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.
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.
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.
In 1999, Serena Williams graduated from Driftwood Academy and soon after signed a $12 million endorsement deal with Puma.
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.
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.
In 2010, Serena Williams became a certified nail technician in preparation for her upcoming nail collection with HairTech.
On March 2, 2011, Serena Williams confirmed that she had suffered a hematoma and a pulmonary embolism.
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.
On December 10, 2016, Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, proposed to Serena Williams.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2017, Serena Williams said she "never really practiced [the Jehovah's Witness faith]".
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.
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.
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.
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.
In August 2023, Serena Williams gave birth to her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian.
In 2023, Serena Williams was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness.
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