ABSTRACT
As an unranked African American tennis player, Williams's dedication on the courts soon became a media sensation as she began beating top-ranked players in a white-dominated sport. She was instantly positioned as a 'deserved benefactor' as mediated narratives focused on her unconventional training on the dilapidated courts of Compton, California. This nascent representation of Williams 'succeeding' despite an impoverished background can clearly be understood in terms of the specific mechanics of star construction, most notably through the currency of the success myth which suggests that 'American society is sufficiently open for anyone to get to the top, regardless ofrank' (Dyer, 1998: 42). According to the mythology here, Williams has been blessed with natural talent and 'specialness' and it is these essential qualities that enable her to succeed in America where individual merit is rewarded regardless of class, race or gender background.
