Surveillance video captured the moment a foolish thief tried to steal Serena Williams' cell phone and was caught when the tennis ace sprinted after him.

Williams shared the story of her superhero move on Facebook Wednesday, saying she was out to dinner with a friend when a man came over and stood silently next to her at the table.

Now, video taken from inside and outside the San Francisco restaurant - where Williams was dining with a male friend who appeared to be Reddit founder Alexis Ohanion - shows just what happened next when the athlete turned vigilante sprung into action after the man snatched her phone.

On the run: Video caught the moment Serena Williams was out to dinner on Tuesday in San Francisco when a man tried to steal her cell phone

Cute: Williams appeared to be on a date with her new boyfriend at the time, Reddit found Alexis Ohanion (above)

Empowering: Williams posted a message to her fans on Wednesday about her feat, calling herself a superhero

'Not thinking I reacted (hence the superwoman photo) I jumped up, weaved my way in and out of the cozy restaurant (leaping over a chair or two) and chased him down,' wrote Williams on Facebook Wednesday.

'He began to run but I was too fast. (Those sprints came in handy) I was upon him in a flash!'

The video, which was obtained by ABC News, shows that is indeed just what happened, as Willaims appears to effortlessly make her way through the crowd and is able to quickly catch up with the unidentified man.

And despite being the victim, Williams tried to give the idiot thief the benefit of the doubt.

'I kindly asked him if he "accidentally" took the wrong phone,' said Williams.

'He stumbled on his words probably not expecting this to happen. While he was thinking of the right thing to say and eventually he said "Gosh you know what I did! It was so confusing in there. I must have grabbed the wrong phone."'

Williams, 34, said she then thanked the man, took her phone and returned to her dinner.

Playing it cool: Williams gave the man the benefit of the doubt and asked if her just mistakenly took her phone (above)

New man: Ohanion (above) and Williams were first reported to be dating last month

Greatest of all time: Williams (above in action at the US Open this year) has been taking some much needed time off but will return to tennis next January starting with the Hopman Cup in Perth

Now, she is encouraging every woman to realize she too is a superhero.

'Superhero? Maybe? Or HELL YEA!! I've got the speed the jumps, the power, the body, the seduction, the sex appeal, the strength, the leadership and yet the calm to weather the storm,' wrote Serena on Wednesday.

Busy: Williams recently edited a special issue of WIRED

'Always listen to your superhero inner voice. Always keep your things close! Fight for what's right. Stand for what you believe in! Be a superhero!

'When I got back into the restaurant I received a standing ovation. I was proud. I just showed every man in there I can stand up to bully's and other men. It was a win for the ladies!'

She closed by saying; 'Just because you are a lady don't be afraid to step up to any challenge and not be a victim but a hero!'

Williams - who has currently been the top-ranked women's tennis player in the world for an astonishing 142 consecutive weeks - is enjoying some much needed downtime after capturing three Grand Slam titles this year.

She is expected to return early next year in time for the Australian Open and once again go after a calendar-year Grand Slam.

Williams announced on Twitter Tuesday she will kick off the year at the Hopman Cup, which starts on January 3 in Perth.

And now that the athlete is not wowing the public with her moves on the court, talk has been turning to her personal life.

After months of rumors that she was dating Canadian crooner Drake, it was reported in October that Williams was getting close with Ohanian.

She has also kept busy working on her popular HSN fashion line and editing a special issue of WIRED.

Williams wrote in that issue; 'I'm a black woman, and I am in a sport that wasn't really meant for black people. 'I want young people to look at the trailblazers that we have assembled [in this issue] and be inspired.'