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Everything you need to know about 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, including her Age, Net Worth, Career, Achievements, Parents, Sisters, Husband, Children and Endorsements.
Serena Williams has placed her name in the historic book with the likes of Martina Navratilova. Martina Navratilova net worth and illustrious tennis career place her at the pinnacle of debates about the greatest player of all time.
Serena Williams background
Serena Williams is a retired American tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 319 weeks, including a joint-record 186 consecutive weeks, and finished as the year-end No.1 five times.
She won 23 Grand Slam women’s singles titles, the most in the Open Era for women and most for men and women until Novak Djokovic's US Open triumph in 2023 took him to 24 majors.
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17:26 - 18.11.2023
Serena Williams: Tennis Legend set to be inducted into WTA's National Women's Hall of Fame
Serena Williams will receive another honour as she is set to be inducted into WTA's Hall of Fame for class of 2024.
The American tennis legend also claimed 14 majors in the doubles —with sister Venus — and notched four Olympic gold medals.
Serena Williams Profile
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Full name: Serena Jameka Williams
Birth date: September 26, 1981
Nationality: American
Place of birth: Saginaw, Michigan, United States
Age: 42 years old (as of July 2024)
Turned pro: 1995
Retired: 2022
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Parents: Richard Williams and Oracene Price
Siblings: Venus Williams (full sister), Yetunde Price [deceased], Lyndrea Price, Isha Price, Sabrina Williams, Ronner Williams, Richard Williams III, Reluss Williams, Reneeka Williams
Husband: Alexis Ohanian
Net worth: $340 million
Prize money: $94,816,730
Instagram: @serenawilliams
Twitter: @serenawilliams
How old is Serena Williams? (Serena Williams Age)
Serena Williams is 42 years old as of July 2024
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How Serena Williams started tennis
While still an infant, the family moved to Compton, California where she began playing tennis at the age of four. At nine, Serena and her family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, where she attended Rick Macci's tennis academy to receive additional coaching.
Her talent blossomed, and by 1991, Williams dominated the US Tennis Association's junior circuit, boasting a win-loss record of 46-3 and claiming the No. 1 ranking amongst Florida's under-10 players.
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Serena Williams Profile
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Serena Williams' 23 Grand Slam titles, 23 WTA 1000 victories and four Olympic gold medals were the product of her raw talent allied with dedication from her formative years.
Born in 1981, her love for tennis was near instant and the desire to win was drummed into her by her father — Richard Williams — who employed unconventional methods to train Serena and her older sister — Venus.
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Despite financial constraints, the trio retained their belief and Serena's talent was already evident in the junior circuit, underscored by achieving the No. 1 ranking among Florida's U-10 players.
A 14-year-old Serena turned pro in 1995 and her first match on the WTA Tour was lost in the first round of qualifying to 18-year-old American Annie Miller at the Bell Challenge in Quebec.
She was uninvolved the following year but returned to the WTA Tour in 1997, participating at the Ameritech Cup Chicago where she was ranked No. 304. However, Serena upset No.7 Mary Pierce and No.4 Monica Seles at the tournament to record her first victories over players ranked in the top 10.
Despite losing to Lindsay Davenport in the tournament's semi-finals, Serena rose into the Top 100 for the first time, ending 1997 ranked No. 99. That ascent continued the following year and she finished 1998 as No. 20 in the world which prepared her for what was to come the following year.
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Serena defeated Amelie Mauresmo in the final of the Open Gaz de France in February 1999 to notch her first singles title, followed that with her first WTA 1000 triumph — defeating Steffi Graf at Indian Wells — before ending the year with her claiming the first of 23 majors on home soil after defeating Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6(4) in New York, becoming the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam in singles after Althea Gibson (1956). She would finish the year ranked No. 4.
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While Serena would not win another major until 2002, she clinched gold at the Sydney Olympics and notable WTA 1000 events in Canada and Indian Wells in 2001.
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The win at Indian Wells was marred by alleged racist abuse directed at Richard and Venus Williams, while Serena was booed throughout her final success against Kim Clijsters. That began a 14-year boycott of the event until Serena returned at the 2015 edition, while Venus made her comeback in 2016.
After her Grand Slam drought, Serena's dominance began with successes at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 2002 before claiming the first major of the year in Australia in 2003. All victories were against Venus and she completed the "Serena Slam” by holding all four majors, albeit not in the same calendar year.
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Serena would repeat this feat by winning the 2014 US Open before clinching the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon in 2015.
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Having taken her Slam total to 22, Serena beat Venus again to notch her 23rd victory at the majors in 2017 Down Under to eclipse Graf's record in the Open Era.
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She claimed it despite her pregnancy, even if it was only revealed after her withdrawal for the remainder of the 2017 season in which she divulged being 20 weeks gone.
Despite reaching four more deciders at majors in the concluding years of her career, Serena was beaten by Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep (Wimbledon 2018 and 2019) and Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu (US Open 2018 and 2019).
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She retired in 2022.
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Serena Williams Grand Slams
Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slams in her illustrious career, clinching seven Australian Open wins, three Roland Garros crowns, seven Wimbledon titles and six US Open triumphs.
She won her first Slam on home soil at the 1999 US Open and her final success came Down Under in 2017.
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Serena Williams and Venus Williams
Besides their iconic standing in tennis history, Serena and Venus Williams share an unbreakable sisterly bond. Venus — two years older — became a pro a year earlier than Serena and was often viewed as the superior talent, due to her elegant style of play and powerful groundstrokes.
While Venus won seven Slams in singles, she and Serena claimed 14 doubles titles in the majors and claimed gold together at three Olympics in 2000, 2008 and 2012.
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Excluding two walkovers at Indian Wells in 2001 and Rome Masters in 2019, the Williams Sisters met on Tour 31 times, with Serena edging their head-to-head 19-12. Venus was victorious in their first meeting at the 1998 Australian Open and secured a pair of wins in Rome quarter-finals in 1998 and Miami Open final the following year.
Serena's first triumph over Venus came in the 1999 Grand Slam Cup final in three sets as the younger sibling won 6-1 3-6 6-3.
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While Venus would claim the next two match-ups at the semi-final at Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001 US Open final, 2002 saw the tide turn as Serena inflicted damaging losses to her sister in three Slam finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in straight sets before claiming victories over her elder sister Down Under in 2003 and again at the Championships a year after their 2002 decider.
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Venus got one over Serena on the lawns of Wimbledon in 2008, but her younger sister was then victorious in the 2009 final. Their last match-up at a Grand Slam final came in Australia in 2017, with Serena claiming a 6-3, 6-4 win over Venus Down Under.
The sisters' last match on the WTA Tour was played at the 2020 Top Seed Open in Kentucky, with Serena winning the second-round encounter in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
They met in nine Grand Slam finals, including four consecutive deciders, with Serena edging Venus 7-2.
Beyond tennis courts, the Williams Sisters have become powerful role models for women and people of colour, breaking down barriers and inspiring young athletes to pursue their dreams. They have also ventured into the business world, launching their clothing lines and advocating for social causes.
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Serena Williams for Nike
Serena Williams and Nike's partnership began in 2003, with the superstar — then in her early 20s — becoming one of the most recognisable athletes sponsored by the brand.
The partnership extends beyond just on-court attire, with Williams collaborating with Nike on various projects, including her own clothing line, the "Serena Williams Design Crew”, offering stylish and functional sportswear for women, reflecting Serena's style and love for fashion.
Serena Williams Achievements
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Individual
Grand Slams
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
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WTA 1000
Indian Wells: 1999, 2001
Miami Open: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015
Madrid Open: 2012, 2013
Italian Open: 2002, 2013, 2014, 2016
Canadian Open: 2001, 2011, 2013
Cincinnati Open: 2014, 2015
China Open: 2013
Charleston Open: 2008
WTA Finals
WTA Finals: 2001, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
Olympic Games
London 2012: Gold
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Doubles
Australian Open: 2001, 2003, 2009, 2010
French Open: 1999, 2010
Wimbledon: 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016
US Open: 1999, 2009
Olympic Games
Sydney 2000: Gold
Beijing 2008: Gold
London 2012: Gold
Mixed doubles
Wimbledon: 1998
US Open: 1998
Team Competitions
Fed Cup: 1999
Hopman Cup: 2003, 2008
Serena Williams’ parents
Serena Williams' parents are Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Serena's father was a former tennis coach, whose role in launching the career of the eventual 23-time Slam champion's career, along with her mother Oracene, whom Richard met while she worked as a nurse, is unmistakable.
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Both parents helped their daughters — Venus and Serena — build their careers.
Serena Williams Father
Serena Williams' father is Richard Dove Williams Jr. — commonly known as Richard Williams. He was pivotal in launching Serena and her sister Venus' tennis careers since they were infants on public courts in Compton, California, typically employing unconventional methods and creating training plans that emphasised discipline and a strong work ethic.
Richard's dedication went beyond his coaching, even if he faced criticism for his unorthodox approach, as he protected his daughters from the outside world, controlling media access and managing their careers with an iron fist.
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His role naturally lessened as Serena and her elder sister Venus grew more experienced and hired conventional coaches. However, his influence in their formative years was evident.
Are Serena Williams’s parents still married?
No, Serena Williams’ parents — Oracene Price and Richard Williams — are no longer married. They tied the knot in 1980 but divorced in 2002.
Which sister of Serena Williams was shot
At the time of her death aged 31, Yetunde Price was the oldest half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams.
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She died on September 14, 2003, in Compton, California, from a gunshot wound sustained in a drive-by shooting. Price was the mother of three children.
Yetunde's murder remained unsolved for three years until Robert Maxfield was charged with voluntary manslaughter. He served 15 years before being paroled in 2018.
Serena Williams Husband
Serena Williams is married to Alexis Ohanian, a successful entrepreneur and investor, who co-founded Reddit. They married in 2017 and have two daughters — Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr and Adira River Ohanian.
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Serena Williams Children
Serena Williams has two daughters with her husband Alexis Ohanian. Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. was born on September 1, 2017, and the couple welcomed a second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, on August 22, 2023.
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Serena Williams Movie
While there is no major Hollywood movie centred on Serena Williams, King Richard (2021) was a biographical film telling the story of Serena's father, Richard Williams, and his role in launching the careers of both Serena and her sister Venus. He was portrayed by Will Smith.
It was not directly focused on the 23-time Slam champion but it provided significant insight into her early life and the foundation of her tennis journey.
Serena Williams In the Arena
In the Arena: Serena Williams is an eight-part documentary series exploring a personal account of her major wins, career milestones and life beyond the court.
The documentary is produced by ESPN and premiered on July 16, 2024.
Serena Williams Net Worth
According to Forbes, Serena Williams' net worth is $340 million as of July 2024, and it has steadily grown since her 2022 retirement when it was $260 million.
Apart from earning almost $95 million in prize money during her career, the 42-year-old’s business ventures and a glut of endorsements make up her net worth.
She runs her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, backing promising start-ups and fostering innovation. In late 2022, she co-founded Will Perform, a company developing topical pain relief and muscle and skincare products, highlighting her interest in health and wellness.
Serena also seeks to explore storytelling through her multimedia company — Nine Two Six Productions — which launched in 2023. Her 2024 licensing deal with Wyn Beauty cosmetics signifies her foray into the beauty industry, leveraging her fashion sense and influence.
According to the retired tennis star, her companies are worth $1 billion.
With endorsements estimated at a whopping $45 million, Serena Williams is a marketing powerhouse, using her influence to promote various brands.
Besides her long-standing partnership with Nike, she has built an impressive roster of sponsors that include AbbVie, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Audemars Piguet, Block Inc, DoorDash, Ford Motor, Gatorade, Gucci, Remy Cointreau S.A., Tonal, Walt Disney and Wilson Sporting Goods.
Serena Williams Social Media
Serena Williams is active on both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The 23-time Slam champion has 17.2 million followers on Instagram and she has a followe count of 10.3 million on X as of July 2024.
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