Serena Williams Stuns In New York Magazine Photoshoot, Opens Up About 'Built Like A Man' Trolls And Sexism In Tennis | HuffPost Life

Serena Williams Shows 'Built Like A Man' Trolls What Femininity Really Is

Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK

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There's no denying Serena Williams is a bad-ass. But when it comes to dealing with sexism in the sport that she's dominated for years, she's badder still.

In an interview with The Cut, Williams opens up about sexism in the sports industry, particularly after being labelled as "masculine" and having to endure harsher rules than her male counterparts.

The interview details how, in 2009, tough-talking Williams told a lineswoman, "I’ll fucking take this ball and shove it down your fucking throat", after she was called out for a foot fault.

The incident left Williams with a mammoth $82,500 (£52,945) fine, which the tennis star says would've gained far less attention and criticism if a male tennis player had done the same.

"I just think it was weird," she told The Cut. "I just really thought that was strange. You have people who made a career out of yelling at line judges. And a woman does it, and it’s like a big problem. But you know, hey."

In the photoshoot which features alongside an interview with New York magazine, Williams - who has been on the receiving end of numerous body-shaming comments throughout her career - has the last laugh.

Showing off the toned physique which has helped her win five Wimbledon championships and four Olympic gold medals, Williams is pictured doing the splits and looking incredibly powerful in the process.

In another photograph, she is seen posing with her arms above her head in a body-con, black gown which shows off her feminine physique.

We reckon the troll who said Williams was "built like a man" earlier this year must be kicking himself right now.

SEE ALSO:
When We Attack Serena Williams' Body, It's Really About Her Blackness
Women's World Cup 2015: 'Sexist' Profile On FIFA's Website Focuses On Alex Morgan's 'Good Looks' Before Mentioning Her Football Skills

Serena Williams wins 2015 Wimbledon ladies final

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Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States makes a return to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain watches the ball, during the women's singles final against Serena Williams of the United States at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain makes a return to Serena Williams of the United States during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States reacts after a point, during the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States wipes her face, during the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain pauses between points during the women's singles final against Serena Williams of the United States at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain returns the ball to Serena Williams of the United States during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain returns a shot to Serena Williams of the United States during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain pauses in between points during the women's singles final against Serena Williams of the United States at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain returns a shot to Serena Williams of the United States during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States serves to Garbine Muguruza of Spain, during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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US player Serena Williams celebrates beating Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the women's singles final on day twelve of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2015. Williams won 6-4, 6-4. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -- AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LEON NEAL via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States reacts in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Julian Finney via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Garbine Muguruza of Spain looks dejected in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Serena Williams of the United States during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Julian Finney via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Garbine Muguruza of Spain plays forehand in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Serena Williams of the United States during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Julian Finney via Getty Images)

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Spain's Garbine Muguruza reacts after a point against US player Serena Williams during the women's singles final on day twelve of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2015. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -- AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)

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Spain's Garbine Muguruza reacts after a point against US player Serena Williams during the women's singles final on day twelve of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2015. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -- AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LEON NEAL via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Garbine Muguruza of Spain serves in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Serena Williams of the United States during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Julian Finney via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Garbine Muguruza of Spain plays a forehand in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Serena Williams of the United States during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Shaun Botterill via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States reacts in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Shaun Botterill via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States plays a forehand in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Julian Finney via Getty Images)

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Serena Williams reacts during her match against Garbine Muguruza in the ladies singles final on day Twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:Adam Davy/PA Wire)

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Serena Williams in action during her match against Garbine Muguruza in the ladies singles final on day Twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

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Anna Wintour and Shelby Bryan with the family of Serena Williams, mum Oracene Price in the players box for the Ladies' Singles Final during day Twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:Sean Dempsey/POOL/PA Wire)

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Garbine Muguruza of Spain returns a shot to Serena Williams of the United States during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain, during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

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