Serena Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an exceptional American tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. As per the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), she maintained the top spot in the rankings for almost seven years, equaled the record of 15 years at the summit, and clinched the No. 1 spot five times.
Early Life
Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Richard and Oracene Williams. She grew up in Compton, California, with her older sister Venus Williams.
At a young age, Serena showed a natural talent for tennis, hitting tennis balls against the wall of their house with Venus. When she was nine years old, the family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, so Serena and Venus could receive coaching from Rick Macci, a well-respected tennis coach.
Macci saw potential in the young girls and offered them additional training, which made their father, Richard, decided to move the family to Florida permanently. However, Richard was determined that his daughters should not neglect their education, and he limited their participation in junior tennis tournaments.
Richard was also conscious of the racism his daughters would face in the sport and was concerned about how they were spoken of due to their mannerisms. He wanted to ensure that they were prepared for any challenges that they might face in the future.
In ninth grade, Richard coached Serena and Venus at home, with the girls practicing for up to six hours daily. Despite their difficulties, Serena and Venus remained dedicated to their goals, and their hard work paid off when they became two of the most successful tennis players in history.
Career
Over the years, Serena continued to dominate the tennis world, earning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, just one shy of the record held by Margaret Court. She also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Serena has won the Wimbledon singles title seven times, the Australian Open singles title seven times, the US Open singles title six times, and the French Open singles title three times.
Serena has also won numerous other titles and awards throughout her career, including four Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles and one in women’s singles. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on eight occasions, the first time in July 2002 and the most recently in January 2017. In addition, Serena has won the WTA Tour Championships three times.
Despite several setbacks, including injuries and health issues, Serena has remained one of tennis’s most dominant and influential players. She has used her platform to advocate for various causes, including women’s rights, racial justice, and equal pay. Serena’s impact on tennis and sports, in general, cannot be overstated, and she will always be remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Personal Life
Beyond the world of tennis, Serena has pursued several opportunities following her rise to fame. She launched her fashion brand, Aneres, and has been featured on numerous magazine covers and television programs. Serena also penned her autobiography, On the Line, published in 2009.
Serena is currently married to Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, and the couple has a daughter together. They have expressed their desire to expand their family soon.
Award & Nomination
- 1998: WTA Newcomer Of The Year
- 1999: WTA Most Improved Player Of The Year
- 2000: WTA Doubles Team Of The Year
- 2002: Associated Press Female Athlete Of The Year
- 2002: WTA Player Of The Year
- 2002: ITF Women’s Singles World Champion
- 2003: Laureus World Sportswoman Of The Year
- 2004: WTA Comeback Player Of The Year
- 2007: Laureus World Comeback Of The Year
- 2008: WTA Player Of The Year
- 2009: AP Female Athlete Of The Year Award
- 2009: ITF Women’s Singles World Champion
- 2009: ITF Women’s Doubles World Champion
- 2009: WTA Player Of The Year
- 2009: WTA Doubles Team Of The Year
- 2010: Teen Choice Awards – Female Athlete Award
- 2012: WTA Player Of The Year
- 2012: ITF Women’s Singles World Champion
- 2012: United States Sports Academy Female Athletes Of The Year Award.
Social Media
- Instagram: serenawilliams
- Twitter: serenawilliams
- Facebook: Serena Williams
Net Worth
Over the years, Serena has accumulated an impressive fortune, with her career earnings totaling $250 million.