Serena Williams
Adding to a long list of incredible achievements, tennis superstar Serena Williams now owns more victories in Grand Slam matches than anyone in tennis’ Open era with her 308th win at the U.S. Open on September 5, 2016. She surpassed Roger Federer with her 308th win.
Photo: Serena Williams reacts after a point against Yaroslava Shvedova, of Kazakhstan, during the fourth round of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Williams defeated Shvedova 6-2, 6-3 to enter the quarterfinals.
2015 Sportsperson of the Year
Sports Illustrated (SI) named Williams 2015 Sportsperson of the Year, Dec. 14, 2015. Considered by many to be the best female tennis player of all time, she beat out stiff competition for the title including Team USA, who achieved the first U.S. hat trick in Women’s World Cup history, and the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah.
Williams was honored in 2015 for holding the most major singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles of all active players. With a total of 21 Grand Slam titles, she ranked third on the all-time list behind Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graff (22). SI honored her for achievements both on and off the court calling her a “difference-maker” when it came to issues such as race and body shaming, transcending sports to be a powerful symbol.
Her attempt to achieve tennis history with a calendar Grand Slam -- which would have made her one of only six singles players in tennis history to do so -- captured the attention of the sports world in 2015.
In 2016, she tied Steffi Graff for second place for most Grand Slam titles with 22.
Sports Illustrated December 21, 2015 cover.
Crushing defeat at 2015 U.S. Open
Serena Williams listens to a reporter’s question during a post-match press conference following her surprise loss to Roberta Vinci of Italy in their women’s singles semi-final match at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, September 11, 2015.
Williams lost her bid to become elite club of singles players to achieve a calendar grand slam. Only five singles players in tennis history have achieved the Grand Slam -- Maureen Connolly, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Margaret Court and Steffi Graff.
U.S. Open 2015
Serena Williams, left, hugs her sister Venus after winning their quarterfinal matchup at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, in New York City, on September 8, 2015.
Serena won 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in front of a celebrity-filled crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was her 11th three-set victory at a major tournament this year.
U.S. Open 2015
Serena Williams celebrates a point against fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands during their match at the U.S. Open Championships in New York City, September 4, 2015. Williams rallied to beat Mattek-Sands in 109 minutes after dropping the first set. According to ESPN, it was the 10th time Williams won the third set 6-0 after dropping one of the first two sets.
It was William’s 19th time being the No.1 seed at a Grand Slam, according to the WTA. She has won more WTA titles than anyone else this year. Williams won 31 straight singles matches.
Wimbledon 2015
Serena Williams celebrates with the Venus Rosewater Dish after her victory in the Final Of The Ladies’ Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, July 11, 2015.
Ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association for the first time on July 8, 2002, she has since achieved this ranking six times. On February 18, 2013, she became the oldest No. 1 player in WTA history.
Wimbledon 2015
Serena Williams of the U.S.A. reacts during her match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 7, 2015.
Wimbledon 2015
Serena and Venus Williams embrace after their fourth round match at Wimbledon in June 2015.
On July 11, 2015, Serena Williams won Wimbledon and completed what people now refer to as the “Serena Slam.” That means she is the reigning champion in all four Grand Slam singles tournaments at the same time. Before her loss to Italian Roberta Vinci, she was well on her way to making history again by completing a Grand Slam in the same calendar year.
Williams has achieved two so-called “Serena Slams” in her career.
Wimbledon Champions 2015
Wimbledon Champions Novak Djokovic of Serbia, left, and Serena Williams, dance on stage at the Wimbledon Champions’ Dinner, at the Guildhall, London, July 12, 2015.
Over the years the Williams sisters have not only been tennis superstars, but also red-carpet celebrities.
French Open 2015
Williams smiles after being presented with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy by Martina Navratilova after winning the Women’s Singles Final against Lucie Safarova of Czech Repbulic at the 2015 French Open in Paris on June 6, 2015. The match went to an unlikely third set after Williams double-faulted three times and was broken twice more leading to a tiebreak in the second set. The clay courts have never been conducive to Williams’ power game, but she prevailed.
“When I was a little girl, in California, my father and my mother wanted me to play tennis,” the 33-year-old told the crown in French. “And now I’m here, with 20 Grand Slam titles.”
French Open 2015
Serena Williams of the U.S. poses with her trophy and her dog named Chip in the dressing room after winning the women’s singles final match against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, June 6, 2015.
Australian Open 2015
Serena Williams holds the trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, January 31, 2015.
Williams holds more major singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles combined than any other active player, male or female.
With 21 Grand Slam titles, she is also the only tennis player of either gender to have ever won singles titles at least six times in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Australian Open 2015
Serena Williams of the U.S. serves to Vera Zvonareva of Russia during their women’s singles second round match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne, January 22, 2015.
Serena was trying to win her seventh U.S. Open title which would give her the most U.S. Open titles for a woman in Open Era. She is currently tied with Chris Evert at six.
U.S. Open 2013
Serena Williams holds the trophy as she celebrates her win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their 2013 U.S. Open women’s singles final match in New York City claiming her fifth U.S. Open singles title.
Williams has won six U.S. Open titles since 1998.
Back in the day
Venus Williams, right, and Serena, left, posing at the Direct Line Ladies Tennis Championships in Eastbourne, England on June 16, 1997.
Almost from the moment the Williams sisters appeared on the Grand Slam scene in the late 1990s, they have been winning titles and making an impact.
Sony Open 2014
Serena Williams, right, takes a selfie with a fan following her 7-5, 6-1 victory over Li Na, of China, during the women’s final at the Sony Open Tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida, March 29, 2014.
Wimbledon 2011
Serena Williams gestures as she plays against French player Aravane Rezai during a women’s singles match at the 2011 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club in London on June 21, 2011.
French Open 2010
Serena Williams and Venus in action during the women’s doubles final between Kveta Peschke of Czech Republic and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia on day 13 of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 4, 2010 in Paris.
The Williams sisters won their 12th Grand Slam doubles title.
NYC Fashion Show 2009
Editor-at-large for Vogue North America Andre Leon Talley, Venus and Serena Williams along with Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour (L-R) attend the Zac Posen Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Tent, Bryant Park on September 11, 2008 in New York City.
According to her website, Serena continues to pursue her other interests and has set herself up for a career after tennis.
2012 Summer Olympic Games
Serena Williams celebrates a point over Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki during their women’s singles tennis match quarterfinal round at the 2012 London Olympic Games at the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon on August 2, 2012.
Olympic gold medalist
Serena Williams (C), Russia’s Maria Sharapova (L) and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka pose with their gold, silver and bronze medals respectively at the end of the women’s singles tennis tournament of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon on August 4, 2012.
Williams lost only 17 games in six matches on the way to her first singles gold medal. She has three Olympic gold medals in doubles earned with her sister, Venus. And one Olympic gold medal in singles.
2012 Summer Olympic Games
Serena Williams and Venus return a shot against Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic during the Women’s Doubles Tennis gold medal match on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, August 5, 2012.
2012 Summer Olympic Games
Venus Williams (L) and Serena Williams talk as they play against Czech Republic’s Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka during the women’s doubles gold medal match of the London 2012 Olympic Games, at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on August 5, 2012.
The Williams sisters won the match 6-4, 6-4 -- their third shared Olympic gold.
2012 Wimbledon Championships
Serena Williams serves during her women’s singles final match against Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska during the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon on July 7, 2012.
2012 Wimbledon Championships
Serena Williams celebrates with the trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, after her women’s singles final victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon on July 7, 2012.
Williams struggled with several health scares in 2011 that kept her away from tennis for 10 months. It was her fifth Wimbledon singles title.
2000 Sydney Olympic Games
Venus and Serena Williams celebrate on the court with American Flags as they win the Gold Medal in the Women’s Double Match against Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans of the Netherlands during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at the New South Wales Tennis Centre in Sydney.
U.S. Open 2001
From left, Richard, Serena and Venus Williams walk off the practice court at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York City, Sept. 8, 2001.
According to Serena’s website, while still an infant, her family moved to Compton, California where she began playing tennis at the age of four.
At nine, Serena and her family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. Her family has always played a crucial role in her tennis career. Her father, Richard, served as coach for both daughters for many years.