Serena Williams addressed critics who claimed the tennis great has lost focus on the game she's dominated for years.

Following Saturday's devastating loss to Simona Halep in the Wimbledon final, Williams was asked about her supposed lack of focus on the game of tennis. The reporter cited a late June quote from tennis icon, WTA founder and International Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King.

Last month, King said the 37-year-old had a lot on her plate. She's a mother, tackling gender equality and has a wide variety of causes. King's advice for her is to just focus on tennis.

"I would like to see her put everything else aside from that," King said. 'She's got people working on these things."

According to Bleacher Report, the reporter exaggerated the quote. While King implied the 23-time Grand Slam winner should take it easy, she did not explicitly say stop fighting for equality. Williams, in fact, is part of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative.

I would never ask anyone to stop fighting for equality. In everything she does, Serena shines a light on what all of us must fight for in order to achieve equality for all.

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 13, 2019

"There have been a few comments in the last couple of weeks from people like Billie Jean King, that maybe you should stop being a celebrity for a year, and stop fighting for equality, and just focus on tennis," the reporter said. "How do you respond to that?"

Serena Williams doesn't plan to stop fighting for equality. pic.twitter.com/tjxCD7VofP

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2019

"The day I stop fighting for equality … will be the day I'm in my grave," Williams said in response.

The tennis star's statements come after a rousing essay published in Harper's Bazaar. She revealed her mental and physical struggles after the US Open loss to Naomi Osaka last year.

Billie-Jean-King

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