a biography about serena williams

Serena Williams

Considered the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, and perhaps the greatest athlete of all time, Serena Williams has revolutionized women’s tennis since the 1990s. With 23 Grand Slam titles, Williams rose from the public courts of Compton, California to shatter records and dominate the field.

Serena Jameka Williams was born to parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan. Williams is the youngest of Price's five daughters, who include fellow tennis superstar Venus Williams. Richard Williams, a former sharecropper from Louisiana, was determined that daughters Serena and Venus would succeed in life. Seeing opportunity in tennis, he and Oracene taught themselves the game from books and videos so that they could coach their children. Richard moved the family to Compton, California, where Williams began intensive tennis training with her father and older sister around the age of three. The Williams sisters practiced for hours every day on rundown public tennis courts.

Williams joined the junior United States Tennis Association tour and by 1991 she ranked first in the 10-and-under division. Richard then moved the family to Palm Beach, Florida, where the sisters trained with coach Rick Macci. Richard kept Williams and her sister from competing in the junior tournaments, hoping to ensure that they would not burn out before turning professional.

In 1995, at the age of 14, Williams made her professional debut at a qualifying event in Quebec City. Fellow American Annie Miller defeated her soundly. Williams did not play another professional match until 1997, but by the end of that year she rose to number 99 in the world rankings. In 1998, Williams’s ranking rose to number 20 and she surpassed Monica Seles to become the fastest player to record five victories against Top 10 players.

Williams graduated from Driftwood Academy in 1999 and soon after signed a $12 million endorsement deal with Puma. She won her first Grand Slam title that year, when she defeated Martina Hingis 6-3, 7–6 to win the U.S. Open, and rose to number four in the world rankings. Two years later, Williams lost to her sister in the U.S. Open final – it was the first time that sisters played against each other in a Grand Slam final since 1884.

The African-American Williams and her sister made an immediate impact in the predominately white tennis world: their strength and athleticism on the court overmatched many opponents and their colorful, fashionable styles garnered media attention. The Williams sisters are credited with ushering in the power era of women’s tennis, characterized by blindingly-fast serves and commanding groundstrokes. They competed together as doubles partners, eventually winning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. They took gold at the 2000, 2008, and 2012 Olympics and are the winningest doubles tennis team in Olympic history.

In 2001, Williams won California’s Indian Wells tournament for the second time. Williams, along with her father and sister who were watching in the stands, claimed spectators hurled racial slurs their way while booing them. Williams later described the racist treatment as traumatizing and she boycotted the tournament until 2015.

Williams continued to amass victories and rise in the rankings. In 2002, she won her second, third, and fourth Grand Slam titles at Roland-Garros (the French Open), Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, respectively. In each of those tournaments, she defeated her sister Venus in the final match. On July 8, 2002 she reached the ranking of number one in the world, a position she held for 57 straight weeks. In 2003, Williams won her first Australian Open, becoming one of only six women in the Open Era (post-1968) to complete a career Grand Slam (in which a player wins all four major championships). Williams actually held all four titles at once, an accomplishment she dubbed “The Serena Slam.”

However, 2003 also brought troubles for Williams. She underwent knee surgery in August and in September her older sister, Yetunde Price, was murdered in Los Angeles. The loss of her sister was difficult for Williams. She came back from the knee injury in the 2004 season, but other injuries plagued her for the next three years. She won the Australian Open in 2005 and 2007, but her injuries and losses resulted in her ranking dropping to number 139.

In 2008, Williams began her return to championship form by winning the U.S. Open. The following year, she won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reclaimed her number one world ranking. Her five-year gap between number one rankings is the longest of any player ever. Williams cited her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness as well as an inspirational trip to West Africa for restoring her competitive spirit. In 2009, she faced fines and probation after an altercation with a referee at the U.S. Open, but the following year Williams added two more Grand Slam titles and finished the season ranked number four.

Williams suffered from a blood clot in her lung in 2011, but returned to dominance later that year. In 2012, Williams earned a gold medal for singles’ tennis at the London Olympic Games. The 2013-2015 seasons marked her third, fourth, and fifth number-one seasons, after which she had won her 21 st Grand Slam championship and completed her second Serena Slam.

In 2017, Williams won the Australian Open. It was her 23 rd Grand Slam title, meaning she surpassed Steffi Graf’s record for Grand Slam singles’ titles in the Open Era. A few months later, she revealed she was expecting her first child and had been pregnant when she won the Australian Open. That September, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., and married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian shortly after. Williams experienced a difficult childbirth: she had an emergency cesarean section and suffered from another blood clot and other severe complications. By telling her story publicly, Williams contributed to a growing national dialogue about the disproportionately high number of Black women that suffer from pregnancy and postpartum complications. 

Williams returned to tennis in 2018, ranked number 549. The attention Williams brought to the issue of rankings after giving birth led the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to take action. The WTA’s new rule allowed players who leave the sport for childbirth or injury to use their previous rankings to enter up to 12 tournaments within three years of their return. Williams, whose career winnings exceed $90 million, also advocates for female tennis players regarding equitable prize money.

Outside of tennis, Williams has been busy as well. She realized her fashion design dreams when she released her clothing line (“S by Serena”) in 2018 as well as a jewelry line in 2019. She serves as a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador; has opened two secondary schools in Kenya; and sits on the board of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative. She has her own venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, that invests in technology companies owned or led by women and African Americans.

Williams was named the AP Female Athlete of the Decade for her dominance in the 2010s. She continues to inspire tennis hopefuls and the wider public through her hard work and pursuit of excellence on and off the court.

Allen, JA. “The Williams Sisters and the Rise of the Women's Power Game.” Bleacher Report. Sept. 28, 2012. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1350759-the-williams-sisters-and-the-rise-of-the-womens-power-game

Berkok, John. “On this day, 25 years ago, Serena Williams made her pro tennis debut.” Tennis.com. Oct. 28, 2020. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/on-this-day-25-years-ago-serena-williams-made-her-pro-tennis-debut

“Bio.” Serena Williams.com. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.serenawilliams.com/pages/bio

Biography.com Editors. “Serena Williams Biography.” The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks. April 23, 2021. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.biography.com/athlete/serena-williams

Chiu, Allyson. “Beyoncé, Serena Williams open up about potentially fatal childbirths, a problem especially for black mothers.” The Washington Post . Aug. 7, 2018. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/07/beyonce-serena-williams-open-up-about-potentially-fatal-childbirths-a-problem-especially-for-black-mothers/

Elliott, Helene. “Serena: ‘What she does and what she achieved, it’s something unbelievable.’” Los Angeles Times . March 9, 2020. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-09/serena-williams-tennis-grand-slam-compton

Haskell, Rob. “Serena Williams on Motherhood, Marriage, and Making Her Comeback.” Vogue . Jan. 10, 2018. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.vogue.com/article/serena-williams-vogue-cover-interview-february-2018

Maine, D'Arcy. “Serena Williams still haunted by booing, jeers at Indian Wells tennis tournament in 2001.” ESPN.com. Nov. 17, 2021. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/32655164/serena-williams-haunted-booing-jeers-indian-wells-tennis-tournament-2001

“Serena Williams: Bio.” WTA Tour. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.wtatennis.com/players/230234/serena-williams/bio

“Serena Williams: Tennis.” TEAM USA. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.teamusa.org/usa-tennis/athletes/serena-williams

Zakarin, Jordan “How Serena and Venus Williams’ Father Helped Push the Sisters to Tennis Stardom.” The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks. Nov. 2, 2020. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022. https://www.biography.com/news/richard-williams-serena-venus-williams-father

MLA – Brandman, Mariana. “Serena Williams.” National Women’s History Museum, 2022. Date accessed.

Chicago – Brandman, Mariana. “Serena Williams.” National Women’s History Museum. 2022. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/serena-williams   

Image Credit:  Williams S. RG18 (17) (41168711240).jpg by Williams S. RG18 (17) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Williams, Serena, and Paisner, Daniel. My Life: Queen of the Court . United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster, Limited, 2010.

Being Serena . HBO Documentary Series, 2018. https://www.hbo.com/being-serena

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Women who changed sport: Serena Williams' unbending will to win made her a global icon - and record-setting star 

The 23-time major champion set record after record in her nearly three-decade-long career, charting a new path for herself - and setting up the generations to follow her.

On a sticky Friday night in early September of 2022, you could argue that Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open had never been louder, with some 23,000 roaring their support for Serena Williams as she contested what would ultimately be her final professional tennis match.

It was 23 years nearly to the day since Williams, then just 17, had won her maiden major title at the 1999 US Open, the first of what would be a history-making 23 Grand Slam titles, the most in the modern era among women.

As Williams waved farewell to the Queens crowd and to the sport that she had changed forever over two-and-a-half decades, she harkened back to the beginning chapters of her unlikely path, thanking her parents - Oracene Price and Richard Williams - for what they had created: "It all started with my parents," she said on court through tears. "And they deserve everything."

But while father Richard had famously touted his daughters Serena and Venus Williams to be future world No.1s, their impact across the game, with 48 major titles and five Olympic golds between them, will be felt for generations to come.

Their one-name status on a global level has helped to spark the next (and next) generation of Black champions from the U.S., including major winners Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens as well as Top 10 stars Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe - among others.

"They're the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest,” Gauff said in 2023 of Venus and Serena after winning her own maiden US Open. “They have allowed me to believe in this dream... all the things that they had to go through, they made it easier for someone like me to do this.”

By the time Serena walked off Arthur Ashe Stadium that night in 2022, her impact wasn't just on Black players or aspiring tennis champions: She had become a force across sport as a whole - as well as a cultural symbol for what an unbending will to win and what plain hard work can make happen. For anyone.

• Serena Williams new life as mum, author, investor & more (Dec. 2022)
• A closer look: Venus & Serena's decades-long rivalry

Serena Williams: The little sister that could

The family Williams origin story is a well-known one: After Richard, their father, watched Virginia Ruzici win the 1978 Roland-Garros title and receive a winner's cheque of $20,000, he set out for his two youngest daughters, Venus and Serena, to become tennis champions themselves.

What ensued was what many have called the most unlikely sport story of all time: Two Black sisters from Compton, California, zig-zagging their way onto the professional women's tennis tour to become iconic champions - just as their father had predicted.

"[There] are the four qualities all champions [have], doesn't matter how old or how young they are," said Richard Williams in 1999 at the Miami Open , after Venus and Serena faced off in a final for the first time. "Venus and Serena demonstrated that the first time we went out [on court]. I knew they were champions."

After Serena won that aforementioned first major in the family in 1999, it was actually Venus who dominated over the next couple of years on tour, claiming the 2000 and 2001 titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open, while also winning women's singles gold at Sydney 2000 , where she and Serena would pair up for the Olympic doubles title.

But years of being little sister eventually served Serena on court, too: Between 2002 and 2003 she won her first (of two) "Serena Slams", capturing four consecutive majors and launching herself to world No.1, a position she would hold at various times over the next 15 years for some 319 weeks.

While she and Venus would win doubles gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 , they'd capture another 14 Grand Slam titles in doubles - it would be Serena that would skyrocket herself into another stratosphere on the singles court, winning 19 of their 31 head-to-head match ups and collecting 73 singles titles, her final trophy hoist coming at Auckland in 2020 that also marked a first for the I've-done-it-all champion: First as a mum.

Serena's lasting legacy - and what comes next

But to contextualise what Serena did on court is impossible without also reflecting on her out-sized impact off the court, too. For much of the mid-2000s, Serena - who had claimed five of eight majors between 2002-03 - won just two Grand Slams from 2004 to 2007, often criticised for not playing enough tennis.

She was "moonlighting outside of tennis", explained TIME Magazine in 2022. That moonlighting included acting, a reality series with Venus, magazine covers, music videos and much, much more.

While some questioned the off-court schedule as "distracting", Williams was re-writing the playbook, a move that would be bolstered by her longevity and late-career successes, including a pair of Olympic golds as well as 10 major singles titles after the age of 30 - an age that many previous superstars had hung up their rackets.

Later in her career, Williams approached a myriad of social issues head on, including in 2015 when she returned to the WTA 1000 at Indian Wells 14 years after she was booed by a largely White crowd in an episode that oozed with racism.

"I just felt like it was time," Williams told reporters upon return , making a run to the semi-finals. "[This] was a wonderful day for me, for women's tennis, for tennis in general... and for everyone."

Williams even sought to change the culture around "retirement" in pro sports, writing in Vogue in the summer of 2022 that she was "evolving away" from tennis: "I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis," she wrote. "Toward other things that are important to me."

What are those things? For now, it includes motherhood, investing in female- and BIPOC-owned business ventures, working with her sponsorship partners, and living life away from the tennis grind, having given birth to a second daughter, Adira, in August of 2023.

"For me, tennis has been such a huge part of my life, I can't imagine not being involved in tennis," she said in her final US Open press conference. "I don't know what that involvement is yet. I think it means so much to me in my life, and I've had so many amazing moments, that I don't see a future without it.

"What's my involvement? I have no idea."

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ONCE UPON A TIME IN COMPTON

As the world knows, Serena is more than a record-smashing, boundary-breaking tennis champion. Her achievements, on and off the court, make her one of the most recognizable names and faces in the world – the G.O.A.T.

Serena’s lifelong passion for design led her to fashion school, which she attended in between winning Grand Slams. In 2018, she launched her own clothing line, S by Serena, designed to empower people to look and feel their absolute best. For Serena, jewelry and fashion go hand-in-hand, and she launched her eponymous jewelry line in 2019. Her designs are inspired by strong, confident women, and celebrate life’s authentic milestones.

Focused on investing in companies that embrace diverse leadership and opportunity, Serena is effecting change in the financial investments sector with her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures. Serena has also flexed her star power in the media and entertainment worlds with roles in movies, series, music videos, and more. Her 2018 award-winning docuseries, Being Serena, continues to inspire people around the world.

At the end of the day, family is Serena’s #1 priority. As the youngest of five girls, she comes from a loving and supportive family. Now, her daughter Olympia is the center of her world and part of her everyday - from business meetings to Disney dance parties.

OFF THE COURT

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Serena: ‘What she does and what she achieved, it’s something unbelievable’

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Serena Williams grew up in Compton , where she and her older sister Venus learned to play tennis on gritty public courts under the strict watch of their father, Richard. But both sisters now belong to the world, so dramatically have they changed their sport while making it better and more inclusive.

Serena has won more titles than her sister has, though she unfailingly credits Venus with leading the way along the unlikely path that two quiet but eager youngsters to become majestic Grand Slam champions.

They automatically defied the norm by being black in a largely white sport. Serena also flouted the norm with a muscular physique that puts thunder into her serve. She has used her power and presence to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles, one short of matching Margaret Court’s record . She won her last major at the 2017 Australian Open while she was in the early weeks of pregnancy with her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

Williams has attained that rare level of fame where she’s known by her first name alone. It’s whispered by worshipful young women who took up the sport because they saw a successful athlete who looked like them, and voiced respectfully by casual fans and rivals. “What she does and what she achieved, it’s something unbelievable,” Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina said after Williams routed her 6-3, 6-1 in a semifinal of the 2019 U.S. Open.

Because her career winnings exceed $92.7 million (more than double those of the runner-up, her sister Venus) and she fights for equitable pay for female tennis players, Williams has transcended the confines of the court, a truth she firmly rejects.

“I would be pontificating to a level I wouldn’t even know to say I’m a superstar,” she said during the 2019 U.S. Open. “Obviously, I’m just Serena. I don’t try to be anybody else. I don’t try to be famous. I don’t try to be anything.”

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She has long been a role model for women of color such as Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and phenom Coco Gauff, but Williams takes no credit for inspiring them. “I can’t be presumptuous and say that’s because of me. I think it’s because of these young women, and their parents and coaches want them to do something amazing,” Williams says. “I think tennis is a great sport for females and it’s a great way to showcase your personality, be yourself, make a great living and still do something that you absolutely love.”

Williams was ranked No. 1 in the world when she took a maternity break in 2017. Olympia Ohanian was born Sept. 1 by Cesarean section, and Williams’ health was endangered when she developed blood clots. She needed several surgeries and was bed-ridden for six weeks. Tennis became secondary to recovery.

When she returned to competition at the 2018 BNP Paribas Open, she was ranked No. 549. She also wasn’t seeded at the French Open. In part because of the attention she brought to the issue, the Women’s Tennis Assn. decided to give protection to the rankings of women who return to the tour after giving birth or have been absent because of injury, allowing them to use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period after their comeback.

Williams, 38, has reached four Grand Slam finals since her return — at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open the last two years — but didn’t win a set in any of those matches . She lost in the third round at this year’s Australian Open and has acknowledged she’s still balancing the demands of her tennis career with the primal emotions of motherhood .

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“You know, it’s hard. Sometimes my heart literally aches when I’m not around her,” she said of her daughter during last year’s U.S. Open. “But you know, it’s good for me, I guess, to keep working. And just to all the moms out there, it’s not easy. It’s really kind of painful sometimes. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.”

Williams’ legacy as a cultural icon and the greatest female player tennis has ever known is secure even if she doesn’t capture that record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title. But don’t underestimate the fire that still drives her and fuels her confidence about winning another Slam singles title. “I definitely do believe or I wouldn’t be on tour,” she said after her loss in Australia in January. “I don’t play just to have fun. To lose is really not fun, to play to lose, personally.”

She never has played to lose, and never will.

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Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

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Serena Williams: The Queen and Her Court

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• Published June 17, 2021 Updated Aug. 25, 2021

SEEING SERENA By Gerald Marzorati

I was sitting in the pressroom backstage at the U.S. Open, surrounded by a chatty horde of media from around the globe, when Serena Williams strode in wearing a form-fitting top and a tennis skirt. It was the first time I was near her and the sight of her up close was breathtaking. She was muscular and radiating power like a warrior queen. This was about 20 years ago but she was, then as now, one of the very best players in the world. And she was already a complex, polarizing figure. I watched her dismantle tiny Martina Hingis, and even though the U.S. Open crowd loves Americans, aggressive players, new stars and winners, on that day the overwhelmingly white audience was clearly rooting for Hingis and merely tolerating Williams. Meanwhile, throughout the match, every Black friend I had who held even a passing interest in tennis was calling with glee to say, “She is amazing!”

Serena has evoked so many emotions and symbolized so many ideas that she, more than any other modern professional athlete, deserves a book-length meditation. Gerald Marzorati, a veteran tennis writer and former editor of The New York Times Magazine, has given us his version with “Seeing Serena,” a thoughtful journey through her 2019 season with stops at all of the major tournaments. Marzorati attended all the Slams and three other big tournaments and occasionally talked to Serena and other tennis luminaries, from her current coach Patrick Mouratoglou to her childhood coach Rick Macci to Chris Evert and Tracy Austin. Serena is portrayed as a global celebrity who’s inherently political — a Black superwoman like Oprah, Beyoncé or Michelle Obama, a body-conscious star in an era when people are expanding the definition of beauty, and a working mom in a time of celebrity sharenting.

Serena has, for years, been on the doorstep of tying the record for the most Grand Slam tournaments won — she’s one win away from it — but in Marzorati’s telling, the desire that’s most present for Serena is the imperative to win one as a mom. She’s been so dominant for so long it’s easy to forget that she has not won a single Grand Slam title since she became a mother. But that is one of the most challenging mountains in the sport — only one mother has won a Slam in the past 40 years. Part of the challenge is recovering your body after having a baby. Part of it is how the Women’s Tennis Association does not allow for any sort of maternity leave, so if you go off to have a baby, your ranking plummets and you have to rebuild your status. Part of it, too, is emotional — the mother’s imperative to do everything she possibly can for her baby is in direct conflict with the athlete’s need to do everything she possibly can for her sport. For Williams, who conquered the barriers of being Black in a white sport, of growing up poor in an expensive sport, and of lasting a long time in a young person’s sport, this last hurdle has proved the hardest.

Marzorati digs deep into the reasons for Serena’s dominance: She has the greatest serve the women’s game has ever seen and the greatest return of serve ever, too. These two strokes put her at an advantage at the start of every point and often push her opponents to the edge. “Williams’s returning prowess often forces a server to go for more on her serve,” Marzorati writes. “This, in turn, can lead to faults and double faults, and, even when not, to pressure. Causing stress, incessant stress: This has been an aspect of Williams’s game, over the years, as important as any. It can’t be tabulated like rally length or service placement, but it’s clear enough to those who have watched Williams that she can undo an opponent by mentally and emotionally straining her.”

There’s plenty of insight and detail in this book to please tennis nerds, but this is also a travelogue covering Marzorati’s year following Williams from Melbourne to Paris to London to New York. He gives us some of the flavor from each stop such that you get more than just tennis, you get the feel of having been on this dream trip following Serena around the globe. In England we hear about the origin of lawns and how that led to grass-court tennis, and about an exhibition of the work of the great African American visual artist Faith Ringgold, which puts him in mind of Serena because once you start looking at the world through a Serena lens, everything bends back to her.

Marzorati also relates highlights of Serena’s personal life, from sleeping in a little bed with her older sister Venus in their childhood home in Compton to hiding out from her father in her Paris apartment to meeting the man who would become her husband in an Italian hotel. In a world where the Black family seems invisible, Serena has always been seen as a devoted family person. From her first foray into stardom she was surrounded by family. The love between Serena and Venus is heart-wrenchingly sweet. As kids, Marzorati writes, “when they played practice points against each other in the park in Compton, Serena would ‘hook’ her — call balls out that Venus had clearly hit in — and Venus would say nothing.” Everyone deserves to know love like that. Now, Serena is in the twilight of her career, and her husband is in her box, and her daughter does commercials and photo shoots with her, and even her daughter’s doll Qai Qai has had her own 15 minutes. Serena is such a giant star that people in her orbit become stars, too.

The trip through Serena’s childhood raised questions for me about how we have chosen to view her and what details we’ve focused on and which ones we’ve ignored. It’s critical to the mythology of Serena that she is from Compton, that iconic city, the home of N.W.A. The media mentions it constantly, as if to endlessly burnish her credentials as a “real” Black person, i.e., one who rose from poverty. But the full story is more complicated. Serena’s father moved the family to Compton by choice because he thought it would forge greatness and also because living there lowered his mortgage payments immensely, meaning he could worry less about his business and think more about teaching his daughters how to play. The toughness and the vibe of the place seem to be part of Serena, but the Williamses moved to Florida so she could attend tennis academies when she was just 9 years old. Compton gets a lot of mention for a place she left at 9 — she’s from the world of institutional tennis just as much as she’s from there, but “she grew up at tennis academies” is not quite as evocative. And sometimes “she’s from Compton” plays into hoary stereotypes of Blackness that turn painful for Black viewers when, say, Serena gets angry on the court and white pundits and cartoonists look at her like some stereotypical Angry Black Woman, conveniently forgetting that all athletes under high pressure get furious at some point.

Marzorati says Serena became “the most consequential athlete America had produced since Muhammad Ali.” But where Ali’s political stances were revolutionary, nowadays it’s considered a sin for athletes with large platforms to not speak up. Serena has not been overtly political because her Jehovah’s Witness faith forbids it. Marzorati is understanding about this, but another writer might have chosen to take her to task for being silent. Is being political in the political-as-personal sense enough when Black people are dying at the hands of the police? It is disappointing to see Serena remain quiet in a world where Colin Kaepernick and LeBron James and Megan Rapinoe and Maya Moore and Naomi Osaka are using their platforms to try to make the world better.

Marzorati has written a deep, satisfying meditation on Serena’s path through an unsatisfying year. But she’s still the greatest tennis player ever, and it’s instructive to watch her become a Madison Avenue darling after being rejected by so many white fans early in her career; it says a Black person can eventually win ’em over if she’s a winner and she’s sympathetic and she’s nonthreatening. Serena may be fearsome on the court, but her apolitical nature means she’s not going to challenge white supremacy in ways that make fans feel uncomfortable, while her personal triumph gives them a chance to feel good about rooting for a Black woman who’s risen up from Compton.

Touré, an avid tennis player, is the host of the podcasts “Touré Show” and “Who Was Prince?”

SEEING SERENA By Gerald Marzorati 257 pp. Scribner. $26.

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Serena Williams Biography: Personal Life, Career and Achievements

Introduction

Quick facts about serena williams, serena williams’ childhood, start of career of serena williams, serena williams’ career, what are serena williams biggest achievements.

In every sport there are players who stand out, but not many have been able to change the game. Serena Williams did. The former American women’s tennis player revolutionized women’s tennis along with her older sister Venus , with whom she set up a mighty duo known as the Williams sisters. Here, get to know more about Serena.

Serena Williams is a former American female tennis player widely considered as one of the greatest and most impactful athletes of all time. She was world number 1 of the WTA rankings on several occasions and won 23 Grand Slams singles titles, the most by any tennis player (male or female) in the open era.

• Full Name : Serena Jameka Williams
• Birth date : September 26, 1981
• Place of birth : Saginaw, Michigan, United States
• Nationality : American
• Parents : Richard Williams and Oracene Price
• Siblings : Isha Price, Lyndrea Price, Yetunde Price (half sisters), Venus Williams
• Husband : Alexis Ohanian
• Children : Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. ‍
• Parents' vocations : His mother was a nurse, and his father founded a security company.

Serena was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan as the youngest member of five sisters—but only she and Venus were Richard Williams’ daughters, Oracene had three children from a previous marriage.

The Williams family moved together to Compton, California , where Serena and Venus had gotten involved early with tennis, encouraged by both parents—but mostly by Richard. The father of the Williams sisters taught them how to play tennis from the very beginning, taking them to public courts near the house.

Richard’s Influence 

Serena’s father looked into different material to instruct his daughters, including tennis books and videos. His intention was to get the best out of them , hopefully helping them succeed as professional tennis players. In fact, the family’s relocation to the dangerous area of Compton apparently had to do with Richard trying to make the Williams sisters understand the value of working hard and getting a proper education.

Training with Richard

Serena endured the long hours of practicing and her father’s strict methods from the very beginning, preparing herself to eventually take the tennis world by storm. The movie King Richard takes a deep look into Richard’s methods to make her daughters reach their full potential. It received multiple nominations and Will Smith—who played Richard—won his first Oscar for Best Actor.

The two sisters were notably prodigious, and, when Serena was 10 years old, they moved to Florida to start attending the Rick Macci Tennis Academy. As a junior tennis player, she went on a run of 46-3 and was ranked first in the 10-and-under division of the junior United States Tennis Association.

Serena started her professional career in 1995, a year after Venus. From the very beginning, the world started to notice the strengths of the youngest of the Williams sisters. Serena’s best traits as a player were a powerful serve , great athleticism and strong ground strokes.

First Success

Starting below 300th place in the Women’s Tennis Association ranking, it didn’t take long for Serena to climb her way up to the top 100. In 1998, Serena started to write her legacy by winning the mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open . By the end of the year, she already was No. 20 in the WTA Ranking.

Though many predicted Venus would be the first sister to win a Grand Slam singles title, Serena proved them wrong by winning her first Grand Slam at the 1999 US Open. This made her the second African-American woman to conquer a Grand Slam, but it also propelled Serena to the fourth spot in the world ranking.

A few months after winning Wimbledon, Serena and Venus Williams teamed up again to claim the gold medal in women’s doubles at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. 

Early in 2001, Serena and Venus became the fifth double team to win all Grand Slam titles by emerging victorious at the Australian Open. The sisters faced each other later that year in the US Open final, where Venus had the upper hand.

However, Serena came back stronger in 2002 by winning the French Open , Wimbledon, and the US Open, beating her sister in all three finals to regain the top spot of the world ranking at the expense of Venus.

Relationship with Venus

Still, there was no rivalry between them, as they teamed up to win the doubles title at Wimbledon. In fact, the Williams sisters lived together in Palm Beach for more than a decade throughout their careers.

The sisters continued to face each other in many singles finals while being teammates at double events . In 2003, Serena extended her winning streak against Venus to win the Australian Open for the first time, completing a career Grand Slam . On top of that, she also became the fifth woman to hold all majors titles simultaneously—a feat dubbed as “Serena Slam” by the media.

The Williams duo, who had won the Australian Open in doubles, also clashed at the Wimbledon final that year, with Serena once again defeating Venus. The sisters, however, endured a tragic loss that year, as half-sister Yetunde Price was murdered in Los Angeles, California.

Huge Setback & Great Comeback

After winning her second Australian Open in 2005, Serena suffered an injury-marred year in 2006 . Consequently, she dropped below the top 10 in the WTA ranking.

The tennis star, however, made an impressive comeback in 2007 by beating Maria Sharapova to win her third Australian Open women’s singles title. Serena eventually made his way back to the top 10 , finishing the year in seventh place.

The Williams Sisters Continue to Dominate

Her resurgence continued the following year, winning the US Open singles titles and reaching the Wimbledon final—losing to Venus. The sisters were also back stronger in 2008. After winning another Grand Slam event together at Wimbledon, Serena and Venus Williams recorded their second gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing .

The Williams sisters carried their commanding performances to 2009, winning in doubles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. In singles, Serena also had a remarkable season in which she won in Australia and The Championships. For the second time in her career, Serena finished the year as the world No. 1.

While she retained her Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2010, Serena once again succeeded with her sister in doubles. On the other hand, 2011 was a tough year for Serena. The tennis star had to spend time on the sidelines due to different health issues , with doctors finding a blood clot in one of her lungs.

Coming Back Stronger

It wasn’t long before she was back at full strength on the tennis court, as Serena made another outstanding comeback in 2012. Shortly after winning at Wimbledon both in singles and doubles, Williams won a gold medal in the singles event of the 2012 London Olympics to become the second woman after Steffi Graf to complete a career Golden Slam . Far from being satisfied, Serena later picked up her 15th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.

Making History

In 2013, Serena won two more Grand Slam tournaments in singles, first at the French Open and later at Flushing Meadows , becoming the oldest US Open winner . She repeated the US Open championship the following year to claim her 18th Grand Slam title—the second most women’s singles titles in the open era along with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

2015 saw an even greater version of Williams, who completed her second career Grand Slam by capturing the first three Grand Slams singles titles of the year while holding the 2014 US Open title.

Serena was unable to repeat such a successful season in 2016 and ended up losing her No. 1 ranking, but she still managed to win at Wimbledon to make it 22 Grand Slam singles titles— tying Steffi Graf’s record .

Big Family News

She would break that record in 2017, beating Venus in the Australian Open final to claim her 23rd Grand Slam championship. Months later, Serena announced she was expecting a baby with his fiance Alexis Ohanian (cofounder of Reddit) and would therefore take a break from tennis.

Serena gave birth to a girl in September , and married Ohanian two months later, inviting celebrities such as Eva Longoria to the wedding in New Orleans. She suffered from complications following the birth of her daughter, and had to stay away from the courts for several months.

Back to the Court

Williams returned to the tennis court in March 2018, losing in the fourth round of the French Open. Though she didn’t win a title that year, she reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals.

After losing in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, in 2019 she once again came close to winning both Wimbledon and the US Open, also losing both times in the final. After nearly three years of wait, Serena won a singles title again at the 2020 ASB Classic in New Zealand .

One Final Ride

The tennis star made an inspiring run in the 2021 Australian Open, beating Simona Halep to reach the semifinals, but lost to Naomi Osaka . She also competed in Wimbledon and the US Open that year, but injuries forced her to quit both tournaments.

Williams continued to struggle with injuries for much of the 2022 season. She was able to take part at Wimbledon, but couldn’t make it past the first round. In an interview with Vogue Serena revealed that she would retire from tennis after the US Open.

Unsurprisingly, thousands of people attended the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to witness the last dance of the tennis legend. Serena bid farewell to the sport in inspiring fashion , making it to the third round.

Personal Life

Her rise to stardom also enabled Serena to do other activities not related to tennis. Apart from having her own clothing line, Aneres , she appeared on the cover of several magazines and also starred in different TV shows. Her autobiography, titled On the Line , was published in 2009.

Singles Titles

• Titles : 73
• Career record : 858–156

Grand Slam Singles Titles

Doubles titles.

• Career record: 192–35

Grand Slam Doubles Titles

Grand slams titles in mixed doubles, olympic medals, records and feats.

• In 2012, she became the second woman in history to achieve a career Golden Grand Slam.
• She is the only woman to accomplish a career Golden Slam in doubles and singles.
• Most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era ( 23 )
• In 2013, she became the oldest world No. 1 female player , at 31 years old.
• Three Olympic gold medals in doubles (along with Venus Williams).
• 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.

Conclusions

Serena Williams has been one of the most impactful athletes in sports history, and, along with her sister Venus, she changed women’s tennis forever.

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• World Biography

Serena Williams Biography

September 26, 1981 • Saginaw, Michigan

Tennis player

Beginning in the late 1990s, Serena Williams became one of the world's most talented and exciting tennis players. With her outgoing personality, unique fashion sense, and striking good looks, Williams would have commanded attention even if she hadn't been a topranked professional player. But her skills on the court happen to be extraordinary, the result of years of training, natural ability, and a powerful determination to win. Williams has gained additional attention as an African American athlete in a sport generally dominated by white players. Her 1999 singles victory at the U.S. Open made her only the second black woman ever to win a Grand Slam title; Althea Gibson (1927–2003) was the first. The Grand Slam tournaments—the Australian Open, Roland Garros (better known as the French Open), Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open—are among the game's most visible and significant events for pros.

By Williams's side—and often across the net—has been her older sister, Venus, an equally commanding player. Both sisters spent several years at the top of the world tennis rankings, each reaching the number-one position in 2002. As of the summer of 2004, Serena Williams had won six singles titles in Grand Slam events as well as numerous doubles titles, including a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. An ambitious, multitalented person, Williams has also, since 2002, explored acting, appearing in several television episodes and pursuing film roles as well. In addition, she has, along with her sister, studied fashion design.

"Just watching her is inspiring. I just want her to have it all. To be honest, I want more for her than I do for myself."

Venus Williams, People magazine, June 28, 2004.

From diapers to tennis skirts

The youngest of five daughters born to Richard and Oracene (who goes by the nickname Brandy), Serena and the rest of the Williams family moved from her birthplace of Saginaw, Michigan, to Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, California, when she was a baby. An economically depressed area, Compton is a rough, often violent neighborhood, and the Williams sisters occasionally witnessed exchanges of gunfire. An avid fan of tennis, Richard Williams envisioned his daughters as champions even before they were born. He bought books and instructional videotapes, teaching himself and his wife how to play tennis so they could then teach their daughters. Both Serena and Venus showed promise at a very early age, prompting their outspoken father to begin making predictions about their future success in the tennis world. Coached by her father, Serena entered her first tennis tournament at age four and a half, and her father recalls that, over the next five years, she won forty-six of the next forty-nine tournaments she entered. She and Venus both excelled in the highly competitive preteen circuit in Southern California, both attaining a number-one ranking in their respective age groups. Before reaching their teen years, the sisters had begun attracting attention far beyond the borders of their home state. They received offers for endorsement deals from sporting-goods companies and invitations to prestigious tennis camps.

In 1991 Richard Williams withdrew the girls from junior tournaments, a decision that was widely criticized by tennis insiders. The junior circuit is accepted as the conventional path to tennis stardom, but Richard wanted to protect his daughters from the intense competition and from what he perceived as racial hostility from other players. Richard invited teaching pro Rick Macci—who had earlier coached such tennis stars as Mary Pierce and Jennifer Capriati—to come to Compton and watch his daughters play tennis. Macci came, and he was impressed by the sisters' skill and athleticism. He invited them to study with him at his Florida academy, and soon after, the family relocated to the Sunshine State. The proceeds from a clothing endorsement contract for Serena and Venus allowed the family to purchase a home in Palm Beach Gardens, not far from the tennis school.

Grand Slam Victories

Serena Williams has won numerous singles and doubles titles at Grand Slam events (the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open). Below are listed her victories through the end of the 2003 season:

Singles: Australian Open, 2003 French Open, 2002 Wimbledon, 2002, 2003 U.S. Open, 1999, 2002 Doubles (all with sister Venus): Australian Open, 2001, 2003 French Open, 1999 Wimbledon, 2000, 2002 U.S. Open, 1999 Mixed Doubles (both with Max Mirnyi): Wimbledon, 1998 U.S. Open, 1998

By 1993 the girls had left school, opting to continue their education at home and spend as much time as possible honing their tennis skills. Later they both returned to a school setting, enrolling at a small, private school called Driftwood Academy. Williams graduated from high school in 1999. In 1995, at age fourteen, Williams turned pro, arousing controversy among many who felt athletes should be older before they become professionals. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the governing body of women's professional tennis, barred competitors from WTA events at that age, so Williams's first pro event was a non-WTA tournament in Quebec, Canada. She was quickly eliminated from that competition. Her introduction to professional play indicated that she needed additional training time, and Richard decided that his youngest daughter should take a break from competition for the remainder of that year and the following year as well.

A tentative beginning

Williams began 1997, her first year as a WTA competitor, in the shadow of her sister, who had shown herself to be a promising young player. The Ameritech Cup in Chicago, however, made it clear that Serena Williams was more than just the little sister of Venus: she was a budding star in her own right. At that tournament, she shocked observers by defeating Mary Pierce, then ranked seventh in the world among women players, in the second round. Further defying expectations, Williams went on to defeat fourth-ranked Monica Seles in the quarterfinals before losing to Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals. She completed the 1997 season ranked ninety-nine, an impressive debut year for a sixteen-year-old player.

She continued to build her skills and confidence in 1998, beating a number of players ranked far above her. One such victory—beating ninth-ranked Irina Spirlea in the first round of the Australian Open—led her to a matchup against her sister in the next round. Venus won that match, a victory that aroused complex emotions for both sisters. Venus, accustomed to her role as big sister, wanted to take care of and protect her sister. Serena had spent most of her life looking up to Venus and working to be just like her. Both sisters, however, also felt an intense drive to win, regardless of who is on the other side of the net.

The Williams sisters have since met many times as opponents. Some observers have suggested that they lack their usual passion when they play each other, a charge both have denied. Such matchups do result in mixed feelings, however, with the victor feeling both triumphant and regretful. Serena and Venus are best friends, but they are also intensely competitive with each other, and each sister uses the other's success as motivation to improve. In a 1998 article, Serena told Sports Illustrated for Kids, "I've learned a lot from watching Venus. Her results have encouraged me to work harder so that I can do well, too."

The Williams sisters have also played together many times as a doubles team, with 1998 marking the first time the sisters won a professional match together. Serena also won two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles that year—at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open—with partner Max Mirnyi. While she had yet to win a major singles title, Williams earned more than $2 million dollars during 1998. The following year proved even more successful, with Williams winning a number of events. Her first singles title of the year was at the Paris Indoors tournament; Venus won a tournament the same day in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, marking the first time in the history of professional tennis that two sisters won championships on the same day—or even in the same week. The professional highlight of the year came when Williams defeated three of the top-four tennis players in the world to win the singles title at the U.S. Open. It was her first singles victory at a Grand Slam event, and the first time in more than forty years—since Althea Gibson's win in 1958—that an African American woman won a Grand Slam singles title. Another 1999 milestone was Williams's first professional victory over her sister, beating Venus in the Grand Slam Cup. The two teamed up to win two Grand Slam doubles events that year, at the French Open and the U.S. Open. Williams finished the 1999 season as the fourth-ranked women's player in the world.

Unstoppable

The following two years proved difficult for Williams, with a series of injuries resulting in a number of losses and forcing her to withdraw from several tournaments. High points of the 2000 season included doubles victories, with Venus as her partner, at both Wimbledon and the Olympic Games. The sisters won the doubles title at the Australian Open in 2001, marking their dominance in doubles at all four Grand Slam events.

Having recovered in spectacular fashion from her various injuries and illnesses of the preceding years, Williams seemed unstoppable in 2002. The best players in the women's game were no match for her unparalleled strength and speed on the court. She was victorious in eight out of the eleven tournaments she entered, earning nearly $4 million in prize money. At the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami, Florida, Williams defeated the top three players in the world, including her sister, to win the singles title. This achievement marked one of many history-making wins: she joined tennis great Steffi Graf (1969–) as the only ones to defeat the world's three best players in one tournament. Three times that year—at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open—Serena met Venus in the finals of a Grand Slam event, and three times she defeated her sister. After her victory at Wimbledon, Williams became the top-ranked women's tennis player in the world. During the U.S. Open Serena wore a one-piece black outfit made by Puma, a company she had signed a hefty endorsement deal with a few years earliers. The outfit—so different from the traditional white tennis dress—attracted nearly as much attention as Williams's playing. The real story of 2002, however, was that she was one of just seven women in the history of the game to win three consecutive Grand Slam titles in a single year.

The following year, 2003, Williams completed her sweep of Grand Slam events, beating her sister to win the singles title at the Australian Open. She won a number of other significant singles titles that year, including a second consecutive win at Wimbledon. She held on to her number-one ranking for over a year, until August of 2003. Williams's extraordinary success was recognized by the cable sports network ESPN during its annual ESPY awards program: she won the ESPY for best female tennis player and best female athlete. The year proved a difficult one regarding injuries, but such problems seemed insignificant compared to the tragedy Williams and her family endured in September of 2003: her sister, Yetunde Price, was killed in Los Angeles, a victim of a random act of violence.

Life outside of tennis

For much of 2004, Williams dealt with a recurring knee injury. She won the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami for the third year in a row, but at many other tournaments of the year she was either defeated or had to withdraw due to injury. Her pursuits outside of tennis began taking up more of her time as well, particularly her efforts to become an actress. Beginning in 2002, Williams started earning guest roles on various television shows, including My Wife and Kids, Showtime's Street Time, and Law and Order. She also scored a part in Hair Show, a feature film completed in 2004. Williams told Alex Tresniowski of People magazine that she's a natural-born performer: "If I hadn't played tennis, I was destined to be an actress. I'm a complete drama queen."

Williams has, in spite of her tremendous wealth and success, remained down to earth. She is a devout Jehovah's Witness, a Christian denomination that involves intensive Bible study and the preaching of biblical teachings to others. While some have criticized the Williams sisters for what they perceive to be arrogance and unfriendliness, Serena and Venus have also developed a reputation for avoiding petty exchanges of insults among tennis players. As world-famous tennis stars, they have been the subject of numerous rumors and negative reports in the media, but they try to ignore such press. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey for O, The Oprah Magazine, Serena reported that she doesn't care what others think of her—"as long as my family knows who I am. And I know that a lie can't live forever. Most of the lies people tell about us are eventually washed away, so they don't bother me." Williams attributes her levelheadedness to her strong family relationships and spiritual background. "My mom raised us to be strong women," she told Winfrey. "We were taught that things like peer pressure didn't exist for us."

For More Information

Periodicals.

Leand, Andrea. "Smash Sisters." Sports Illustrated for Kids (August 1998): p. 34.

Toure. "The Queen." Sports Illustrated Women (December 1, 2002): p. 62.

Tresniowski, Alex. "Second Serve." People (June 28, 2004): p. 136.

Winfrey, Oprah. "Oprah Talks to Venus and Serena Williams." O, The Oprah Magazine (March 2003): p. 186.

Serena Williams. http://www.serenawilliams.com/ (accessed on August 17, 2004).

"Serena Williams." ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/tennis/s/wta/profiles/swilliams.html (accessed on August 17, 2004).

"Serena Williams." WTA Tour. http://www.wtatour.com/players/playerprofiles/PlayerBio.asp?ID=&EntityID=1&CustomerID=0&OrderID=0&ReturnURL=/&PlayerID=230234 (accessed on August 24, 2004).

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Biography of Serena Williams

This comprehensive Biography of Serena Williams delves into the various facets of Serena’s remarkable life, chronicling her journey from a tennis prodigy to a global icon.

Serena Jameka Williams stands as a beacon of excellence in tennis, transcending the sport with her unparalleled achievements, indomitable spirit, and commitment to making a positive impact beyond the court.

Personal Information

Born September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, Serena Williams emerged as the youngest of five sisters. Her father, Richard Williams, played a pivotal role in shaping her tennis career, instilling a passion for the sport that would define her life.

Childhood and Impacts

Serena’s childhood was marked by resilience and determination. The family relocated to Compton, California, where financial constraints did not deter Serena and her sister Venus from honing their tennis skills on public courts. The impact of this early training regimen laid the foundation for Serena’s future dominance in the tennis world.

Family and Personal Existence:

• Father: Richard Williams
• Mother: Oracene Price

The Williams family played an integral role in Serena’s success. Richard’s vision and Oracene’s unwavering support created a nurturing environment for the sisters to flourish in their tennis careers.

Love and Marriage:

Serena’s personal life has been a subject of public interest, marked by high-profile relationships. However, her engagement to Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, captured the world’s attention. The couple tied the knot on November 16, 2017, in a lavish ceremony in New Orleans. Their union brought forth a beautiful daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., born on September 1, 2017.

A Glimpse into Her Tennis Triumphs

Grand slam titles.

Serena Williams boasts an unparalleled record, holding the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era. Her achievements include completing the Career Golden Slam and securing the Serena Slam twice, a testament to her dominance and consistency in the competitive world of tennis.

Beyond the Court Humanitarian

Serena Williams’s impact extends far beyond her athletic prowess. She has leveraged her platform for various philanthropic endeavours:

• Serena Williams Fund: Established to support education and victims of violence, showcasing her commitment to social causes.
• Business Ventures: Serena’s investments in businesses, including ownership stakes in the Miami Dolphins and UFC, highlight her entrepreneurial acumen.
• Advocacy for Gender Equality: A vocal advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, Serena uses her influence to champion critical societal issues.

In conclusion, Serena Williams’s biography is a testament to the triumph of determination, talent, and resilience. From a childhood marked by challenges to becoming one of the greatest athletes ever, Serena’s journey is awe-inspiring. Her impact goes beyond the tennis court into philanthropy, business, and advocacy. Serena Williams is not just a tennis legend but a role model, an entrepreneur, and a force for positive change. As her legacy unfolds, Serena remains an inspiration for generations, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981. You can subtract her birth year from the current year to find her age.

Serena Williams is famous for being one of the greatest tennis players ever. She has won numerous Grand Slam singles titles and has held the world No. 1 ranking in women’s singles tennis multiple times. Her athleticism, powerful playing style, and dominance in the sport contributed to her fame.

Net worth can change over time due to various factors such as investments, endorsements, and business ventures.

Serena Williams has won Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles tennis. She has partnered with her sister, Venus Williams, to achieve these victories in the Olympics.

Serena Williams had not retired from professional tennis. Retirement decisions can be personal and influenced by various factors, so checking the latest news for the most current information is essential.

Serena Williams is among the most successful tennis players, especially in the Open Era. While several players have succeeded, it’s crucial to note that records can change. As of my last update, Margaret Court holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in tennis history. However, Serena Williams has had an illustrious career and is among the all-time greats in the sport.

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Serena Williams Biography Facts, Childhood, Personal Life

Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player. She is one of the many names that ring a bell in the exciting game of lawn tennis. By the dint of her sheer achievements, Serena Williams is arguably the all-time great women tennis player. With an Open Era record of 23 grand slam singles titles to her name, she’s definitely one female tigress to look out for in the game. Strong, swift, and versatile. Blessed with incredible skills, every single swing of her racket is a potential winning point. We examine the indebt life, wins and defeats of this glorified sports character in our Serena Williams biography facts, childhood and personal life. Highlights include her achievements and awards.

Table of Contents

Serena Williams Biography Facts, Age, Zodiac

Serena williams childhood and early life.

Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price (now divorced). She was the youngest of five girls. She grew up in the dusty Los Angeles suburb of Compton, wherein her father was running a private security firm. She picked up her love for the sport at the tender age of three, practising on a court not far from the family’s home alongside her sister Venus. Serena had two-hour a day practices with her father. Her potential to become great in the game, could not be over-looked and soon thereafter, she started attending the tennis academy of Rick Macci, who polished her in-born skills and talent.

By 1991, she had scored 46-3 on the United States Tennis Association Junior tour and ranked first in the 10-and-under division. The family moved to Florida. However, her father pulled her and sister Venus out of the game, sensing his girls needed better instruction to become successful professionals and the demanding schedule of the game may burn them out quickly.

Serena Williams Tennis Career

Serena went professional at the age of 14, against her parent’s wish.  At that age, she entered her first professional tournament after some setbacks by the WTA as a result of age issues in a prior event. Serena was ousted out of her first professional tournament after winning just two games.

After staying out of action in 1996, Serena return to the court was well received as she defeated prominent top 10 players, which earned her the 99 th spot at the end of 1997.

1998, saw Serena and her sister, Venus, begin their journey to the peak of tennis after they won their first professional titles in doubles. At the end of 1998, Serena had catapulted to the 29 th spot in the singles rank. After losing in the third round of the Australian Open, a determined Serena strove hard to secure her first Professional singles titles, the Open Gaz de France. She also went on to win the IGA Super thrift classic with her sister, becoming the first sisters to win a professional tournament in the same week.

By 2000, after series of lost and defeats, even failing to defend her titles in Paris and Indiana wells, she made up for those losses by picking up a gold medal in doubles alongside her sister at the Sydney Olympics.

Early 2002, injuries cut short her playing times as she had to retire from the semi-final match at the Medibank International Sydney and later withdrew from the Australian Open, upon returning from injury, she grabbed the Scottsdale, Arizona and her first Master title in the process becoming one of three players to defeat the world’s top 3 ranked players at one tournament, beating No. 3, Martina Hingis, in the quarterfinals, No. 2 Venus her sister in the semi-finals, and No. 1 Capriati, in the final. Later at Wimbledon, she defeated her sister Venus to win a Grand Slam singles title without dropping a set for the first time in her career which resulted in her climbing to the top spot rank of World No. 1 becoming the third African-American to hold that rank. She won three Grand Slam titles that year.

Again she fell in the deep waters of injury and got sidelined out of action for a period of eight months. She made a triumphant return in March 2004 and clinch the NASDAQ-100 Open title in Miami. She later went on to win the China Open.

During the 2005 Australian Open, the media made up discouraging suggestions stating Serena and her sister Venus were becoming a declining force in the game due to Venus’s early exit in the tournament but that didn’t steer off a determined Serena as she proves the media all wrong and went on to win her second Australian Open title defeating top seed, Davenport in the final. This win shot her to the No. 2 spot. The rest of the 2005 season filled with injuries, withdrawals and setbacks for Serena.

2006 was much more a tough year for Serena. She suffers from depression and stayed out of pro tennis for six months. She cut off and shut herself from the world for a period, seeing a therapist daily. But after meeting with a young girl who happens to be a die-hard fan of Serena she felt inspire and returned back to the court. She returns back to claim her third Australian Open and overall eight Grand Slam singles title despite not being seeded, overcoming mental, emotional and physical obstacles to do that. She dedicated the title to her late half-sister Yetunde. She won another three singles title at Bangalore and a fifth Miami title tying Steffi Graf for the most singles title won at this tournament. She picks up the gold medal in doubles alongside her sister at the Beijing Olympics.

She won her 10 th Grand Slam singles title at the 2009 Australian Open in just 59 minutes a rare feat which returned her to the No. 1 spot and her becoming the all-time career prize money leader in women’s sport. She was named best female athlete of that year.

In 2015 at the Miami Open, she recorded her 700 th match win in her career by defeating Sabine Lisicki and became the eight woman in the Open Era to do so. She completed her famous “Serena Slam” i:e winning all four Grand Slams in a row at the 2015 Wimbledon Championship, winning her sixth Wimbledon and 21 st Grand Slam singles title overall.

The year 2016, she lost in the Australian Open and French Open finals. But she bounces back winning the Wimbledon singles tournament. She lost her No. 1 ranking.

2017 started on a promising note for Serena as she defeated her sister Venus Williams to win the Australian Open. It was the 23rd Grand Slam singles title of her career. She was eight-weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open. On account of her pregnancy, she took a break from the court.

In early 2018, she pulled out from the opening Grand Slam tournament, stating she wasn’t ready yet to return to the court after the birth of her daughter in September. However, she returned to competition on February 11, one year after giving birth and made it to finals of the 2018 US Open. She lost the final match to Japan’s Naomi Osaka. Osaka won the match 6-2 6-4.

Serena Williams Personal Life

• In 2010, she broke up with rapper common and put an end to their romantic relationship.
• 2016, she announces her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. She gave birth to a girl on September 1, 2017. She named her Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
• November 17 2017, she walked down the aisle and tied the knot with longtime fiancé Alexis Ohanian.

Serena Williams Awards and Achievements

Serena has 39 Grand Slam titles to her name: 23 in singles, 14 in women’s doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles.

Grand Slam Single Wins

• Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017)
• French Open (2002, 2013, 2015)
• Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016)
• US Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Grand Slam Doubles Wins

• Australian Open (2001, 2003, 2009, 2010)
• French Open (1999, 2010)
• Wimbledon (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016)
• US Open (1999, 2010)

Serena holds the record of winning the most women’s singles matches at the Grand Slams.

SEE MORE: Biography facts and profile of famous tennis players

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serena williams is awesome

My mom always watches her and Serena mostly always win I like her to but not as much as my mom dose

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Serena Williams: The Inspiring Story of One of Tennis' Greatest Legends (Tennis Biography Books) Paperback – August 21, 2017

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Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Tennis Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys.

In Serena Williams: The Inspiring Story of One of Tennis' Greatest Legends , you will learn the inspirational story of one of tennis' premier legends, Serena Williams. Williams is arguably the greatest women's tennis player of all-time. At the time of this writing, she holds the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era with 23.

Fans from across the world adore Williams and with good reason: she serves as an exemplary role model for how to behave on and off the tennis court. She is not only elite in skill, but also in her sportsmanship. In this unauthorized biography, we'll explore Williams' journey to becoming one of the greatest, and learn what it has taken her to reach where she is today.

Pick up a copy of this tennis chapter book, perfect for sports fans of all ages, today.

Here is a preview of what is inside this Serena Williams biography book:

• Early Life and Childhood
• Early Professional Career
• First Grand Slam Title at the 1999 U.S. Open
• Serena's Dominance that Spans Decades
• Serena’s Top Rivals
• Williams' Personal Life
• The Legacy of Serena Williams

An excerpt from this Serena Williams biography:

She is the standard-bearer of women’s tennis as we know it right now, and any argument about the greatest player in the sport, either man or woman, must include her. Seemingly everything about her is a lightning rod for controversy, from her on-court outfits to her pointed post-match interviews after losses and whether her powerful serve and forehand are even good for women’s tennis.

Serena Williams is all of these things to all of these people. She has been the face of women’s tennis for more than two decades, having enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success that has come with an equally unprecedented amount of scrutiny by both supporters and detractors alike. Few have been able to reach her level professionally, and fewer still can understand the weight she has carried as an African-American at the pinnacle of a sport so long dominated by white people.

She had a unique upbringing alongside older sister and fellow star Venus Williams while under the watchful eye of her outspoken and controversial father, Richard Williams, as well as her mother, Oracene Price. Serena Williams has brought many things to the WTA Tour, far more good than bad, and she has not lacked for attention at any point in her standout career. The sport has made her a worldwide star; her race has made her an ambassador for African-Americans and her philanthropy while doing both has made her a role model who is constantly in demand.

The holder of an Open Era-record 23 Grand Slam titles and 72 overall WTA Tour titles, current fiancée and expecting mother, Serena Jemeka Williams has lived quite the extraordinary life in just under 35 years.

Tags: serena williams, serena williams biography, novak djokovic, roger federer, john mcenroe, venus williams, maria sharapova, alexis ohanian, caroline wozniacki, andy murray, rafael nadal, wimbledon, australian open, tennis greats, tennis legends, tennis books,tennis biographies, pete sampras, john mcenroe

• Part of series Tennis Biography Books
• Print length 178 pages
• Language English
• Publication date August 21, 2017
• Dimensions 6 x 0.41 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1975692292
• ISBN-13 978-1975692292
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 21, 2017)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 178 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1975692292
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1975692292
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.41 x 9 inches
• #216 in Tennis (Books)
• #3,196 in Sports Biographies (Books)

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Clayton geoffreys.

Clayton Geoffreys is a multi-time best-selling author on Amazon. He was born and raised in Norwalk, Connecticut. Growing up, Clayton could often be found spending afternoons reading in the local public library about management techniques and leadership styles, along with overall outlooks towards life. It was from spending those afternoons reading about how others have led productive lives that Clayton was inspired to write books. Usually Clayton write works around sports to learn more about influential athletes in the hopes that from his writing, you the reader can walk away inspired to put in an equal if not greater amount of hard work and perseverance to pursue your goals. If you are a sports junkie like Clayton, you can read his #1 Best Seller books on Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Russell Westbrook and Tom Brady.

Geoffreys has also written on a variety of other interests including but not limited to vitamins & supplements, retirement, psychology tests, and personal development.

You can sign up for goodies and the latest updates of his newest books at his website www.claytongeoffreys.com

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Serena williams biography: a legacy forged through grit, grace, & grandeur.

Table of Contents

Serena Williams is one of the most iconic and dominant figures in the history of professional tennis. Her remarkable achievements on and off the court have solidified her status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, Serena Jameka Williams hails from a family with a deep-rooted passion for tennis. She, along with her sister Venus Williams, has changed the landscape of women’s tennis , bringing a new level of power, athleticism, and flair to the game. Throughout her career, Serena has displayed unparalleled determination, resilience, and an unyielding drive for success.

About Serena Williams

Serena Williams was born to Richard Williams and Oracene Price, both of whom played pivotal roles in shaping her tennis career. From a young age, Serena and Venus were introduced to the sport by their father, who coached them on the public courts of Compton, California. Richard’s unconventional coaching methods and unwavering belief in his daughters’ potential laid the foundation for Serena’s exceptional career. The family faced numerous challenges, including racial discrimination and financial struggles, but their perseverance and determination ultimately triumphed.

Early Successes

Serena’s breakthrough came in 1999 when, at just 17 years old, she won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Martina Hingis in the final. This victory made her the youngest Grand Slam singles champion in the Open Era at that time. Serena’s win signaled the arrival of a new powerhouse in women’s tennis, alongside her sister Venus Williams.

“Serena Slam”

Serena’s dominance reached new heights between 2002 and 2003 when she achieved what became known as the “Serena Slam.” This impressive feat involved holding all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously. Serena won the French Open, Wimbledon , and the US Open in 2002, followed by the Australian Open in 2003. The “Serena Slam” showcased her ability to excel on all surfaces, solidifying her status as one of the greatest players of her era.

Serena Williams Achievements

Serena Williams’ list of achievements is unparalleled, earning her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which is the most in the Open Era and the second-most in history behind Margaret Court. Her Grand Slam titles include seven Australian Opens, three French Opens, seven Wimbledon Championships, and six US Opens. Throughout her career, Serena has held the world No. 1 ranking multiple times and has won countless other titles, making her one of the most decorated tennis players ever.

Serena Williams has consistently set records throughout her career. In 2008, she surpassed Billie Jean King’s record for the most Grand Slam singles titles won by an active player. Additionally, Serena holds the record for the most consecutive weeks spent at the top of the WTA rankings by any player, male or female, during the Open Era.

Career Through the Years

Serena Williams’ career is nothing short of a tennis fairytale. From her humble beginnings on the public courts of Compton to becoming one of the most dominant forces in tennis history, her journey is a testament to talent, hard work, and determination.

The Williams Sisters’ Rivalry

Serena’s career was often intertwined with that of her elder sister Venus, who was also a tennis prodigy. Their rivalry added an extra layer of excitement and drama to the sport, with the two frequently meeting in finals, especially at Grand Slam events. Their meetings were always a mix of fierce competition and sisterly love. Despite being competitors on the court, Serena and Venus shared a close bond and were supportive of each other’s successes.

Late-Career Resurgence

As Serena entered her thirties, many wondered if she could maintain her level of dominance. However, she proved her doubters wrong by continuing to compete at the highest level and adding more Grand Slam titles to her name. In 2012, Serena won her fifth Wimbledon title, followed by her fourth US Open title later that year. Her late-career resurgence showcased her adaptability and determination to remain a force to be reckoned with on the tennis court.

Serena Williams: Battling Injuries and Setbacks

Despite her incredible achievements, Serena’s career was not without challenges. She faced several injuries that forced her to take breaks from the game, including foot injuries, knee problems, and a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in 2011. These setbacks tested her mental and physical resilience, but Serena always managed to come back stronger, proving her dedication to the sport she loves.

Maternity Leave and Return

In 2017, Serena announced her pregnancy and took a break from tennis to focus on motherhood. Many speculated that her career might be over, but she returned to the court in 2018 with a newfound motivation to inspire other mothers and prove that women can excel in both family life and professional sports. Although her return was met with mixed results initially, Serena gradually found her form again and made deep runs in several tournaments, including reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open.

Serena Williams- Olympic Success

In addition to her Grand Slam success, Serena has also enjoyed a remarkable Olympic career. She has won four Olympic gold medals – three in women’s doubles with her sister Venus and one in women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics. Her dedication to represent her country and adding Olympic medals to her collection further solidified her status as a national treasure and global sports icon.

Serena Williams- Personal Life

Beyond the realm of sports, Serena Williams has embraced the joys of motherhood and the embrace of family life. Serena Williams husband Alexis Ohanian whom she married in 2017, is the co-founder of Reddit. Their family expanded later that year with the arrival of their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Serena’s remarkable path as both a dedicated mother and a formidable athlete has become a wellspring of inspiration, underscoring that women can thrive magnificently in both arenas.

Philanthropic Life

Outside of tennis, Serena Williams has been actively involved in philanthropy and various charitable causes. She established the Serena Williams Foundation in 2004, aiming to create educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. The foundation focuses on promoting academic excellence and empowering young people to reach their full potential. Serena’s commitment to making a positive impact on society has earned her widespread admiration and respect beyond her achievements on the tennis court.

Furthermore, Serena has been an advocate for gender equality, using her platform to raise awareness about issues faced by women in sports and beyond. Her efforts have inspired many to challenge stereotypes and break barriers, leading to increased opportunities for women in various fields.

Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, USA.

Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles. She has also secured numerous doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.

Serena is known for her powerful groundstrokes, especially her forehand, and a dominant serve. She combines athleticism with strategy to overpower opponents.

Throughout her career, Serena has faced injuries and health issues, but her resilience and determination have allowed her to make remarkable comebacks.

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Serena Williams

• Born September 26 , 1981 · Saginaw, Michigan, USA
• Birth name Serena Jameka Williams
• Height 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
• Serena Williams is one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. She earned her first Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open in 1999, and won a string of five Grand Slam singles title wins: the 2002 French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open titles and the 2003 Australian Open and her second Wimbledon title in 2003, all by defeating her older sister, Venus Williams in the finals. To date, she has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time. Serena has appeared in guest roles on The Simpsons (1989) and My Wife and Kids (2000) . She was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1981, to Richard and Oracene Williams. The youngest of five girls, Serena grew up with Venus and older sisters Lyndrea, Isha & Yetunde. She and sister Venus were coached in tennis from an early age by their father, Richard. - IMDb Mini Biography By: NetPlay525
• Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player and former world No. 1 in women's single tennis. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any man or woman in the Open Era. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight separate occasions between 2002 and 2017. She reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time on July 8, 2002. On her sixth occasion, she held the ranking for 186 consecutive weeks, tying the record set by Steffi Graf . In total, she has been No. 1 for 319 weeks, which ranks third in the Open Era among female players behind Graf and Martina Navratilova . Williams holds the most Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined among active players. Her 39 Grand Slam titles put her joint-third on the all-time list and second in the Open Era: 23 in singles, 14 in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. She is the most recent female player to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (2002-03 and 2014-15) and the third player to achieve this twice, after Rod Laver and Steffi Graf . She is also the most recent player to have won a Grand Slam title on each surface (hard, clay and grass) in one calendar year (2015). She is also, together with her older sister Venus, the most recent player to have held all four Grand Slam women's doubles titles simultaneously (2009-10). Williams holds the record for the most women's singles matches won at majors with 367 matches. She has also won four Olympic gold medals, one in women's singles and three in women's doubles, an all-time record shared with her sister, Venus. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tango Papa
• Spouse Alexis Ohanian (November 16, 2017 - present) (2 children)
• Children Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Olympia Ohanian
• Parents Oracene Price Richard Williams
• Relatives Venus Williams (Sibling)
• Curvaceous and muscular physique, a contrast to what is typically perceived for female tennis players
• Shouting "come on" during her matches.
• At age 35 and already about 2 months pregnant with her daughter: Olympia, Serena beat her sister: Venus Williams in the final of the Australian Open in January 2017, clinching a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
• She, Martina Navratilova , Steffi Graf , Margaret Court , and Maureen Connolly are the only women in tennis history to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles at the same time (2002).
• Elder sister Yetunde Price was murdered in Compton, California in Fall of 2003
• Speaks French well enough to do press conferences in the language.
• Is the youngest of 5 girls.
• I'm afraid I'm already a shopaholic. Fortunately, I'm no longer in denial, and the first step to recovering is getting out of denial.
• I've always said that I'm insatiable.
• I could lose 20 pounds and I'm still going to have these knockers and I'm going to have this ass, and that's just the way it is. addressing her fitness level after winning the 2007 Australian Open
• You never fail if you try. You only fail if you don't try. Go out there and try whatever you are dreaming of!
• For all their practice, preparation and confidence, even the best competitors in every sport have a voice of doubt inside them that says they are not good enough. I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.

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Who are Serena Williams’ parents? All about Richard Williams and Oracene Price

Venus and Serena Williams would not be the household names they are without their parents, Richard Williams and Oracene "Brandy" Price.

Richard Williams and Price famously introduced their daughters to the game of tennis and were their first coaches. The patriarch soon took over the coaching full-time and famously shielded them from naysayers while encouraging them to disrupt the traditionally white sport by being undeniably dominating it.

His refuse-to-lose attitude and his girls' early years in the sport is showcased in the 2021 film "King Richard," currently streaming on Hulu, HBO and Netflix. Price's role in initially helping to train her girls and supporting them along the way is also spotlighted. Will Smith plays Richard in the film and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor portrays Brandy.

Throughout the years, the sisters have highlighted how impactful their parents have been to them in their career.

“It all started with my parents, and they deserve everything, so I’m really grateful for them,” Serena Williams said in 2022 after her final career match.

Venus echoed similar sentiments in 2013, writing in part on Instagram , “Thanks dad for giving Serena and I a dream! You truly changed the game!”

She also acknowledged her mom’s influence, telling Will Smith on Red Table Talk in 2021 that her “mom was really the guiding force.”

As the genesis of the tennis legends' stories, the parents have an origin story of their own, too.

Keep reading for their backstory, from how they met to when they divorced.

How did Serena Williams' parents meet?

Richard Williams and Price met at a bus stop in Los Angeles, he previously told Sports Illustrated , adding that he told Price then that he wanted to marry her and have five daughters together.

L.A. was a long way from home for both of them. Richard Williams is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, and Price is from Saginaw Michigan, where Serena Williams was born.

When did Serena Williams' parents get married and start having kids?

They married in 1980, officially blending their families.

Richard Williams was already father to Sabrina Williams, Richard Williams III, Ronner Williams, Reluss Williams and Reneeka Williams from his first marriage with Betty Johnson. That marriage ended in 1973.

Price already had daughters Yetunde Price, Lyndrea Price and Isha Price with her previous partner Yusef A.K. Rasheed, according to the Los Angeles Times. Price and Rasheed split in 1979.

Their first child together was Venus Williams, born June 17, 1980. They had Serena Williams the following year on Sept. 26.

The family later moved to Compton, California, where the parents coached and raised their daughters before moving to West Palm Beach, Florida, to further advance their careers.

What did Richard Williams do for a living before coaching his daughters Venus and Serena Williams?

As a former share cropper, Richard Williams later taught himself how to play tennis by reading books and watching videos, Women’s History reported. He then taught Price how to play and based upon how easily she took to the game, Price said it made him believe that their daughters would be tennis superstars.

“I never doubted,” she on Red Table Talk in 2021 .

“We had a goal. It wasn’t money. It was just a way of life we wanted for the girls,” she added.

On the same episode, Serena Williams said that her dad ended up quitting his day job to coach the budding prodigies full time.

“My dad at one point was working and then, he stopped,” she says. “He’s like, ‘This is what we’re going to do. I’m not going to have a job. And I’m gonna go with Venus and Serena and train them every day.’"

Price then became the sole breadwinner for the household.

“She had to support seven people," Serena Williams said. “To have that faith and to have that back end support, and to always know all the work she's done and the humility that she continues to have, we wouldn’t have survived without that."

Are Serena Williams' parents still together?

Richard Williams and Price divorced in 2002 after 22 years of marriage.

A decade later, he welcomed son Dylan Starr Richard Williams with his third wife, Lakeisha Graham, whom he split from in 2017. He is  also the father  of movie producer Chavoita LeSane from a previous relationship. LeSane produced a 2022 documentary about his father, “On the Line: The Richard Williams Story.”

Are Serena Williams' parents still alive?

Yes, Richard Williams is 82 and Price is 72. They were often spotted attending their daughters' press tours and matches, although separately. They now mostly live their lives in private.

Randi Richardson is a reporter for NBC News' TODAY.com based in Brooklyn.

Serena Williams Biography: A Journey Through Tennis Supremacy

Jonathan Kao

March 25, 2024

Serena Williams rose to fame from the public courts of Compton, California, and became one of the greatest tennis players in history. Her talent and skill have mesmerized fans all around the world, as she displayed an impressive blend of power and precision on the court. Her journey to the top of the tennis world started when she was a child, under the guidance of her father, Richard Williams, who played a crucial role in nurturing the talents of both Serena and her sister Venus.

Serena Williams’ Biography

Transforming women’s tennis with her ferocious competitive drive and athletic prowess, Serena amassed a staggering number of accolades throughout her career. Not only did she clinch an impressive 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, but she also secured several Olympic gold medals, showcasing a level of dominance rarely seen in the sport. Off the court, Serena’s influence extended beyond the baseline, as she engaged in various business ventures and championed social causes, further solidifying her legacy as an icon of the game.

Key Takeaways

• Serena Williams, raised by her father Richard Williams, excelled as an American tennis player of distinguished caliber.
• She distinguished herself in tennis with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, an unprecedented Open Era record.
• Williams’ influence transcends sports, encompassing entrepreneurship and social advocacy.

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Serena Williams transformed the world of tennis with her powerful play, beginning with a childhood in Compton, California, and making her mark with her professional debut.

Childhood in Compton

Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan and relocated to Compton with her family as a young child. In Compton, she faced a challenging environment, but it was here that her tennis story began. Compton was known for its hard-hitting streets, yet within this locale, Serena and her older sister Venus Williams forged a strong bond and their initial foray into tennis.

Introduction to Tennis

Richard Williams, their father, introduced the game of tennis to Serena and her sister Venus. The Williams family courts became more than just play areas; they were the training grounds for future champions. With no traditional training, Richard took on the role of coach, crafting his own teaching methods to instruct his daughters in the sport.

Junior Years and Professional Debut

As Serena progressed, she was noticed by Rick Macci, a renowned tennis coach, who saw her potential and played a pivotal role in her early development. Serena’s junior years saw her traveling extensively and playing in numerous junior tournaments. Her powerful playing style swiftly gained attention on the junior circuit. Serena’s professional debut came at the age of 14, setting the stage for her remarkable journey toward becoming one of the most formidable players in tennis history.

Career Highlights and Legacy

Serena williams overview.

Serena Williams has crafted a notable tennis legacy, abounding with significant triumphs and displays of resilience. This section delves into her tennis achievements from the Grand Slams to the Olympics, revealing her tenacity through challenges.

Grand Slam Victories

Serena Williams’s Grand Slam record is marked by an extraordinary 23 singles titles. She achieved her first major at the US Open in 1999. Importantly, she has won the Australian Open seven times, the French Open three times, Wimbledon seven times, and the US Open six times. Notably, from 2002 to 2003, she won all four major singles titles in a sequence dubbed the “Serena Slam.”

• Australian Open : 7 titles
• French Open : 3 titles
• Wimbledon : 7 titles
• US Open : 6 titles

Alongside these individual successes, she and her sister, Venus Williams, have collectively won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, demonstrating their dominance in the sport as a pair.

Olympic Success

Williams has also shined in the Olympic Games, securing four gold medals. She earned singles gold at the London 2012 Olympics and three doubles golds in Sydney (2000), Beijing (2008), and London (2012), each time partnering with her sister Venus.

• Gold Medals : 4 (1 singles, 3 doubles)

Injuries and Comebacks

Injuries have been part of Serena’s journey, but her comebacks have fed her legacy. She has overcome serious health issues, including a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in 2011, to return to top form. Her resilience after injury has been evident in her return to winning ways, such as her victory at the 2017 Australian Open following a six-month break.

Her tennis journey reflects not just a series of victories but a narrative of triumph over adversity, maintaining high world rankings well into her thirties and reinforcing her status as a tennis icon.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section provides clear answers to common queries regarding Serena Williams’ background, her upbringing, family, and significant achievements in tennis.

Who are Serena Williams’ parents?

Serena Williams was born to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Her father played a crucial role in her tennis training from a young age.

What challenges did Serena Williams face during her childhood?

During her early years, Serena Williams lived in Compton, California, an area known for its social and economic difficulties, which presented her with challenges beyond the tennis court.

Has Serena Williams received any formal education or college training?

Serena Williams was homeschooled and did not attend college, which allowed her to focus intensively on her tennis career from a young age.

How many siblings does Serena Williams have, and is Venus Williams her sister?

Serena Williams has four older sisters. Venus Williams, also a renowned tennis player, is among them.

What is Serena Williams most famous for in her tennis career?

Serena Williams is celebrated for winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player (man or woman) in the Open Era, showcasing her dominance in the sport.

Can you list some interesting facts about Serena Williams’ life and career?

An interesting fact is that Serena Williams won the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant. Throughout her career, she’s secured a total of 39 Grand Slam titles, including 23 in singles, 14 in women’s doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles.

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Serena Williams to publish memoir about life ‘on and off the court’

The tennis champion has signed a two-book deal with Penguin Random House, saying it will be the first time she has paused and reflected on her remarkable career

Serena Williams is set to publish two books, the first of which, a memoir, will take an “intimate” look at her childhood and remarkable tennis career.

The 42-year-old, regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, announced her retirement from the sport last year. “For so long, all I was focused on was winning, and I never sat down to look back and reflect on my life and career,” she said.

“Over the last year I’ve really enjoyed taking the time with my growing family to celebrate my accomplishments and explore my other passions,” the mother of two added. “I couldn’t be at a more perfect place to be able to take on such a personal, intimate project.”

Publisher Penguin Random House (PRH) said Williams’ forthcoming memoir, which does not yet have a title or publication date, will be an “open-hearted exploration of the experiences that have shaped her life”. The book will look at how the tennis star dealt with scrutiny and attacks in a predominantly white and male-dominated sport, as well as “devastating losses on and off the court”. Williams will also share her thoughts on “celebrating body diversity and expanding the confines of style in sports and pop culture” and “bringing awareness to maternal health disparities.” She will tell the story of meeting her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and her experience of being a mother to her daughters Olympia and Adira.

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The second book, also still untitled, will be an “inspirational” work, according to PRH, in which Williams will “offer rules for living that draw on her experiences as a philanthropist and advocate, and someone who has long sought to lift a diverse and emergent generation of young women whose aspirations are not confined to the court”.

Williams was born in Michigan but learned to play tennis in California and, from the age of nine, at an elite tennis academy in Florida. The story of the Williams sisters’ childhood was dramatised in the 2021 film King Richard , for which Will Smith won the best actor Oscar.

Williams turned professional aged 14 in 1995 and won her first grand slam title aged 17 at the 1999 US Open. Her tennis career spanned nearly three decades, earning a total of 23 major singles titles and $94,588,910 (£77,718,978) in prize money.

She and her sister, with author Hilary Beard, wrote a self-help book in 2005 titled Venus & Serena: Serving From the Hip: 10 Rules for Living, Loving and Winning, which was published in 2005. Williams published her first solo autobiography, Queen of the Court , in 2010. In 2022 she published a picture book, The Adventures of Qai Qai, illustrated by Yesenia Moises, based on a doll of her daughter’s that has become popular on social media.

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Serena Williams Started a Tennis Fashion Movement "Without Even Trying"

The greatest of all time exclusively tells 'Marie Claire' about the looks that defined her career—and the way she beats style double standards now.

Tennis fashion is everywhere you look right now, from the polo shirts and pleated mini skirts on luxury runways to Zendaya's back-to-back-to-back red carpet serves on the Challengers press tour . Even when people aren't wearing Wimbledon white, they're thinking about it. Searches for "tennis fashion" have increased 80 percent in the past month, according to Data But Make It Fashion .

This rising interest isn't lost on Serena Williams , the greatest of all time where tennis and its dress codes are concerned. Before setting down her racket in 2022, Williams spent her 27-year career winning Grand Slam after Grand Slam in custom, convention-pushing outfits.

Back then, her fitted Nike dresses weren't common off the court. On the other side of retirement, "I feel that it's completely crossed over—and I've been trying to get that to cross over for a long time," she tells me.

Serena Williams's retirement from tennis didn't end her involvement with sport—or with sport fashion. Last week, she appeared on Nike's Air Innovation Summit runway to kick of the Paris Olympics in a custom Nike x Sacai set styled by Kyle Luu.

Speaking with me at the Ritz Paris before walking the runway at Nike's Air Innovation Summit, Williams says she didn't set out to start a style revolution. But by wearing a black catsuit instead of a tennis dress, or swapping a starched white skirt for Y2k denim, she started a movement "without even trying."

"[S]eeing myself and my sister on the big stages of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, being ourselves and wearing great outfits and looking our best, really changed women's sports—which is crazy," she says.

Williams set an example that athletes can bring their whole selves to their game: with or without makeup, in blinged-out uniforms or in functional, straightforward kits. The same mindset applies off the court. As a newly-minted beauty brand founder and the head of a venture capital fund , Williams still dresses in her favorite sport-inspired pieces. After all, tennis fashion was always a lifestyle for her—not a trend.

Ahead, Williams goes deep on the looks that transformed her career and how she's investing in the next generation of women's sports (and style).

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Post-retirement, you've been investing in and mentoring up-and-coming talent. When you were still active in tennis, what was the first moment you felt like another athlete invested in you and your career?

I remember one person: Zina Garrison, who was a Black tennis player that I looked up to. [Venus and I] were under 10 and we went to Houston to meet her. First of all, that alone was a lot. If I were at the time she was in her career, it would have been very hard to set up a meeting with these two girls who were talking about making it.

But she spent time with us and she hit with us, too. And I remember thinking, Oh, I could beat her . (I couldn't even really hit with her—I was so little.) That always stuck with me. I was like, wow, that's really cool that she took out that time. I never forgot that.

Now, how are you paying it forward for other young women who are getting started in tennis? What does investing in them look like for you?

It's not just tennis, right? For me, it's more sport. Without even trying to, I was able to inspire a lot of women across all sports. That was really humbling for me and kind of cool at the same time.

For me, it's just talking to women and letting them know that it's okay to be confident. If you're confident in sport as a woman, you're "cocky." As a guy, you're "confident," you know?

What I can do is just pass on my information and encourage other women and inspire them and advise them in any way that I can. That crosses the line of tennis [into] everything that I've done in business.

Serena Williams's approach to tennis fashion came with inventive silhouettes and unexpected materials. In some of her final matches, she wore balletic dresses with tulle skirts and a one-shoulder sleeve, co-designed by Nike and Off-White.

I love what you said earlier about being an example or inspiration for others without necessarily trying to. I think that also comes through in your approach to style. What was a look that you wore that felt like a turning point in your mind—or gave you a feeling it would have an impact beyond your performance?

I mean, obviously, the cat suit [for the 2018 French Open]. That turned a lot of people on to watching tennis and it was the first time that had been done. Then I think another massive moment was the jeans—that was kind of crazy. I wore this incredible jean skirt and boots. Those two moments were huge.

Now you look at all these amazing women athletes, whether they're in basketball or another sport, they want to be glamorous on the court now, too.

When most people see us, they don't necessarily see us athletes, per se, in our everyday lives. They see us on the court or in the field or whatever we're doing. [Competing], that's our moment to really shine. That was my moment: I'm on stage, time to wear knee-high boots.

Williams considers her Nike black catsuit, designed to prevent the blood clots she experienced after her first pregnancy, a game-changing outfit. "That turned a lot of people on to watching tennis and it was the first time that had been done," she says.

Another legendary look? Her 2004 US Open outfit by Nike, including a denim tennis skirt and knee-high sneaker boots.

Where do you see your impact showing up in terms of sport and style, post-retirement?

I think women in particular are embracing that you can be strong and beautiful at the same time. Before as a lady athlete, you couldn't wear makeup or else you weren't taken seriously. And if you did, then it was like, "Oh, she's not a serious athlete and she won't be as good."

Now you can be strong, you can be beautiful, you can do all of that at the same time. I feel like that narrative, seeing myself and my sister on the big stages of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, being ourselves and wearing great outfits and looking our best, really changed women's sports—which is crazy. But it definitely changed women's sports as a whole.

Also, [it's] in business. You can also look sexy and strong and still be a CEO of a company. I think that whole narrative is a huge conversation and it goes beyond sports at this point.

It's nice to see people working to remove those double standards so that everyone coming up behind them can feel like they can be more of themselves and bring their personality. And if you want to be glamorous, or if you don't, it's your choice.

"I feel like that narrative, seeing myself and my sister on the big stages of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, being ourselves and wearing great outfits and looking our best, really changed women's sports—which is crazy!" Williams says.

I'm also curious about the ways that "tennis fashion" manifests outside of true sportswear. As someone who knows the sport so intimately, what do you think fashion gets right—or wrong—about tennis style?

Tennis style you can wear , and I think we're seeing this more and more nowadays that you can wear it anywhere. I literally live at home in my tennis skirt and I'm not even playing professional tennis anymore. It's so comfortable.

I see people walking down the street in what is a tennis dress, technically, but they're wearing it as fashion. I feel that it's completely crossed over and I've been trying to get that to cross over for a long time.

They're just really nice, comfortable dresses and they're easy to wear and if you're busy—don't even get me started. I like to multitask. You work out in it, you can go to school, and you can do all kinds of things.

I don't think you can do tennis fashion wrong. I think you can look back in 20 years and say, "Oh my God, you know, those shoulder pads were awful." But by the way, they're still hot and they're still cool and I happen to love shoulder pads. I don't think there's a wrong way to do fashion.

Speaking of crossovers, you're now working in so many different arenas these days: philanthropy, entrepreneurship, fashion, beauty. As you're venturing into new projects, or investing in them, what lessons learned as a full-time athlete prepared you best for the moment you're in now?

Well, hard work. As a full-time athlete, you have to dedicate your entire life to your sport. You have to be very selfish.

As an entrepreneur, you have to have the same attitude. Arguably an athlete works harder in a different way, because it's more physical and you're exhausted. So as an entrepreneur, I'm more mentally exhausted some days, but I'm physically okay. It's just different.

But that hard work, I think, is something that you can't skip because if you want to be the best in tennis, you have to work hard. If you want to be in the best in business, you can't just say, "Oh, I'm gonna be the best." You've learned that lesson that you learned from tennis. Like how did I win that Grand Slam? I worked two years to win that one Grand Slam. So, how do you get your best investment? I worked two years to get to that great investment. I think that I'm looking at it the same way.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Halie LeSavage is the senior news editor at  Marie Claire , where she assigns, edits, and writes fashion and beauty stories. Her reporting has ranged from in-depth designer profiles to fashion week reviews and research-backed shopping guides. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held fashion writer and editor roles at  Harper’s Bazaar ,  Morning Brew , and  Glamour . She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. You can follow Halie on  Instagram  and  TikTok .

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Zendaya Praises ‘Iconic’ Venus and Serena Williams: My ‘Understanding of Tennis Was Them’ (Exclusive)

Of the Williams sisters, ‘Challengers’ star Zendaya says, “I admire both of them so much”

Gareth Cattermole/Getty; Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Champagne Collet & OBC Wines

For Zendaya , two “iconic” women served as the biggest influences on her tennis movie Challengers : Venus and Serena Williams . 

“My only understanding of tennis as a kid growing up was them,” the actress-producer, 27, tells PEOPLE of the superstar sisters. 

“When I thought of tennis as a kid, they would be that for me,” she adds. “They are my entry point to understanding anything tennis.”

That came in handy on Challengers (in theaters now), from director Luca Guadagnino and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes. In the sports drama, Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a teenaged tennis prodigy who becomes enmeshed in a complicated romantic three-way triangle that lasts years. Josh O’Connor plays her one-time boyfriend Patrick, while Mike Faist plays her eventual husband Art. 

In addition to training in tennis for months, Zendaya says she and her costars “did a lot more research” on Venus, 43, and Serena, 42.

“They are iconic, and I admire both of them so much, not just for what they've accomplished in the sport, but I think beyond: their impact and their significance for so many people, specifically Black women," she says.

The Williams sisters broke ground in the predominantly White and male sport throughout the 1990s and 2000s, becoming household names as they won Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold medals. As Zendaya points out, “It's hard not to be just inspired by them in general… just in life.” 

That goes for Venus and Serena’s legacies as fashionistas too, of course. Amid a succession of tennis-themed fashion during the Challengers press tour, Zendaya and longtime stylist Law Roach debuted a recreation of the sisters’ iconic Vogue photoshoot from 1998. 

In photos shared on Instagram by Roach on Thursday, April 18, the Dune star perches on a couch in a massive black and white striped gown and a beaded wig, echoing the Williams’ 1998 portrait in matching black-and-white Carolina Herrera gowns and beaded hair.

To embody Tashi, her fictional Challengers character, Zendaya says that she studied Venus and Serena’s skills on the tennis court. But, she says, “I don't want to compare myself in any way in this performance because I am nowhere near the greatness that they possess.”

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Courtesy of MGM

On Friday, April 19, Zendaya revealed to ET that Serena has seen her performance as Tashi Duncan — and that she's a fan. "She was like, 'I know there definitely weren't real [tennis] balls," the actress told the outlet. "She knows… She did say that it was great considering that I had never, never touched a tennis ball before.”

Among the stars who attended the April 16 Los Angeles premiere of the movie were Tina Knowles , Cynthia Erivo , and Venus herself — but, recalls Zendaya, they didn’t meet in person despite a fun back-and-forth with the tennis legend on social media.

“I didn't get to see her,” she tells PEOPLE. But knowing that Venus was in the audience and “was going to watch us play tennis? That freaked me out. I was like, ‘Oh, I'm so embarrassed!’ "

Challengers is in theaters now. 

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Serena Williams’s Simple Skin-Care Routine and Thick-Brow Trick

By Jenny Berg

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Serena Williams kicks off her daily beauty routine with a wry shout-out to her mother. Removing the undereye patches she’s been prepping her skin with, the Olympic gold medalist quips, “Lord knows I need moisture under my eyes. I hear it’s hereditary, so thank you, Mom.” Then the tennis star shares the rest of her simple skin-care routine and the thick-brow trick she uses to maintain her signature look.

After hydrating her eyes, the 42-year-old lights up her skin-care regimen with CurrentBody’s LED face mask . “It soothes your skin,” she explains. “It calms everything down.” After 10 minutes, she’s ready to unmask and wash her face with Dr. Barbara Sturm cleanser . Serum is the next step, and Williams uses Eadem’s milky formulation , followed by La Roche-Posay eye cream . With every step, she minds her mother’s advice. “My mom told me ages ago, ‘Always go up on your skin,’” Williams says, dutifully applying her products with an upward hand motion. As an act of self-care, she gives herself a face massage using BeautyStat moisturizer . Then it’s time for makeup.

“I am going to be running around—I don’t have time to do this full-on-glam red-carpet look,” she says. Her routine begins with an SPF-enhanced skin tint from her brand, Wyn Beauty. “The shade range goes from darkest to lightest,” she says. “Being a person-of-color founder, it’s so important to do something…to empower so many people that look like you.” Later, she adds: “Growing up, it was hard not to notice that there wasn’t a lot of stuff in my shade.”

After using L.A. Girl color corrector under her eyes, she swipes on Pat McGrath’s creamy concealer —and explains that she’s not the only one in her house “obsessed” with the product. “I think [my daughter] Olympia likes it too,” she says. “She actually plays a lot in my makeup.”

As she darkens her eyebrows using Wyn’s brow pencil , Williams says: “I was a stickler about making sure [the pencil] wasn’t dry. I love my brows. I know a lot of people are like, ‘They’re too thick.’ Well, they’re my brows! I like them thick.” After brushing her brows into the shape she prefers, Williams makes them more pronounced by adding concealer underneath the arches. She moves onto her cheeks next, giving them color with Fenty contour and a creamy blush. “I like to keep my blush high, which makes my face happy,” she says.

Before wrapping up with Wyn’s mascara and lip and cheek color , the California native explains what winning means to her—beyond being the phonic muse for her beauty brand. “Winning isn’t about just winning championships,” she says. “It’s about winning in life. It could be winning and having a kid—that’s a huge victory!” After locking in her look with Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray , the mother of two is ready to bring her beauty wins out into the world. “I feel good now,” she says. “I’m feeling confident. I feel like winning.” And with that, she’s off to pick up her daughter.

Currentbody

LED Light Therapy Face Mask

CURRENTBODY

Dr. Barbara Sturm

Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum With Niacinamide and Vitamin C

La Roche-Posay

Toleraine Dermallergo Eye Cream

Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer

Featuring You Hyrdating Skin Enhancing Tint SPF 30

Pro Conceal H.D. Concealer

Pat McGrath Labs

Sublime Perfection Concealer

Taking Shape Brow Shading Pencil

Fenty Beauty

Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick

Big Vision Lengthening & Defining Tubing Mascara

MVP: Most Versatile Pigment Multifunction Lip & Cheek Color

Charlotte Tilbury

Airbrush Flawless Makeup Setting Spray

Director: Gabrielle Reich Director of Photography: Josh Herzog Editor: Michael Suyeda Associate Producer: Lea Donenberg Production Manager: Natasha Soto-Albors Production Coordinator: Ava Kashar Global Entertainment Director: Sergio Kletnoy Postproduction Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch Postproduction Coordinator: Ian Bryant Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo Assistant Editor: Andy Morell Filmed at Lotte New York Palace

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Zendaya Reveals Expert Tennis Detail Serena Williams Caught In 'Challengers'

Zendaya revealed what Serena Williams spotted while watching her upcoming romantic tennis film “Challengers” that didn’t look like something from out of the game.

“She was like, ’I know there definitely weren’t real [tennis] balls,” Zendaya  said of Williams  in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“She knows. She’s the best of the best.”

Zendaya, who noted that she hadn’t yet talked with Venus Williams about the film, told ET that Serena said she was great in the movie “considering that I had never, never touched a tennis ball before.”

The actor, who previously admitted that all she knew about tennis were the Williams sisters and “probably Roger Federer,” recently showed love to the sibling tennis icons last week as she paid tribute to their photoshoot for the May 1998 issue of Vogue.

Her stylist, Law Roach, shared snaps of Zendaya  sporting a black and white gown, a recreation of the Carolina Herrera dresses worn by the Williams sisters in their photoshoot with Annie Leibovitz.

Zendaya, in an Instagram Stories update, shared photos from her shoot and wrote that she’s “forever inspired” by the tennis icons.

The “Dune: Part Two” star’s latest movie is directed by Luca Guadagnino and follows Tashi Duncan as she goes from a tennis prodigy to becoming a coach after she retires due to a career-ending injury.

The flick, which also stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, is set to hit theaters on Friday.

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