Early Life and Education of Serena Williams: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Serena Williams. From birth to education, explore key events.

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 the year-end No. 1 five times. Williams won 73 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including a record-breaking 23 major women's singles titles in the Open Era, second-most of all time. Notably, she is the only player to have achieved 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

September 26, 1981: Serena Williams' Birth

On September 26, 1981, Serena Jameka Williams was born. She later became a professional tennis player renowned for holding the world No. 1 ranking by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 319 weeks, the third-most of all time.

Others born on this day/year

1995: Stopped National Junior Tournaments

In 1995, when Williams was in the ninth grade, her father pulled his daughters out of Macci's academy and took over all coaching at their home. This decision was influenced by a desire to avoid burnout and to address experiences of racism during tournaments.

1999: Graduation from Driftwood Academy and Puma Endorsement Deal

In 1999, Serena Williams graduated from Driftwood Academy and soon after signed a $12 million endorsement deal with Puma.

2005: Charity Tour with Venus for Ronald McDonald House

In 2004 and 2005, Serena and Venus Williams visited hospitals and played several tennis matches in predominantly Black cities to raise funds for the local Ronald McDonald House charities. An ESPN episode was dedicated to the charity tour.

2006: Faces Depression and Returns to Tennis

In 2006, after losing at the Australian Open, Serena Williams disclosed an injury and later revealed her struggle with depression. She took a six-month hiatus from tennis, seeking therapy. Motivated by a young fan, she returned in Cincinnati in July, achieving semifinal finishes in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. Despite needing a wildcard for the US Open, she reached the fourth round. She finished the year ranked No.95, her lowest since 1997.

2010: Nail Technician Certification

In 2010, Serena Williams became a certified nail technician in preparation for her upcoming nail collection with HairTech.

March 2, 2011: Confirmation of Hematoma and Pulmonary Embolism

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

2015: End of Indian Wells Boycott

In 2015, Serena Williams ended her boycott of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, which she had maintained since 2001 due to racist comments made to her family during the tournament.

December 10, 2016: Engagement to Alexis Ohanian

On December 10, 2016, Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, proposed to Serena Williams.

2016: Open Letter on Gender Equality

In 2016, Serena Williams penned an open letter in Porter Magazine, advocating for gender equality and sharing her experiences as a woman in tennis, highlighting unequal pay and unrecognized contributions.

2016: Support for Black Lives Matter

In 2016, Serena Williams voiced her support for the Black Lives Matter movement on her Facebook page, expressing concern for her nephew's safety due to his skin color.

April 19, 2017: Pregnancy Announcement

On April 19, 2017, Serena Williams announced that she was 20 weeks pregnant and would miss the remainder of the tennis season. She also revealed she was pregnant when she won the Australian Open earlier that year.

September 1, 2017: Birth of Daughter

On September 1, 2017, Serena Williams gave birth to her daughter. Following the delivery, she suffered a pulmonary embolism which required her to stay bedridden for six weeks, delaying her return to training.

November 16, 2017: Wedding to Alexis Ohanian

On November 16, 2017, Serena Williams married Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans. The wedding ceremony was attended by prominent personalities such as Beyoncé, Anna Wintour, Kelly Rowland and Kim Kardashian.

2017: Statement on Faith

In 2017, Serena Williams said she "never really practiced [the Jehovah's Witness faith]".

2018: Response to Tennys Sandgren's Tweets

In 2018, Serena Williams responded to insensitive tweets by American tennis player Tennys Sandgren by asserting that an apology was owed to an entire group of people affected by his words.

February 2021: Hired Tennis Coach for Daughter

By February 2021, Serena Williams had hired a tennis coach for her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., who was three years old at the time.

August 2022: Announcement of Impending 'Evolution' from Tennis

In August 2022, Serena Williams announced her impending "evolution" away from professional tennis. This announcement signaled the end of her illustrious career, as she prepared for her final matches.

September 2022: Announcement of Retirement Plans

In the September 2022 issue of Vogue, Serena Williams announced her plans to "evolve away" from tennis after the 2022 US Open, indicating her retirement to focus on family and her venture capital firm.