

“It’s just like if there’s anyone else watching, know that. Knowing that I’m not any different from you. I’m literally the same. And probably, if anything, you’re probably smarter and better than I am. And that’s kind of what I always like to preach or show,” Serena said, showing her humble side. Yes, this is despite her $300 million net worth.

Over the years, Williams has garnered a huge sum in prize money and sponsorships. Additionally, her business ventures have been flourishing and her net worth has surged. And while Williams is also the undisputed GOAT of women’s tennis, winning 23 Grand Slam titles over her illustrious career, her fellow players have always been amazed by her humble nature. Canadian star Bianca Andreescu once made a candid revelation about Serena’s nature.

When Bianca Andreescu was impressed by Serena Williams’ humble gesture

Back in 2019, Andreescu won her only Grand Slam title when she defeated Serena Williams in the summit clash of the US Open. It was one of the tournament’s major upsets, as all the odds were pinned in favor of Williams. However, Andreescu produced a stunning display to defeat the American legend in straight sets, 6-3 7-5. Despite Williams falling in the final hurdle, she made a wonderful gesture toward Andreescu.

Speaking about the encounter, Andreescu once said, “She’s a very nice person. After the final at the US Open, she came up to me in the locker room and she said really nice things about me, and I said really nice things about her as well… even though she’s heard it so many times. But yeah. It was a nice encounter.”

This was just one of the many examples where Williams’ humble nature came to the fore. While her exploits on the court are no secret, Serena Williams is a legend in the true sense with her down-to-earth nature impressing many. That being said, she also knows who she is and does not underestimate herself.

In 2017, she stated, “I try to be so humble that I forget I have accomplished so much,” she said, explaining that hard work was key to her success.”