Serena Williams

Meet the American professional tennis player who has won more than thirty Grand Slam Titles as well as uncountable Olympic medals. Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan. She began serious training for tennis at 3 years of age. 


The first major championship title Serena won was in 1999 and in 2003 she 

completed her Grand Slam career. Through her effort and success, Serena teamed 

up with her sister Venus and won several doubles titles. 

Early Life

Serena Williams is the youngest of the five daughters of Oracene and Richard 

Williams. She along with Venus her sister grew and trained together to become 

the greatest sports champions they are today. The determination of her father 

who is a former Louisiana sharecropper brought her success and that of her sister 

Venus. 

Serena ranked first in 10 and under division in 1991; she was also 46-3 on Junior 

United States Tennis Association. Because Richard wanted a sensible and better 

instructions for his girls to become professionals and successful in career, he 

moved his family to Florida from Compton. He let go some of his coaching 

responsibilities to Serena but kept on managing her career. 

Serena, the Tennis Star

In 1995, Serena became a pro and two years down the line she was ranked 

number 99 in world rankings having moved from number 304 in 1994. One year 

later, Serena graduated from high school and immediately inked 12 million dollars 

shoe deal with the Puma. 

In 1999, Serena beat her sister Venus in their family battle to first ever Grand 

Slam win capturing the US Open Title. This set the stage for high profile, and 

powered victories for Serena as well as her sister Venus.

In 2002, Serena Williams won the US Open, Wimbledon and French Open having 

beaten her sister Venus in the finals of all the three tournaments. A year later, she 

again captured her first Australian Open Title making her one of the 6 women in 

Open reign to finish a Grand Slam career. 

The Australian Open Title win fulfilled Serena’s wish to hold four different major 

titles. In 2008, Serena won the US Open Title the teamed up with her sister Venus 

to capture their second women’s Olympic gold medal in doubles, Beijing Games. 

Odds and Ends

All in all, Serena Williams also had some losses and scraps. In 2003 August, she 

underwent a knee surgery. Same year, September, Yetunde Price who is her half 

sister was murdered in California, Loss Angeles. In 2006, she seemed bitten with 

injuries and lack of motivation for keeping fit and completing in the same level 

she had before. Her tennis ranking slumped to 139. 

Serena Williams credited her religion faith as Jehovah Witness and also made a 

life changing journey to West Africa. This was followed by release of her new 

autobiography in 2009.