Challenges Faced by Serena Williams: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Serena Williams faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Serena Williams is a retired American professional tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. She held the world No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks, finishing as year-end No. 1 five times. Williams amassed 73 WTA Tour singles titles, including a record-breaking 23 major women's singles titles in the Open Era, second-most overall. She is the only player to achieve a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, solidifying her place in tennis history.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

October 1995: Professional Debut at Bell Challenge

In October 1995, just after turning 14, Serena Williams made her professional debut at the Bell Challenge in Quebec, where she lost in the first qualifying round to Annie Miller.

1997: Lowest ranking since 1997

In 2006, Serena Williams had slipped to No.139, her lowest ranking since 1997.

1998: Failed to qualify for the WTA year-end championship for the first time since 1998

In 2005, Williams failed to qualify for the WTA year-end championship for the first time since 1998, and she finished the year ranked No.11.

1999: Dropped below No.10 for the first time since 1999

In 2004, Serena Williams was defeated in the Wimbledon final by Maria Sharapova. The loss caused her to drop below No.10 for the first time since 1999.

2000: Olympics doubles record ended

In 2016, the sisters suffered a shock exit in the first round of doubles at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which ended their career record of 15–0 dating back to the 2000 Olympics.

2001: First Grand Slam tournament loss since 2001

In 2003, Serena Williams was the top seed at the French Open, where she lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Henin; this was Williams' first loss in a Grand Slam tournament since 2001.

2001: First season since 2001 without Grand Slam singles tournament win

Serena Williams finished 2004 ranked No.7, but did not win a Grand Slam singles tournament for the first season since 2001.

2003: Singles titles at Open Gaz de France and Sony Ericsson Open

In 2003, Serena Williams won the singles titles at the Open Gaz de France and the Sony Ericsson Open. Her 21-win streak ended with a loss to Henin at the Family Circle Cup final. She also lost to Mauresmo in the Italian Open semifinals. Serena was the top seed at the French Open but lost to Henin in the semifinals, marking her first Grand Slam loss since 2001. Despite a controversial match, she rebounded at Wimbledon, defeating Venus in the final. Knee surgery ended her 2003 season prematurely.

2004: Controversy at the US Open Quarterfinals

At the 2004 US Open, during her quarterfinals match with Capriati, Serena Williams argued with umpire Mariana Alves over several calls, which Capriati eventually won. Williams, feeling cheated, accused Alves of temporary insanity. The controversy renewed calls for the adoption of new technology such as the MacCAM and Hawk-Eye systems.

2004: Appearance at the US Open

In 2004, Serena Williams arrived at the US Open wearing a denim skirt and knee-high leg wraps that resembled boots; however, she was not allowed to wear the wraps during matches.

2004: Lost two consecutive finals

In 2016, it marked the first time since 2004 that Serena Williams lost two consecutive finals.

2004: China Open Victory and Tour Championship Injury

In September 2004, Serena Williams won her second title of the year at the China Open, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova. At the Tour Championships in Los Angeles, Williams suffered an abdominal injury in the finals, where she lost to Sharapova. She finished 2004 ranked No.7.

2005: Earliest Wimbledon elimination since 2005

In 2005 was the last time before 2014 that Serena Williams had such an early Wimbledon elimination.

2006: Battling Depression and Lowest Ranking Since 1997

In 2006, Serena Williams defended her title at the Australian Open, and lost to Daniela Hantuchová in the third round. She then told the press that she was injured. Serena later wrote that she was suffering from depression, and stayed away from tennis for six months and began seeing a therapist. She had slipped to No.139, her lowest ranking since 1997. On her return, she reached the semifinals in Cincinnati, losing to Vera Zvonareva.

2007: Nike Ultimatum Before Australian Open

In 2007, Serena Williams stated her intention to return to the top of the rankings. Shortly before her first match at the Australian Open, a Nike representative told her the company might cancel her sponsorship if she did not perform at her customary level.

2009: Probation from US Open Outburst in 2009

In 2011, the consequences of the outburst at the US Open in 2009 were still in effect, as Williams was still on probation. A writer for ESPN suggested that Williams did not violate the terms of her probation (on which she was placed following her 2009 outburst), since she did not use profanity when addressing the umpire.

2010: US Open Outburst and Penalties

At the 2009 US Open, Serena Williams yelled profanities at a lineswoman and threatened her after a foot fault call. This resulted in a point penalty, costing her the match. She was fined $10,500 initially, then the Grand Slam Committee imposed a $175,000 fine and a two-year probation, which meant that if she committed another offense at a Grand Slam during the next two years, she would be suspended from the following US Open. Although the actual events occurred in 2009, further consequences came into effect in 2010.

2010: Wins Australian Open and sits out several events with a leg injury

In 2010, Serena Williams reached the final of the Australian Open and defeated Justine Henin, for her twelfth Grand Slam singles title. In doubles, Williams and her sister successfully defended their title. Williams sat out several events with a leg injury, but returned for the Rome Masters, where she was defeated by Janković in the semifinals.

2010: Wins Wimbledon and injured in Munich

In 2010, Serena Williams won Wimbledon, defeating Zvonareva in the final without losing a single set. After the match, Navratilova said Williams was among the top five female tennis players in history. On July 7, 2010, Williams stepped on broken glass while in a restaurant in Munich, causing her to miss the rest of the year. She finished 2010 ranked No.4 in singles and No.11 in doubles.

March 2, 2011: Confirms Hematoma and Pulmonary Embolism

On March 2, 2011, Serena Williams confirmed that she had suffered a hematoma and a pulmonary embolism.

2011: US Open Controversy

In 2011, Serena Williams reached the final at the US Open, where she faced Stosur. During the match, Williams became angry with umpire Eve Asderaki. She made gestures and unflattering comments towards her, including calling her "a hater". Williams eventually lost the match, and was fined $2,000, but was not barred from competing. The US Open was Williams' final event of 2011, and she ended the year ranked No.12.

2012: Withdrawal from Brisbane International & Wimbledon singles and doubles titles

In 2012, Serena Williams started the season at the Brisbane International, but withdrew due to a left ankle injury during a match against Bojana Jovanovski. She participated in the Australian Open, where she was upset by Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round. She won consecutive titles in Charleston and Madrid, but withdrew from her semifinal match in Rome due to a lower back injury. At the French Open, Williams suffered her first ever loss in the opening round of a Grand Slam. She captured her fifth Wimbledon singles title, becoming the first female player to serve 24 aces in a match. She set a record for the most aces in a tournament with 102. Williams and her sister also captured their fifth trophy in Wimbledon doubles in 2012.

2014: Loss at Australian Open

In 2014, Serena Williams had her fourth-round loss at the Australian Open, which was her earliest defeat.

2015: Fed Cup Loss and Injury

In 2015, Serena Williams and teammate Alison Riske lost the decisive doubles match to Errani and Flavia Pennetta, which meant the United States was relegated to World Group II. It was Williams' first loss in the Fed Cup. In the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open, Williams suffered her first defeat of the season, ending a 50-match winning streak at Premier-Mandatory events. She played one match at the 2015 Internazionali BNL d'Italia before withdrawing with an elbow injury.

2016: US Open Semifinal Rematch and Code Violations

In 2016, Serena Williams had a quarterfinal face-off against Karolína Plíšková at the US Open, a rematch of the 2016 US Open semifinal. During the second set of the final match against Naomi Osaka, Williams was given a code violation, and she was eventually fined $17,000 for three offenses.

2016: Open letter in Porter Magazine

In 2016, Serena Williams wrote an open letter in Porter Magazine's "Incredible Women of 2016" feature. The letter expressed her support for gender equality and shared her personal struggles as a woman in tennis, highlighting unequal pay and the lack of recognition for women's contributions to the sport.

September 1, 2017: Birth of Daughter

On September 1, 2017, Serena Williams gave birth to a daughter and suffered a pulmonary embolism after delivery, leaving her bedridden for six weeks and delaying her return to training.

Others born on this day/year

January 5, 2018: Withdrawal from Australian Open

On January 5, 2018, Serena Williams withdrew from the upcoming Australian Open, citing a lack of sufficient preparation in the wake of her pregnancy.

2018: Wimbledon and US Open Series

In 2018, Serena Williams played Wimbledon and was seeded No.25, reaching the semifinals. She then entered the 2018 Silicon Valley Classic, her first appearance in a US Open series tournament since 2015, where she suffered the worst loss of her career.

2018: Withdrawal from 2018 French Open

In 2018, Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open before her fourth-round match, a decision that did not officially count as a loss.

2019: 2019 Season

In 2019, Serena Williams started her season at the Australian Open and reached the quarterfinals. She also reached the final at Wimbledon, making 2019 the 13th consecutive year in which she played in a Grand Slam final, losing to Halep.

2020: Withdrawal from 2020 French Open

In 2020, Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open before her second-round match, which did not officially count as a loss.

December 2021: Withdrawal from Australian Open

In December 2021, Serena Williams announced she would not play the 2022 Australian Open, citing a leg injury.

2021: 2021 Season

In 2021, Serena Williams played the Yarra Valley Classic and withdrew due to injury. She also lost in the Australian Open semifinal, played her 1000th career match, and withdrew from Wimbledon due to injury. A leg injury also forced her to retire from the US Open.