Serena Williams has voiced her disappointment and sadness after she was the subject of racist comments from former world number one player Illie Nastase.
Last week, Natase made comments about Williams' unborn child to media, asking if they would be "chocolate with milk".
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Williams said it showed that the world still has a long way to go when it comes to racism.
"It disappoints me to know we live in a society where people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and unborn child," she wrote.
Williams also referred to recent comments Nastase made about other tennis players, allegedly calling two players "f*****g b****es" in an outburst at a Fed Cup game in Constanta.
He was kicked out of the stadium following his tirade.
"I have said it before and I'll say it again, this world has come so far but yet we have so much further to go," Williams wrote.
She threw her full support behind an inquiry into the 70-year-old's conduct which has been launched by the International Tennis Federation.
She also quoted a passage from author Maya Angelou's poem 'And Still I Rise' in her post, saying "You may shoot me with your words... you may try to kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air, I rise."
"This or anything else will not stop me from pouring love, light and positivity into everything that I do. I will continue to take a lead and do what's right," Williams said.
Newshub.