Venus Williams
This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. |
Country (sports) | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Residence | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Lynwood, California, U.S.[1] | June 17, 1980|||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | October 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
College | Indiana University East (BSBA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Coach | Hugo Armando (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Prize money | US $42,648,697 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 818–276 (74.8%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | Fed Cup W (1999), record 21–4 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hopman Cup | RR (2013) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated on: October 23, 2023. |
Venus Ebony Starr Williams
Early life
Williams was born in Lynwood, California, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price.[16] Her talents were apparent at the age of seven when a professional local tennis player named Tony Chesta spotted Williams and quickly identified her potential in the sport.[17]
The Williams family moved from Compton, California, to West Palm Beach, Florida, when she was thirteen, so that she and her sister Serena could attend the tennis academy of Rick Macci, who took notice of the sisters and who would provide additional coaching. He did not always agree with Williams' father but respected that "he treated his daughters like kids, allowed them to be little girls".[18] Richard stopped sending his daughters to national junior tennis tournaments when Williams was eleven, since he wanted them to take it slowly and focus on schoolwork. Another motivation was racial, as he had allegedly heard parents of other players disparage the Williams sisters during tournaments. At that time, Williams held a 63–0 record on the United States Tennis Association junior tour and was ranked No. 1 among the under-12 players in Southern California.[19] In 1995, Richard pulled his daughters out of Macci's academy, and from then on took over all coaching at their home.[citation needed]
Playing style
Williams is an aggressive player, with an all-court game. Due to her assertive playing style, she typically accumulates large numbers of both winners and unforced errors. She possesses powerful groundstrokes on both sides, and is capable of hitting both her forehand and backhand flat, and with topspin. She is also adept at hitting her backhand with slice to slow down rallies and disrupt pace within rallies. Her serve is powerful, allowing her to serve numerous aces in any match. At the peak of her career, her first serve would average 182 km/h (113 mph), and would frequently peak at 199 km/h (124 mph); her serve has slowed since then, averaging 172 km/h (107 mph), and peaking at 189 km/h (117 mph). She possesses effective kick and slice serves, which she deploys as second serves, preventing opponents from scoring free points. Up to 2014, she held the record for the fastest serve on the WTA Tour, recorded at the 2007 US Open, at 208 km/h (129 mph). She likes to approach the net, and finish points quickly. Her height, at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), provides her with a long arm span, allowing her to reach difficult returns while positioned at the net. She has a repertoire of shots to perform at the net, which leads to many won points.[20]
Due to her all-court game, Williams can hit winners from any position. An exceptional tactical player with remarkable problem-solving skills, she also plays with sheer power and aggression. She relies on defense infrequently, rarely hitting drop shots and lobs, as her exceptional speed and court coverage allow her to hit with assertive power and strength from frequently defensive positions. Further strengths include her detailed and intricate footwork, and supreme athleticism.[21]
Professional career
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1994–96: Professional Career
Williams turned professional on October 31, 1994, at the age of 14.
In 1995, Williams played three more events as a wildcard, falling in the first round of the tournaments in
1997: Debut Grand Slam singles final
Williams played 15 tour events in 1997, including five
1998: First WTA singles title, entering the top 10 and first Grand Slam doubles titles
In her debut at the Australian Open, Williams defeated younger sister Serena Williams in the second round, which was the sisters' first professional meeting. Williams eventually lost in the quarterfinals to No. 3 Davenport.
Three weeks later, Williams defeated No. 2 Davenport for the first time in the semifinals of the
Williams played only one tournament on
Williams played three tournaments during the North American 1998 summer hardcourt season. She reached her fifth final of the year at the
Williams played four tournaments in the remainder of 1998. She won her third title of the year at the
In 1998, Williams teamed with Justin Gimelstob to win the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and the French Open. Her sister Serena Williams won the other two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles that year, completing a "Williams Family Mixed Doubles Grand Slam". Williams won the first two women's doubles titles of her career, in Oklahoma City and Zürich. Both titles came with her sister, becoming only the third pair of sisters to win a WTA tour doubles title.[24]
1999: Three Tier I titles
Williams started the 1999 tour in Australia, where she lost to No. 10 Steffi Graf in the quarterfinals of the Sydney International and No. 1 Davenport in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. However, she rebounded at the Faber Grand Prix in Hanover, defeating Graf for the first time in the semifinals before losing the final to No. 3 Novotná. Williams then successfully defended her titles in both Oklahoma City and Key Biscayne. She defeated Novotná and Graf to reach the final in Key Biscayne, where she defeated her sister in three sets in the first final on the WTA Tour to be contested by two sisters.
Williams played four clay court events during the spring. She lost her first match at the
At Wimbledon, Williams defeated No. 17 Anna Kournikova in the fourth round to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, where she lost to eventual runner-up Graf.
Williams rebounded in the summer when she won two
During the remainder of the year, Williams contributed to the victory of the
2000: Olympic gold medals and 1st & 2nd major titles
In 2000, Williams missed the first five months of the year with
Williams then won 35 consecutive singles matches and six tournaments. She won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, defeating No. 1, Martina Hingis, in the quarterfinals, sister Serena in the semifinal and defending champion, Lindsay Davenport, in the final. She also teamed with her sister Serena to win the women's doubles title at this event.
She won three Tier II events during the North American summer hardcourt season, defeating Davenport in the final of the Silicon Valley Classic in Stanford and Monica Seles in the finals of both the San Diego Classic in and the
At the
2001: 3rd & 4th major titles
In 2001, Williams reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time, where she lost to No. 1 Hingis. However, Williams teamed with her sister to win the doubles title at the event, completing a Career Golden Slam in women's doubles for the pair.
Williams also reached the semifinals of the Tier I
During the European clay-court season, Williams won the Tier II tournament in Hamburg but lost in the third round of the Tier I
During the North American summer hardcourt season, Williams won for the second consecutive year the tournaments in San Diego, defeating Seles in the final, and in New Haven, defeating Davenport in the final. Williams also won the
2002: World No. 1 ranking
Williams began 2002 by winning the
Williams failed to defend her title in Miami, after losing in the semifinals to her sister Serena. However, she made a strong start to the clay-court season, winning the Amelia Island Championships, defeating Henin in the final. A week after winning that tournament, she once again replaced Capriati as the No. 1, before losing it again to Capriati after three weeks. During those three weeks, Williams had made the final in Hamburg, defeating Hingis in the semifinals, before losing to Clijsters in the final. Seeded second at the French Open, Williams defeated former champion Seles to reach the semifinals for the first time. There, she defeated Clarisa Fernández. In the final, Williams met her sister Serena for a second time in a Grand Slam final, with her sister winning. Williams once again replaced Capriati as the No. 1 as a result of reaching the final.
As the top seed at Wimbledon, Williams defeated Henin in the semifinals to make the final for the third consecutive year. However, there, she lost to her sister Serena. This result meant Serena Williams replaced Venus as the No. 1. The Williams sisters teamed up to win the women's doubles title at the event, their fifth major women's doubles title together.
Williams won the titles in San Diego and New Haven for the third consecutive year, defeating Davenport and Dokic to win the former and defeating Davenport in the final of the latter. At the US Open, Williams defeated Seles in the quarterfinals and Amélie Mauresmo in three sets to make the final. Playing her younger sister Serena for their third consecutive Grand Slam final, her sister won once again. After that, Williams played just four more matches during the season. She reached the semifinals at the year-ending Tour Championships after defeating Seles in the quarterfinals, but she then was forced to retire against Clijsters due to injury. Williams finished the year ranked No. 2 having won seven titles, her best showing in both respects of her career.
2003: Australian Open & Wimbledon finals, injuries
Williams started 2003 by defeating fifth seed Justine Henin to make the final of the Australian Open for the first time. In the final, however, she lost to her sister Serena. This marked the first time in the open era that the same two players had met in four consecutive Grand Slam finals. Venus and Serena Williams teamed to win the women's doubles title at the event, their sixth Grand Slam title in women's doubles.
In February, Williams won the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp for the second consecutive year, defeating Kim Clijsters in the final. However, shortly afterwards, she began to struggle with injury. She reached the final of the clay-court
At Wimbledon, Williams was seeded fourth. Williams defeated former champion Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals and Kim Clijsters in the semifinals to advance to her fourth consecutive Wimbledon final, where she lost again to sister Serena.
Wimbledon was Williams's last event of the year as an abdominal injury that occurred during the Clijsters match prevented her from playing again. While she was recovering from the injury, her sister
2004: Tough losses and further injuries
In 2004, Williams came back to the tour suffering inconsistent results. As the third seed because of a protected ranking, she reached the third round of the Australian Open, where she lost to Lisa Raymond. She then lost in the quarterfinals of her next three tournaments.
Williams began to find her form at the beginning of the clay-court season. At the Tier I
In Wimbledon, Williams lost a controversial second-round match to Croatian Karolina Šprem. The umpire of the match, Ted Watts, awarded Šprem an unearned point in the second-set tiebreak. Upon the conclusion of the match, he was relieved of his duties.[28] This defeat marked the first time since 1997 that Williams had exited Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals. After Wimbledon, she reached her fourth final of the year at the Stanford Classic in California, where she was beaten by Lindsay Davenport for the first time since 2000.
As the defending champion at the Athens Olympics, Williams lost in the third round to Mary Pierce. She then won three very close matches against Petra Mandula, Shikha Uberoi and Chanda Rubin to make the fourth round of the US Open where she lost to Davenport, the first time she had ever lost at the US Open prior to the semifinals. Williams completed the year by losing in the quarterfinals of three indoor tournaments in the fall, a period that included defeat in her first meeting with 17-year-old Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova at the Zurich Open. Williams finished the year as No. 9 and did not qualify for the year-ending WTA Tour Championships.
2005: Third Wimbledon title
In 2005, Williams started the year by losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open to Alicia Molik. She then reached the final in Antwerp, defeating Clijsters and Myskina en route. In the final, Williams was a set and a service break up against Mauresmo before eventually losing.
In March, at the
Williams was seeded 14th for the Wimbledon Championships. In the quarterfinals of the tournament, she defeated French Open runner-up Pierce in a second-set tiebreak, winning it 12–10 to make the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in two years. There, she defeated defending champion and second-seeded Sharapova to make the Wimbledon final for the fifth time in six years. Playing top-seeded Davenport in the final, Williams saved a match point with a backhand winner en route to winning. This was her third Wimbledon singles title, her fifth Grand Slam singles title overall and her first since 2001. It was the first time in 70 years that a player had won after being down match point during the women's final at Wimbledon.[citation needed] In addition, Williams was the lowest-ranked (No. 16) and lowest-seeded (14th) champion in tournament history.[citation needed] Following the victory she returned to the top 10.
Williams reached her fourth final of the year in Stanford, where she lost to Clijsters. At the US Open, Williams achieved her second consecutive win over sister Serena in the fourth round, but then lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Kim Clijsters. Williams did not qualify for the year-ending Tour Championships because of an injury sustained during the China Open. She finished the year ranked No. 10. It was the first year since 2001 that she had finished a year ranked higher than her sister Serena Williams.
2006: Wrist injury and drop in the rankings
In 2006, Williams was upset in the first round of the Australian Open by Tsvetana Pironkova, which was her earliest loss ever at that tournament. After that loss, she did not play again for three months due to a wrist injury. She returned in late April on clay in Warsaw, where she defeated former No. 1 Hingis in the second round, before losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals. Williams completed the clay-court season by reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open, where she lost to Nicole Vaidišová.
Williams was the defending champion and one of the favorites to win the singles title at
2007: Fourth Wimbledon title
Williams withdrew from the
At the beginning of the clay-court season, Williams reached the semifinals of the Tier I Charleston Open, where she lost to Janković on a third set tiebreak. She also lost to fourth seed Janković in the third round of the French Open, her third consecutive loss to Janković. During her second round win over Ashley Harkleroad, Williams hit a 206 km/h (128 mph) serve, which was the second fastest woman's serve ever recorded and the fastest ever recorded during a main draw match at the time.
Williams was ranked No. 31 going into Wimbledon and was seeded 23rd at the tournament due to her previous results at Wimbledon. Williams was a game away from defeat in her first round match against Alla Kudryavtseva and in her third round match against Akiko Morigami she was two points away from defeat, but she eventually won both 7–5 in the third set. She then advanced to reach her sixth Wimbledon final, after beating Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic in straight sets en route, where she defeated 18th seed Marion Bartoli also in straight sets. Williams thus became only the fourth woman in the open era to win Wimbledon at least four times, along with Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf. She also became the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history, breaking the record she herself set in 2005. Williams returned to the top 20 as a result of the win.[29]
At the
2008: Fifth Wimbledon title, and Olympic gold in doubles
In 2008, as the eighth seed at the Australian Open, Williams reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. However, she then lost to eventual runner-up
Williams missed two tournaments at the beginning of the clay-court season due to undisclosed medical problems.[32] At the French Open, Williams was seeded eighth but was eliminated by 26th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta in the third round.
Williams was the defending champion and seventh-seeded player at Wimbledon. Without dropping a set, she reached her seventh Wimbledon singles final. She then won her fifth Wimbledon singles title, and seventh Grand Slam singles title overall, by beating sister Serena in straight sets. This was the first time since 2003 that Venus and Serena Williams had played each other in a Grand Slam final and was the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final. Venus and Serena Williams then teamed to win the women's doubles title, their first Grand Slam doubles title together since 2003.
Williams lost in the quarterfinals of the
At the
2009: Four consecutive major doubles titles
As the sixth seed at the 2009 Australian Open, Williams lost in the second round to Carla Suárez Navarro, after holding a match point in the third set. However, she teamed up with her sister Serena to win the women's doubles title at the event, their eighth Grand Slam doubles title together. Williams rebounded in singles play in February at the Premier 5 (formerly Tier I) Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating defending champion and No. 4 Dementieva in the quarterfinals and No. 1 Serena Williams in the semifinals on a third set tiebreak. The latter win meant that Williams led the head-to-head in career matches with her sister for the first time since 2002. Williams went on to defeat Virginie Razzano in the final. This win meant Williams was ranked in the top five for the first time since 2003, while it also marked her 40th professional singles title, only the twelfth player in the Open era to achieve the feat.[33] Williams won another title the following week at the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco defeating Pennetta in the final. This was her first title on clay since 2005.
On European clay, Williams reached the semifinals in Rome before losing to No. 1 Safina. This run meant Williams was ranked in the top three for the first time since 2003. Seeded third at the French Open, Williams lost to Ágnes Szávay in the third round, the third consecutive year she had exited at that stage.[34]
Williams was seeded third at Wimbledon. She advanced to her eighth Wimbledon final, at which point she had won 34 straight sets (held since Wimbledon 2007). In the final, however, she lost the first set tie-break, and from then on lost in two sets to sister Serena. The Williams sisters teamed up to win the doubles tournament for the fourth time.
In
At the US Open, as the third seed, Williams made it to the fourth round, before losing to Kim Clijsters in three sets. Williams then teamed up with Serena Williams to play doubles at the open, where they won the title over defending champions and No. 1s in doubles, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, claiming their third major doubles title in 2009.
Williams's last tournament in 2009 was the year-ending Tour Championships, where she was the defending champion in singles. She was in the maroon group which includes her sister Serena Williams, along with Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova. She lost her first match against Dementieva, and her second match against her sister Serena- both in straight sets, after taking the first set. In her third and final round-robin match, Williams defeated Kuznetsova. Because of Dementieva's loss to Kuznetsova in their round robin match, Williams advanced to the semifinal of the championships. In her semifinal match, she defeated Jelena Janković of Serbia to advance to her second consecutive final in the tournament which she lost to her sister Serena. In doubles, Williams teamed with her sister as the second seeds. However, they lost to Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez in the semifinal. Their doubles record at the end of the year stood at 24–2.
Williams finished 2009 ranked No. 6 in singles (with a winning percentage of 70 percent) and No. 3 in doubles with Serena Williams, in spite of them playing only six events together that year.
2010: No. 2 in singles and No. 1 doubles
Williams played at the Australian Open as the sixth seed. She defeated 17th-seeded Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round. She was two points from defeating 16th-seeded Li Na in the quarterfinals before losing in three sets. In doubles, she teamed with her sister Serena to successfully defend their title, defeating the top-ranked team of Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the final. She went onto the clay courts at the Mexican Open in Acapulco, where she was the defending champion. She reached the semifinals after recovering from a 1–5 third set deficit to Laura Pous Tió in the quarterfinals. In the final, she defeated first-time finalist Polona Hercog from Slovenia. This was her 43rd career title, the most among active female players.
Her next tournament was the Premier Mandatory Miami Open in Key Biscayne, where she was seeded third. She defeated No. 9, Agnieszka Radwańska, in the quarterfinals and No. 13, Marion Bartoli, in the semifinals to reach her third straight WTA Tour final and fourth Miami Open final. She was defeated by Kim Clijsters in the final in just 58 minutes, ending her 15-match winning streak. By reaching the final, her ranking improved to No. 4 and she crossed the $26 million mark in career prize money, the only player besides Serena Williams to do so.
The knee injury that hampered her during the final of the Miami Open forced her to skip the
Her next tournament was the Madrid Open, a Premier Mandatory tournament. She lost to Aravane Rezaï in the final. In doubles, she teamed with her sister Serena to win the title.
On May 17, her ranking improved to No. 2, behind only Serena. This was the fourth time that the Williams sisters have occupied the top two spots, and the first time since May 2003.
Her next tournament was the French Open, where she played both singles and doubles despite her knee injury. Seeded second in singles, she advanced past the third round at this tournament for the first time since 2006 before losing to Nadia Petrova in the round of 16. She also played doubles with Serena as the top seeds. Their defeat of Huber and Anabel Medina Garrigues in the semifinals increased their doubles ranking to No. 1. They then defeated 12th seeded Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik in the final to win their fourth consecutive Grand Slam women's doubles title. By virtue of reaching the No. 1-ranking in doubles on June 7, 2010, Venus and Serena became just the sixth and seventh women to reach the No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles following in the footsteps of Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, and Kim Clijsters.
Her next tournament was the Wimbledon Championships, where she had reached the final the previous three years. Despite her knee injury, she made it to the quarterfinals, where she lost to Tsvetana Pironkova. Pironkova was ranked No. 82 and had never gone past the second round of a Grand Slam event. As a result, Williams dropped to No. 4. She was the defending champion in doubles with her sister Serena, having won the tournament in the previous two years. However, they lost this time in the quarterfinals to Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva.
Williams then missed all tournaments in the US Open Series because of a left knee injury but still participated at the US Open as the third seed. She won three matches to move into the fourth round. Williams became one of only two women in 2010 (along with Caroline Wozniacki) to reach at least the fourth round at all four Grand Slam singles tournaments. Williams then defeated Pe'er and French Open champion Schiavone en route to her eighth US Open semifinal, against defending champion Clijsters. Williams won the first set of their match and recovered from 5–2 down in the second set but ultimately double-faulted on a key point near the end of the match and lost in three sets. Because of Serena's withdrawal from the US Open, Venus did not participate at the doubles event, where she was the defending champion.
The recovery of her left knee took longer than expected and it forced her to miss the rest of 2010, including the year-ending WTA Championships and Fed Cup final.[35] Williams ended the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002, while playing only nine tournaments. She finished the year ranked 11th in doubles.
2011: Sjögren syndrome diagnosis
Williams began the year at the final edition of
Williams then made her first appearance since the Australian Open in
Originally scheduled to participate in the 2011 Rogers Cup in Toronto and the 2011 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Williams withdrew due to viral illness.[38] Her next scheduled tournament was the US Open.[39] Unseeded at the US Open, Williams defeated Vesna Dolonc in the first round. She was scheduled to meet 22nd seed Sabine Lisicki in the second round, but withdrew before the match began after being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome, an autoimmune disease which causes fatigue and muscle and joint pain.[40][41] This was the first time in her career that she did not reach the quarterfinals or better in any of the Grand Slam tournaments in a season. As a result, her ranking dropped to one-hundred and five.
Williams did not play for the rest of the year at a competitive level; she appeared in three exhibitions tournaments in November and early December. She played against sister Serena in Colombia, which she won in straight sets.[42] The week later, the sisters appeared in Milan, Italy to play exhibition against Italian duo Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta. Williams lost both her singles tie-break matches but won the doubles pairing with her sister.[43] Williams played her third exhibition tournament in Barbados where she lost to Victoria Azarenka. She ended the year ranked No. 102. This was her first year-end finish ranked outside of the top 50 since 1997.
2012: Comeback and Olympic gold record
Williams was scheduled to play in Auckland in preparation for the Australian Open.[44] but withdrew from both tournaments due to health problems, announcing that she would return to the WTA tour in February.[45] This dropped her ranking to No. 135. In February, Williams returned to competition in the doubles match of the Fed Cup World Group II tie between USA and Belarus.[46] Playing with Liezel Huber, she won the dead-rubber in straight sets.
Williams was granted wildcards to participate in the
Williams was granted wildcards to participate in Madrid and Rome. In Madrid, she lost in the second round to Angelique Kerber, but still improved her ranking to No. 63. A week later in Rome, she reached her third quarterfinal of the four tournaments she had participated in with a straight-sets victory against Samantha Stosur in the third round. She lost in the quarterfinals, in straight sets, to the No. 2, defending and eventual champion, Maria Sharapova.[49] Her appearance in Rome increased her ranking to No. 52, placing her as the third-ranked American. She lost in the second round of the French Open to Agnieszka Radwańska, in straight sets.
At
Williams's next stop was the 2012 London Olympics which was held at the All England Club, Wimbledon. She entered the women's singles and women's doubles events, partnering with sister Serena in doubles. In singles, Williams defeated Sara Errani and Aleksandra Wozniak in convincing fashion to reach the third round where she faced Angelique Kerber. She lost to Kerber in two tiebreaks despite having three set points and leading in the tiebreak in the first set. In doubles, the unseeded Williams sisters advanced to the final, which was a repeat of their final at Wimbledon against Hlaváčková and Hradecká. The sisters won their third gold medal in doubles after defeating the Czech pair in straight sets. With the win (and her sister Serena's win in the singles event), the Williams sisters claimed the most Olympic gold medals of any other tennis player, male or female.
Next, Williams played at Cincinnati where she received a singles wild card entry. She defeated her first two opponents, Maria Kirilenko and Chanelle Scheepers, in three tight sets before crushing eighth seed Sara Errani in the third round. In the quarterfinal, she defeated her second top 10 opponent in a row Samantha Stosur, in three sets, to advance to her first semifinal since the 2010 US Open. In the semifinal Williams played through a back injury, eventually losing in three sets to Li Na in a match where her average first serve was between 80 and 90 miles per hour.[citation needed] Her semifinal run brought her ranking back within the top 50 for the first time in almost a year. At the US Open, Williams lost in a second-round match against Angelique Kerber in three sets, despite having a lead in the third set.
Williams won her 44th WTA career title and her first title in over 2+1⁄2 years at the Luxembourg Open, where she defeated Monica Niculescu in straight sets. Williams also qualified for the WTA Tournament of Champions in Sofia, but withdrew as the tournament clashed with her and her sister Serena's 'Breaking the Mould' tour in Africa.[53] With her title in Luxembourg, her ranking rose to number 24. She ended the year with this ranking.
2013: Back injury
At the 2013 Hopman Cup, and playing for USA (with John Isner), the first rubber was against South Africa. Williams beat Chanelle Scheepers and, with John Isner, they comfortably defeated the South African pair Scheepers and Kevin Anderson. In USA's second rubber against France, she won both her singles and in mixed doubles defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mathilde Johansson. Next she faced Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and won in two sets.
From there Williams went onto the Australian Open,seeded 25, after missing it the previous year due to injury. She beat Galina Voskoboeva and Alizé Cornet before losing to the second seed, Maria Sharapova. Her next tournament was Brasil Tennis Cup. She participated the tournament as the top seed. She defeated Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in the first round, Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round and Magdaléna Rybáriková during the quarterfinals. Reaching her first semifinal of the year, she was then defeated by Olga Puchkova in three sets. This tournament allowed Williams to strengthen her position in the top 20. She retired from the Miami Open in the third round due to a lower back injury.
One week after Miami, Williams participated in Charleston as the fifth seed. She reached the semifinals, after playing both her third round and quarterfinals matches on the same day, where she lost to her sister Serena in two sets in the sisters' first meeting since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships.A few weeks later she participated in Fed Cup, in a tie between the United States and Sweden. After Sloane Stephens lost the opening match, Williams stepped into her spot, winning a match against Johanna Larsson, after converting on her eighth match point. This was the first time in Williams's career that she clinched the winning match in a Fed Cup tie, leading the United States to a 3–2 victory over Sweden. Williams's next event was the Madrid Open where she withdrew just before playing her first round match, her next tournament was the Italian Open in Rome where she lost in the first round to Laura Robson. Williams then played at the 2013 French Open where she lost to Urszula Radwańska in the first round. She was also entered in doubles with her sister Serena but pulled out just before their first-round match. Williams pulled out of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships due to a back injury. It was the first time she has missed Wimbledon in her career.
At the Roger's Cup, she lost in the first round to 13th seed Kirsten Flipkens in three sets. At the Western and Southern Open, she defeated qualifier Jana Čepelová in straight sets, before losing in the second round to Elena Vesnina in three sets. Her next tournament was the 2013 US Open. She pulled an upset in the first round by defeating 12th seed Kirsten Flipkens in a rematch of the Roger's Cup first round. She was defeated by Zheng Jie in three sets. She entered the doubles with Serena Williams. They beat Suarez Navarro and Soler Espinosa in the first round. In the second round, the duo beat the seventh seeded team of Abigail Spears and Raquel Kops-Jones, and defeated the 11th seeded team of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Lucie Šafářová in the third round. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the top seeded team of Errani/Vinci in a rematch of the Australian Open quarterfinals. Their run ended in the semifinals against the fifth seeded team and eventual champions Lucie Hradecká and Andrea Hlaváčková. Her next tournament was the Pan Pacific Open. She defeated Mona Barthel in the first round, and upset the top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the second round. In the third round, she came back from a set down to beat the 13th seed Simona Halep in three sets to make it to the quarterfinals of the Premier 5 event. In the quarterfinals she defeated Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in three sets, but fell in the semifinals to Petra Kvitová in another three set match. Williams subsequently played at the 2013 China Open in Beijing where she played singles and doubles. Williams lost her second round match in singles losing to Sabine Lisicki and she also lost her first round match in doubles despite having two match points. Williams's last tournament of the season was the 2013 Kremlin Cup in Moscow, but she withdrew due to injury, bringing an end to her 2013 season.
2014: Ending title drought
Williams started her official tennis season as No. 47 in Auckland, where she finished runner-up to Ana Ivanovic. She next participated, unseeded, at the Australian Open where she lost in the first round to No. 23 Ekaterina Makarova in three sets. Moving on to Doha, Williams lost to No. 6 Petra Kvitová in the second round at the Qatar Open after failing to put away match point in the third set tie-break. Williams then entered the Dubai Tennis Championships where she defeated five top-40 players to win her biggest title since the Madrid Open in 2010 and, at 33 years and 8 months of age, became the seventh-oldest woman to win a WTA singles title. En route, she avenged her loss to Ana Ivanovic in Auckland and her sister Serena's loss to Alizé Cornet in the semifinals, then won the title match, keeping her head-to-head record perfect against Caroline Wozniacki. Williams then competed in Miami and in Charleston where she lost to Dominika Cibulková on hard and Eugenie Bouchard on clay, respectively – both in the round of 16 and both in three sets. At the Italian Open, Williams failed to force three sets in a loss for the first time that year, falling in two sets to Carla Suárez Navarro. At the French Open, Williams was upset by No. 56 Anna Karolína Schmiedlová in three sets. Williams then lost in the third round of Wimbledon to eventual champion Petra Kvitová in a classic and much-praised encounter that saw 34 holds of serve and only two breaks. Williams was the only player to take a set against Kvitová in the tournament.
Williams played her first tournament of the 2014 US Open Series at the Standord Classic, where she is a two-time former champion. In the second round, she scored her first Top-10 victory of the year and improved her head-to-head record against Victoria Azarenka to 4–0. In the quarterfinals, Williams lost to No. 18 Andrea Petkovic in three sets. At the Rogers Cup, Williams defeated No. 24 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets, scoring her first victory at that tournament on her fifth attempt. She defeated No. 7 Angelique Kerber in the third round in a three-set thriller described by one of the commentators as "quite simply one of the matches of the 2014 season so far on the WTA". Williams produced yet another upset in three sets against Suárez Navarro to advance to the semifinals, where she defeated younger sister and No. 1 Serena Williams in the pair's 25th meeting. It was her 14th victory over a reigning No. 1 and her first since the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, when she defeated Dinara Safina 6–1, 6–0 in the semifinals. It was also the first time since 2009 that Williams had beaten her younger sister Serena. She lost the championship match to No. 5 Agnieszka Radwańska. At her final tournament before the US Open, Williams lost in a tight three-setter to No. 17, Lucie Šafářová, in the first round at the Cincinnati Open. At the US Open Williams made it to the third round for the first time since 2010 and was two points away (multiple times) from moving into the Round of 16 before ultimately going down to 13th-seeded Sara Errani for the first time in four meetings.
Williams's next tournament was at the
2015: Re-entering the top 10
Williams started off her season at the
Williams began her clay-court season at the Madrid Open where she lost in the first round to Victoria Azarenka in straight sets. She made it to the third round of the Italian Open, before losing to
Williams began her US Open series at the
Williams scored her fifth top 10 win of the season by defeating No. 7, Agnieszka Radwańska, in the first round of the
With her results throughout the season, Williams became an Alternate for the WTA Finals in Singapore. Additionally, she qualified for the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai where she is the number one seed. She defeated Madison Keys in her first round-robin match in three sets. In her second round-robin match she defeated wildcard Zheng Saisai to advance to the semifinals, where she defeated Roberta Vinci for a fifth consecutive time. Williams captured the first WTA Elite Trophy, her third WTA title of the season and 48th title of her career by defeating Karolína Plíšková, in the final. She re-entered the top ten for the first time since 2011 and ended the year at No. 7 in the WTA rankings. Williams was the 10th most popular player of the year according to the WTA's website and received the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award.
2016: Wimbledon semifinal
Williams began 2016 by playing at the World Tennis Thailand Championship – an exhibition event in Thailand – where she lost to Sara Errani and Angelique Kerber. She then entered the Auckland Open, where she was the No. 1 seed and defending champion, and lost in the first round to 18-year-old Daria Kasatkina. (This was also Williams's first tournament since the 2011 Australian Open as a top-10 player.) At the Australian Open, Williams, seeded 8th, lost to Johanna Konta in the first round. Afterwards, she helped the USA Fed Cup Team to a 4–0 victory over Poland, winning both of her singles matches. Williams's next tournament was at the Taiwan Open, where she was the No. 1 seed. She defeated Misaki Doi in the final, earning her 49th career title.
Williams returned to
At the Wimbledon Championships, Williams reached the third round of the championships where she overcame the 29th seed, Daria Kasatkina, in a 2-hour, 42-minute marathon. She defeated 12th seed Carla Suárez Navarro in the fourth round, and now leads 4–3 in their head-to-head meetings. Williams advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in six years, where she defeated Yaroslava Shvedova. In her first Grand Slam semifinal since the 2010 US Open and her first Wimbledon semifinal since 2009, she lost to 4th seed Angelique Kerber in straight sets. In the doubles tournament, Venus and Serena Williams advanced to their first Grand Slam Doubles final since 2012. They then won their 14th major title together and sixth at Wimbledon.
Williams began her US Open Series at the
Williams failed to medal in her singles and doubles events at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, falling in the first round in both events, marking her worst exits of her Olympic career. She entered the mixed doubles event with Rajeev Ram, defeating the Netherlands in the first round after saving match point. The pair then defeated Italy in the quarterfinals and India in the semifinals to set up a clash with the United States team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock in the gold medal match. The duo lost to Mattek-Sands and Sock. By winning a silver medal, Williams became the only female player (besides Kathleen McKane Godfree) to win a medal in all three events (singles, doubles and mixed); her five medals mean she now shares the record for most Olympic medals won in tennis with Godfree.
At the
In September 2016, in response to
Williams failed to defend her title in Wuhan, falling in the third round to ninth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. This pushed her outside of the top ten for a second time this year. The following week she was bundled out of the China Open in the first round by No. 223-ranked Peng Shuai. Williams qualified for the WTA Elite Trophy, where she was the defending champion, however she decided not to participate. She finished the year ranked No. 17.
2017: Two major finals and return to the top 5
Williams began her 2017 season at
The following week, after receiving a bye, Williams lost to eventual semifinalist Laura Siegemund in the
Williams entered Wimbledon as the number 10 seed. She defeated Elise Mertens, Wang Qiang, Naomi Osaka and Ana Konjuh to reach the quarterfinals for the 13th time in her career, where she defeated the 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko in straight sets. This was also her 100th career match at Wimbledon. She advanced to her ninth Wimbledon final by defeating Johanna Konta, in straight sets in the semifinals. This marked her 87th win at Wimbledon, the third most on the all-time list. This also marked the first season since 2003 that Williams reached two slam finals. Williams lost the final in straight sets to Garbiñe Muguruza. She gained the No. 9 ranking by reaching the final, her second appearance in the top 10 in 2017; she had briefly returned to the top 10 in 2017 by virtue of beating Angelique Kerber in Miami.
Williams began her play in the US Open Series at the
On September 26, Williams qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010.[62] In her first tournament after the U.S. Open, Williams defeated Risa Ozaki in the first round of the Hong Kong Open, before falling to Naomi Osaka. At the WTA Finals, Williams was placed in the White Group with Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Jeļena Ostapenko. After losing her first match to Pliskova in straight sets, Williams defeated Ostapenko in a marathon match lasting almost 3+1⁄2 hours. She defeated Muguruza in straight sets to progress to the semifinals, avenging her loss to the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final. Williams then defeated Caroline Garcia in three sets to advance to her first final at the year-end championships since 2009, where she finished runner-up to sister Serena Williams. She met Caroline Wozniacki in the final, where she found herself down a set and 0–5. Despite winning the next four games, she lost the match in two sets. She finished the year ranked No. 5 and topped the prize money list for this year.
2018: 1000th match, struggle with form
Williams began her 2018 season at the Sydney International, where she was the second seed and received a first-round bye. In the second round she lost to Angelique Kerber, who went on to win the tournament. As the fifth seed and defending finalist at the Australian Open, Williams lost in straight sets to Belinda Bencic in the first round, ending her streak of seven consecutive appearances in the second week of the Grand Slams, and as a result dropping considerably in the rankings as well.
Williams competed in the
After receiving a first round bye at the Indian Wells Open, Williams defeated Sorana Cîrstea to set up a match with her sister Serena, in the third round. She defeated her for the 12th time in her career – her first straight sets victory against her since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final almost a decade earlier. She then defeated Anastasija Sevastova in the fourth round and Suarez Navarro in the quarterfinals, both in straight sets. She then fell to Daria Kasatkina in a close three set match in the semifinals. The following week at the Miami Open, Williams saved three match points in her third round match against Dutch woman Kiki Bertens. She subsequently knocked out defending champion Johanna Konta in the fourth round, before falling rather unexpectedly to her compatriot and qualifier Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals.
Williams began her clay court season at the Madrid Open where she lost to Anett Kontaveit in the first round. Seeded eighth at the Italian Open, she received a first round bye, before defeating Elena Vesnina in three sets. She lost to Kontaveit again in the third round. Williams also played doubles with compatriot Madison Keys, but the team withdrew after winning their first round match with Keys sustaining an injury. Williams lost to Wang Qiang in the first round of the French Open, marking the first time she has lost in the first round of consecutive Grand Slam events. Williams also reached the third round in doubles with Serena, losing to third seeds Klepač and Martínez Sánchez.
The defending finalist at the Wimbledon, Williams defeated Johanna Larsson and Alexandra Dulgheru in the first and second rounds respectively, before losing to Kiki Bertens in the third round. As a result, she dropped out of the top ten rankings.
Williams began her US Open Series at the Silicon Valley Classic after accepting a wildcard, defeating Heather Watson in the second round, before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Maria Sakkari. She won her opening two rounds at the Rogers Cup before losing to the then-world No. 1, Simona Halep, hampered by a right knee injury. She withdrew from the Western & Southern Open the following week with the same injury.
At the US Open, Williams defeated 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and Camila Giorgi en route to a third round encounter – and 30th career match overall, with Serena, where she was handed her most-lopsided loss against her in five years. Following the US Open, Venus withdrew from the Wuhan Open and China Open, citing "she was not physically ready to compete".[63] She was scheduled to finish her season at the Luxembourg Open, but pulled out due to a knee injury. She finished the season ranked No. 40, the first time since 2013 she failed to finish the season inside the top 20.
Williams parted ways with her long-time coach David Witt at the end of the 2018 season.[64]
2019: Continued struggles, out of top 50
Williams began her 2019 season with an exhibition match against Serena at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which she won in the match tiebreak. Williams then played in the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she was seeded sixth. She defeated Victoria Azarenka and Lauren Davis, before losing in the quarterfinals to Bianca Andreescu in three sets. Unseeded at the Australian Open, Williams defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu and Alizé Cornet, both in three sets, to set up a meeting with the topseeded Simona Halep in the third round. Williams lost to Halep in two sets.
Ranked 36th and unseeded at Indian Wells, Williams started with a win over Andrea Petkovic, before coming back from a set and a double break down to beat the third seed Petra Kvitová in the second round. This was Williams's first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals. She then defeated Christina McHale and Mona Barthel to advance to her third straight Indian Wells quarterfinal, where she lost to the eighth seed and eventual runner-up, Angelique Kerber.
Ranked 43rd as she entered the Miami Open, Williams beat Dalila Jakupović, Suarez Navarro and Daria Kasatkina, all in straight sets, before falling again to third ranked Simona Halep in the fourth round.
Williams started her clay-court season as a wildcard at the Italian Open where she defeated Elise Mertens in a third set tiebreak (after three hours of play) to set up a second round match with her sister Serena. Due to a left knee injury, however, Serena was forced to withdraw from the match.[65] Williams then fell to eventual runner-up Johanna Konta in the third round in straight sets. She subsequently fell to the ninth seed, Elina Svitolina, in the French Open first round, her second year in a row failing to win a match at the French Open.
For the first time since 2011 and fourth time in her career, Williams played a Wimbledon warmup event after accepting a wildcard into the Birmingham Classic.[66] She defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round to set up a meeting with Wang Qiang, which Williams also won to reach the quarterfinals, where she lost to eventual champion and new world No. 1, Ashleigh Barty. However, thanks to this run, Williams returned to the top 50 in the rankings. She also accepted a wildcard to play doubles with Harriet Dart, losing in the first round in a match tiebreak. At Wimbledon, Williams, whilst unseeded, faced compatriot Coco Gauff, a fifteen-year-old qualifier, the youngest qualifier in the history of the event. Gauff stunned Williams in a tight two-set match. The loss matched 2012 as her earliest Wimbledon exit.[67][68]
2020: Out of top 75
Williams was scheduled to start her 2020 season at the Brisbane International but withdrew before the tournament began.[69] She also had to withdraw from the Adelaide International.
At the Australian Open, Williams was beaten by Coco Gauff in the first round. At the Mexican Open, where she was the fifth seed, Williams was beaten by qualifier Kaja Juvan.
After a four-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams returned to competition by playing World TeamTennis.
Her first official tournament back was the Top Seed Open, where she defeated Victoria Azarenka in the first round, then took on sister Serena for the 31st time in the second round, losing to her in a tight three-set match. Williams then fell to Dayana Yastremska in the first round of the Western & Southern Open. Following the tournament, Williams dropped to no. 67 in the WTA 31 August 2020 rankings.[70]
At the US Open, Williams lost in straight sets against WTA No. 26, Karolína Muchová, in the first round.
Williams travelled to Italian Open, the week after the US Open to join the rescheduled clay court swing. In the first round, she drew Azarenka for the second time in five weeks; on this occasion, Williams lost in straight sets, taking their career head-to-head record to 6–2 in Williams's favor. At the French Open, Williams crashed out in straight-sets to Anna Karolína Schmiedlová. She finished the year with one match win and a 1–8 tour record. Her ranking fell to 78 in the world by the end of the season.
2021–2022: Out of the top 100, 90th Grand Slam appearance
Williams started the 2021 season at the Yarra Valley Classic, where she defeated Arantxa Rus, in straight sets, before losing in straight sets to fourth seed Petra Kvitová. She also reached the second round of the Australian Open. Since then, Williams was on a 5-match losing streak and dropped out of the top 100 in May, before the French Open, to her lowest ranking since 2011.[71] At the French Open, she lost in the first round to the 32nd seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova. She received a wildcard for the main draw of Wimbledon[72] but she was later upgraded to the main draw as direct entry due to Naomi Osaka's withdrawal. She won her first round match against Mihaela Buzărnescu. This was Venus Williams's record breaking 90th Grand Slam appearance and also her 90th match win at Wimbledon.[73]
She missed the next four Grand Slam tournaments in singles, before receiving a wildcard for the 2022 US Open. She lost in the first round in straight sets to Alison Van Uytvanck. She also played doubles with Serena at the US Open. Their first round match was the first doubles match in history to be given the nighttime slot on Center Court. The pair lost to Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková. With Serena's retirement, this was the final Grand Slam match for the 14-time major doubles champions. Venus later stated that when Serena retired, she too retired from playing doubles.[74]
2023: 30th year on the WTA Tour, ongoing struggle with injuries
In January, she received a wildcard for the main draw of Auckland Open, and started her 30th year on the WTA Tour with a straight-sets victory over fellow American Katie Volynets in the first round.[75] She opened the second round by winning the first set against Zhu Lin but then went on to lose the match when she dropped the next two sets. Williams received a main draw wildcard to the 2023 Australian Open but was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury in her second round match against Lin in Auckland.[76] The injury caused Williams to miss the rest of the hard court swing and the clay season.
Williams returned to action in the grass court season. She received a wildcard at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships where she lost in the first round to 17 years old Céline Naef. Venus then competed in the 2023 Birmingham Classic and won her first match as a 43-year-old, defeating Camilla Giorgi in over three hours in an epic three-set thriller.[77] It was her first victory over a top 50 player in almost four years. The success was short-lived, and Williams fell in the second round to Jelena Ostapenko in another close three-set match. Williams continued to be hampered by injuries during the match and received an off-court medical timeout.[78] Williams received a wildcard to the 2023 Wimbledon main draw but lost in straight sets to Elina Svitolina in the first round. After going up an early break, Williams suffered a serious knee injury. Williams expressed frustration at her improving form being affected by injuries, stating in her post-match press conference that the injuries were "hard to process emotionally, mentally and physically on the court."[79]
Williams' form in the US hard court swing showed glimpses of her former top form. She lost in the first round of the 2023 National Bank Open in Montreal but secured her first Top 20 win in more than four years with a straight sets win over No. 16 seed Veronika Kudermetova in the 2023 Western & Southern Open. She followed that win with a lopsided first set win over rising star Zheng Qinwen but eventually lost the next two sets and the match. The first set was described as "vintage Venus" and gave hope for Williams'' return to the US Open.[80]
At the 2023 US Open, Venus arrived to play the tournament for the 24th time. In her first round match, which was also Williams' 100th career US Open match, she suffered one of her most lopsided Grand Slam losses, winning only two games against qualifier Greet Minnen.[81]
Williams ended the 2023 season ranked 412 in the world.[82]
2024
Despite her injury-plagued season in 2023, Williams announced her intention to return to action in March. While her injuries forced her to miss the Australian Summer hard court swing, she said her target was to participate in the American hard court tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.[83] She lost in the first round of both tournaments.
Fight for equal prize money
Despite years of protesting by tennis pioneer Billie Jean King and others, in 2005 the French Open and Wimbledon still refused to pay women's and men's players equally through all rounds. In 2005, Williams met with officials from both tournaments, arguing that female tennis players should be paid as much as male tennis players.[84] Although WTA tour President Larry Scott commented that she left "a very meaningful impression", Williams's demands were rejected.[citation needed]
The turning point was an essay published in The Times on the eve of Wimbledon in 2006. In it, Williams accused Wimbledon of being on the "wrong side of history".[84] In response, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and members of Parliament publicly endorsed Williams's arguments.[85] Later that year, the Women's Tennis Association and UNESCO teamed for a campaign to promote gender equality in sports, asking Williams to lead the campaign.[86] Under enormous pressure, Wimbledon announced in February 2007 that it would award equal prize money to all competitors in all rounds, and the French Open followed suit a day later.[87] In the aftermath, the Chicago Sun-Times cited Williams as "the single factor" that "changed the minds of the boys" and a leader whose "willingness to take a public stand separates her not only from most of her female peers, but also from our most celebrated male athletes".[88] Williams herself commented, "Somewhere in the world a little girl is dreaming of holding a giant trophy in her hands and being viewed as an equal to boys who have similar dreams."[89]
Williams herself became the first woman to benefit from the equalization of prize money at Wimbledon, as she won the 2007 tournament and was awarded the same amount as the male winner Roger Federer. Williams's fight for equality was documented in Nine for IX, Venus Vs. It premiered on July 2, 2013.[90][91]
Other on court activities
1998: Karsten Braasch vs. the Williams sisters
Williams, along with her sister Serena, competed in a "Battle of the Sexes" against Karsten Braasch at the 1998 Australian Open. Braasch, the world's 203rd-ranked player, was more than 13 years older than the sisters and was described by a journalist as "a man whose training regime centered around a pack of cigarettes and more than a couple bottles of ice cold lager."[92] However, he defeated both sisters in a single set against each, beating Serena 6–1 and Venus 6–2.[93] After the sets, Braasch said "500 and above, no chance." He added that he had played as if ranked 600th in order to keep the game "fun".[94]
Personal life
In 2003, Yetunde Price, Venus and Serena Williams's 31-year-old sister (who was also their personal assistant) was shot dead in Compton, California near the courts on which the sisters once practiced. The Williams family issued this statement shortly after the death: "We are extremely shocked, saddened and devastated by the shooting death of our beloved Yetunde. She was our nucleus and our rock. She was a personal assistant, confidante, and adviser to her sisters, and her death leaves a void that can never be filled. Our grief is overwhelming, and this is the saddest day of our lives."[95]
On December 13, 2007, Venus Williams received her associate degree in fashion design from
In 2011, Williams was forced to withdraw from the US Open before her second-round match following a
In 2015, Williams received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Indiana University East.[98] She began her studies toward the degree in 2011 through a reciprocal agreement between the university and the Women's Tennis Association that allows athletes to play tennis professionally while studying online. Williams has expressed her desire to earn an MBA in the near future.[99]
Williams was raised as a Jehovah's Witness.[100]
Relationships
Williams has dated golfer Hank Kuehne, who was a visible presence from the time of Wimbledon 2007 until 2010. In 2012, she met Cuban model Elio Pis when he was hired as an underwear model for her clothing line; they dated until 2015.[101] She dated publishing heir Nicholas Hammond for two years until 2019.[102][103]
2017 car crash
On June 9, 2017, Williams was driving in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida when another car collided with her SUV before she cleared the intersection, a crash that killed a 78-year-old man and injured another person in the second vehicle. Police originally said that Williams was "at fault" for the crash, but on December 21, 2017, authorities determined the crash was caused by an unidentified third driver.[104]
Business ventures
Williams is the chief executive officer of her interior design firm V Starr Interiors, located in
In 2001, Williams was named among the 30 most powerful women in America by the
In 2007, Williams teamed with retailer Steve & Barry's to launch her own fashion line, EleVen. "I love fashion and the idea that I am using my design education to actually create clothing and footwear that I will wear on and off the tennis court is a dream come true for me"[107][108] Williams's line debuted during the 2012 New York fashion week. It was modeled by athletes rather than models, as Williams chose to feature the type of people for whom the line was designed. She also wears outfits from her fashion line on the tennis court.[109]
In June 2009, Williams was named 77th in the
In August 2009, Williams and her sister Serena became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins. This made the sisters the first African-American women to obtain ownership in an NFL franchise.[111]
In late June 2010, Williams released her first book, Come to Win; On How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession, which she cowrote with Kelly E. Carter. To promote the book, she embarked on a nationwide tour and appeared on several talk shows, including The Early Show and Good Morning America. The book reached the top five on The New York Times Best Seller list.[112]
Recognition
In 2005, Tennis Magazine ranked Williams as the 25th-best player of the past 40 years.[113][114]
In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time.[115]
In March 2012, Tennis Channel aired a television series listing the 100 greatest players of all time, ranking Williams 22nd. In the series, Lindsay Davenport says: "Venus had more power than any other player on tour."[citation needed]
In 2018, Tennis Magazine ranked Williams as the eighth-best female player of the Open Era.[116]
In May 2020, both the Tennis Channel and Newsday ranked Williams as the eighth-greatest female player of all time.[117][6]
Equipment
In 1995, when Williams was 14 years old, she signed an endorsement deal with Reebok and wore the company's apparel and shoes.[118][119] She used a Wilson Hammer 6.2 Stretch racket.[120]
Career statistics
Grand Slam tournament performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Current through the 2023 US Open.
Tournament | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | A | QF | QF | A | SF | QF | F | 3R | 4R | 1R | A | QF | 2R | QF | 3R | A | 3R | 1R | QF | 1R | F | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 21 | 54–21 | 72% |
French Open | 2R | QF | 4R | QF | 1R | F | 4R | QF | 3R | QF | 3R | 3R | 3R | 4R | A | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 4R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 24 | 48–24 | 67% | |
Wimbledon | 1R | QF | QF | W | W | F | F | 2R | W | 3R | W | W | F | QF | 4R | 1R | A | 3R | 4R | SF | F | 3R | 1R | NH | 2R | A | 1R | 5 / 24 | 90–19 | 83% | |
US Open | F | SF | SF | W | W | F | A | 4R | QF | A | SF | QF | 4R | SF | 2R | 2R | 2R | 3R | QF | 4R | SF | 3R | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 2 / 24 | 79–21 | 79% | |
Win–loss | 7–3 | 17–4 | 15–4 | 18–1 | 19–2 | 22–4 | 15–3 | 10–4 | 16–3 | 6–3 | 14–2 | 17–3 | 12–4 | 16–4 | 6–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 5–4 | 11–4 | 11–4 | 20–4 | 4–4 | 3–4 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 7 / 93 | 271–85 | 76% |
Grand Slam tournament finals
Singles: 16 (7 titles, 9 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1997 | US Open | Hard | Martina Hingis | 0–6, 4–6 |
Win | 2000 | Wimbledon | Grass | Lindsay Davenport | 6–3, 7–6(7–3) |
Win | 2000 | US Open | Hard | Lindsay Davenport | 6–4, 7–5 |
Win | 2001 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Justine Henin | 6–1, 3–6, 6–0 |
Win | 2001 | US Open (2) | Hard | Serena Williams | 6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 2002 | French Open | Clay | Serena Williams | 5–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 2002 | Wimbledon | Grass | Serena Williams | 6–7(4–7), 3–6 |
Loss | 2002 | US Open | Hard | Serena Williams | 4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2003 | Australian Open | Hard | Serena Williams | 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 4–6 |
Loss | 2003 | Wimbledon | Grass | Serena Williams | 6–4, 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 2005 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Lindsay Davenport | 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 9–7 |
Win | 2007 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | Marion Bartoli | 6–4, 6–1 |
Win | 2008 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | Serena Williams | 7–5, 6–4 |
Loss | 2009 | Wimbledon | Grass | Serena Williams | 6–7(3–7), 2–6 |
Loss | 2017 | Australian Open | Hard | Serena Williams | 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 2017 | Wimbledon | Grass | Garbiñe Muguruza | 5–7, 0–6 |
Doubles: 14 (14–0)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1999 | French Open | Clay | Serena Williams | Martina Hingis Anna Kournikova |
6–3, 6–7(2–7), 8–6 |
Win | 1999 | US Open | Hard | Serena Williams | Chanda Rubin Sandrine Testud |
4–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Win | 2000 | Wimbledon | Grass | Serena Williams | Julie Halard-Decugis Ai Sugiyama |
6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 2001 | Australian Open | Hard | Serena Williams | Lindsay Davenport Corina Morariu |
6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
Win | 2002 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Serena Williams | Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez |
6–2, 7–5 |
Win | 2003 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | Serena Williams | Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 2008 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Serena Williams | Lisa Raymond Samantha Stosur |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 2009 | Australian Open (3) | Hard | Serena Williams | Daniela Hantuchová Ai Sugiyama |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 2009 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | Serena Williams | Samantha Stosur Rennae Stubbs |
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
Win | 2009 | US Open (2) | Hard | Serena Williams | Cara Black Liezel Huber |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 2010 | Australian Open (4) | Hard | Serena Williams | Cara Black Liezel Huber |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 2010 | French Open (2) | Clay | Serena Williams | Květa Peschke Katarina Srebotnik |
6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 2012 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | Serena Williams | 7–5, 6–4 | |
Win | 2016 | Wimbledon (6) | Grass | Serena Williams | Tímea Babos Yaroslava Shvedova |
6–3, 6–4 |
Mixed doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1998 | Australian Open | Hard | Justin Gimelstob | Helena Suková Cyril Suk |
6–2, 6–1 |
Win | 1998 | French Open | Clay | Justin Gimelstob | Serena Williams Luis Lobo |
6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 2006 | Wimbledon | Grass | Bob Bryan | Vera Zvonareva Andy Ram |
3–6, 2–6 |
World Team Tennis
Williams has played 14 seasons of World TeamTennis, making her debut in 2000 with the St. Louis Aces, playing a season with the Delaware Smash in 2005, three seasons with the Philadelphia Freedoms from 2006 to 2008, and eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in 2010–2015, 2017–2019. She has five King Trophies, claiming her first with the Freedoms in 2006 and four trophies with the Kastles in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015. She was also named the 2012 WTT Final MVP for her efforts. It was announced she will be joining the Washington Kastles during the 2020 WTT season set to begin July 12 at The Greenbrier.[121]
Records and achievements
At the
- These records were attained in Open eraof tennis.
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
- Records in italics are currently active streaks.
Championship | Years | Record accomplished | Player tied |
1997 French Open – 2023 US Open | 1997–2023 | most appearances (93) in Grand Slam singles draw |
stands alone |
1999 French Open – 2016 Wimbledon | 1999–2016 | first 14 Grand Slam doubles finals won (with Serena Williams) | Serena Williams |
2002 French Open – 2003 Australian Open | 2002–2003 | four consecutive runner-up finishes | stands alone |
2002 French Open – 2003 Australian Open | 2002–2003 | four consecutive runner-up finishes to the same player (Serena Williams) | stands alone |
2003 Australian Open – 2017 Australian Open | 2003–2017 | 14 years between first and last final | Chris Evert Serena Williams |
2000 Wimbledon – 2017 Wimbledon | 2000–2017 | 17 years between first and last final | Serena Williams |
Wimbledon | 2005 | longest women's singles final (2h 45min)[125] | Lindsay Davenport |
Wimbledon | 2007 | lowest-ranked champion (31st)[126] | stands alone |
Wimbledon | 2007 | lowest-seeded champion (23rd)[126] | stands alone |
Wimbledon | 2008 | fastest serve by a woman (129 mph)[127] | stands alone |
US Open | 2007 | fastest serve by a woman (129 mph)[128][129] | stands alone |
Summer Olympics | 2000–2012 | 4 Olympic gold medals | Serena Williams |
Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | 5 Olympic finals | stands alone |
Summer Olympics | 2000–2012 | 3 doubles Olympic gold medals (with Serena Williams) | Serena Williams |
Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | most Olympic medals won by a male or female player (5) | Kathleen McKane Godfree |
Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | has won an Olympic medal in all three events (singles, doubles & mixed) | Kathleen McKane Godfree |
Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | has won an Olympic medal at four Olympic Games | stands alone |
Miami Open | 1998–2002 | 22 consecutive singles matches won at this tournament | Steffi Graf |
Dubai Tennis Championships | 2009–2015 | 16 consecutive singles matches won at this tournament | stands alone |
Dubai Tennis Championships | 2010–2014 | 2 consecutive singles titles without dropping a set | Justine Henin |
Dubai Tennis Championships | 2014 | only unseeded player to have won in singles and as a wildcard | stands alone |
Connecticut Open | 1999–2002 | 4 consecutive singles titles | Caroline Wozniacki |
Connecticut Open | 1999–2000 | 2 consecutive singles titles without dropping a set | stands alone |
U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships |
1998–2007 | most singles titles won at this tournament (3) | stands alone |
Southern California Open |
1999–2002 | 4 consecutive singles finals | Tracy Austin |
Mexican Open | 2009–2010 | 2 consecutive singles titles | Sara Errani Lesia Tsurenko |
Year-end championships | 1998–2008–2015 | won all 3 titles Grand Slam Cup, WTA Finals and WTA Elite Trophy in singles | stands alone |
Awards
|
|
Filmography
- Venus and Serena(2012), documentary film that takes an inside look at lives and careers of professional tennis players, Venus and Serena Williams.
- King Richard (2021, executive producer), biographical sports drama film on Venus and Serena Williams.[130]
Television
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Game On! | Self | CBS | Also executive producer[131] |
See also
- WTA Tour records
- Grand Slam (tennis)
- Tennis at the Summer Olympics
- List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players
- List of WTA number 1 ranked doubles tennis players
- List of highest ranked tennis players per country
- List of female tennis players
- List of tennis tournaments
- List of tennis rivalries
- Tennis records of the Open Era – Women's singles
- All-time tennis records – women's singles
- Graf–Navratilova rivalry
- Graf–Sabatini rivalry
- Graf–Seles rivalry
- Hingis – V. Williams rivalry
- Williams sisters rivalry
- List of Grand Slam women's singles champions
- List of Grand Slam women's doubles champions
- List of Grand Slam mixed doubles champions
References
- Notes
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Further reading
- Edmondson, Jacqueline (2005). Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-33165-7.
- Williams, Venus; Williams, Serena; Beard, Hilary (2005). Venus and Serena: Serving from the Hip: 10 Rules For Living, Loving and Winning. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 133pp. ISBN 978-0-618-57653-1.