Serena Williams gives Caitlin Clark a high grade for how she is handling the onslaught of publicity.

Williams, 42, spoke to reporters at the Tribeca Festival, where her docuseries “In the Arena: Serena Williams” premiered earlier this week, and was asked what advice she’d have for Clark.

“I just love that she tries to stay grounded. She said that she doesn’t look at her social [media],” Williams said.

“I get it. I don’t look at it either. It’s so important to continue to do what she’s doing. No matter what other people do, if people are negative, it’s because they can’t do what you do, basically. Hopefully she’ll continue to do what she’s doing.”
Serena Williams praised Caitlin Clark for how she is handling all the noise in her rookie WNBA season.Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

Prior to getting asked about Clark, Williams recalled getting a torrent of negative attention when she was a young rising star.

“I was bullied,” Williams said, clarifying that she detailed it in her book but it wasn’t heavily covered in the documentary.

“Things that I had to go through, now people would be canceled for saying [what they did] back then.”