History of Serena Williams in Timeline
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.
1931: Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award first handed out
In 1931 the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award was first handed out. Only Evert and Babe Didrikson have been chosen more often as Athlete of the Year since.
September 26, 1981: Serena Williams' Birth
On September 26, 1981, Serena Jameka Williams was born. She would become an American professional tennis player, achieve the world No. 1 ranking, and win 23 major singles titles.
1983: First Solo Woman to receive the award since 1983
In 1983, Serena Williams became the third solo woman, and the first since 1983, to receive the Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. On October 5, Williams surpassed Evert for third-most weeks ranked world No.1. Williams held the top ranking the entire season for the second consecutive year, finishing there for the fifth time in her career. She was voted WTA Player of the Year for the seventh time, and named ITF World Champion for the sixth time. She was also voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press for the fourth time in her career, and was chosen as Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
1991: Ranked No. 1 Among Under-10 Players in Florida
By 1991, Serena Williams had a 46–3 record on the United States Tennis Association junior tour and was ranked No. 1 among under-10 players in Florida.
October 1994: Hingis turned pro
Martina Hingis turned pro in October 1994, less than one year before Serena Williams.
1994: Richard Williams becomes Serena's coach
In 1994, Richard Williams began coaching Serena Williams, marking the start of a long and influential coaching relationship.
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.
1995: Turned Professional
In 1995, Serena Williams turned professional in tennis, marking the beginning of her illustrious career. She began being coached by her parents Oracene Price and Richard Williams.
1995: Father Takes Over Coaching
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.
1995: Williams turned pro
Serena Williams turned pro in 1995, less than one year after Martina Hingis.
1996: Last Year to Hold Top Ranking for Entire Calendar Year
Serena Williams held the top ranking for the entire calendar year, a feat not accomplished since Graf achieved it in 1996.
November 1997: First Main-Draw Match at Ameritech Cup Chicago
In November 1997, Serena Williams won her first main-draw match at the Ameritech Cup Chicago, upsetting top 10 players Mary Pierce and Monica Seles, becoming the lowest-ranked player to defeat two top-10 opponents in one tournament.
1997: Lowest ranking since 1997
In 2006, Serena Williams had slipped to No.139, her lowest ranking since 1997.
1998: First match against Martina Hingis
In 1998, Serena Williams first played Martina Hingis at the Miami Open, where Hingis won in three sets.
1998: First Grand Slam Main Draw and Doubles Titles
In 1998, Serena Williams played her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open, reached several quarterfinals, won mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open with Max Mirnyi, and won her first professional non-mixed doubles title at the U.S. National Indoor Championships with Venus.
1998: First Professional Match Against Venus
In 1998, Serena Williams played her older sister Venus in 31 professional matches starting.
1998: Mixed Doubles Majors Wins
In 1998, Serena Williams won two mixed doubles majors.
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.
February 1999: First Professional Singles Title in Paris
In February 1999, Serena Williams won her first professional singles title at the Open Gaz de France in Paris, defeating Amélie Mauresmo in the final.
1999: Graduation and Puma Deal
In 1999, Serena Williams graduated from Driftwood Academy and soon after signed a $12 million endorsement deal with Puma, marking a significant milestone in her early career.
1999: Match on clay in Rome
In 1999, Serena Williams played Martina Hingis on clay in Rome, which Hingis won in straight sets.
1999: Wilson Hammer Stretch Rackets
In 1999, Serena Williams used the Wilson Hammer Stretch range of rackets when she won her first Grand Slam title.
1999: First Grand Slam Singles Title at the US Open
In 1999, Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open, defeating Martina Hingis in the final, becoming the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam singles tournament. She also won the doubles event with her sister Venus.
1999: First Major Singles Title at US Open
In 1999, Serena Williams won her first major singles title at the US Open, which was a significant achievement in her career.
1999: Rivalry with Jennifer Capriati began
In 1999, the rivalry between Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati began, and it was once considered one of the best rivalries in women's tennis.
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: Match Fixing Rumors
In 2000, During Wimbledon semifinal between the Williams sisters, rumors of match fixing started to circulate.
2000: Olympic Gold and Toyota Princess Cup
In 2000, Serena Williams won the gold medal in doubles at the Sydney Olympics with her sister, and won the Toyota Princess Cup.
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: Indian Wells final for the first time since 2001
In 2001 was the last time before 2016 that Serena Williams had reached the Indian Wells final.
2001: Elena Dementieva claims Richard Williams had decided the results of matches
In 2001, Elena Dementieva claimed that Richard Williams had decided the results of matches between the sisters.
2001: Career Grand Slam in Doubles and US Open Final Loss
In 2001, Serena and Venus Williams won the doubles event at the Australian Open, completing a Career Grand Slam in women's doubles. Serena also lost to Venus in the final of the US Open. Richard Williams alleged racist comments during the Pacific Life Open, leading to a boycott.
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.
2002: Dominance Begins: Serena Slam Start
Beginning with the 2002 French Open, Serena Williams started a period of dominance where she won all four major singles titles consecutively.
2002: Consecutive Grand Slam Finals Against Venus
Beginning with the 2002 French Open, Serena and Venus Williams played each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
2002: Held All Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously: Start of Surface Slam
In 2002, Serena Williams began holding all four major singles titles simultaneously and winning the Surface Slam (major titles on hard, clay, and grass courts in the same calendar year).
2002: Last match against Martina Hingis
In 2002, Serena Williams played her last match against Martina Hingis at the Miami Open, which Williams won.
2002: US Open Win and Surface Slam
In 2002, Serena Williams won the US Open, defeating her sister Venus in the final for the third Grand Slam in a row. She won two consecutive singles titles in the fall, and finished the year with eight singles titles, the No.1 ranking, and became the third player in history to win the "Surface Slam".
2002: First clay-court title since 2002
In 2008, Serena Williams claimed victory at the Family Circle Cup, her first clay-court title since 2002.
2003: Australian Open Win and Career Grand Slam Completion
At the 2003 Australian Open, Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus in the final, becoming the sixth woman in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam and the fifth woman to hold all Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously, a feat dubbed the 'Serena Slam'.
2003: Oracene Price ends role as Serena's coach
In 2003, Oracene Price's tenure as Serena Williams' coach came to an end.
2003: Completion of the 'Serena Slam'
In 2003, Serena Williams completed the 'Serena Slam' by winning the Australian Open, holding all four major singles titles simultaneously.
2003: Held All Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously
In 2003, Serena Williams held all four major singles titles simultaneously.
2003: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 2003, Serena Williams posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
2003: Avon Foundation's Celebrity Role Model Award and Young Heroes Award
In 2003, Serena Williams received a Celebrity Role Model Award from the Avon Foundation for her work fighting breast cancer and also won the "Young Heroes Award" from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. and Inland.
2003: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2003, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.
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.
2003: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2003, Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year, marking the first of her record-setting four wins.
2003: Return to No.1 for the first time since 2003
In 2008, Serena Williams captured her third US Open title, which was also her ninth Grand Slam singles title. The victory returned her to No.1 for the first time since 2003.
2003: Time Cover for Woman of the Year
In 2019, Time created 89 new covers to celebrate women of the year starting from 1920; it chose Williams for 2003.
2003: First time as top-ranked American since 2003
Serena Williams finished 2007 as No.7 and the top-ranked American for the first time since 2003.
March 2004: Comeback at the NASDAQ-100 Open
In March 2004, after eight months away from tennis, Serena Williams began her comeback at the NASDAQ-100 Open, where she won the title for the third consecutive year.
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: First meeting against Sharapova
In 2004, Serena Williams first met Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the Miami Open, where Williams defeated Sharapova. Their rivalry began at the 2004 Wimbledon final, where Sharapova bested Williams in an upset. Williams also lost to Sharapova in the finals of the 2004 WTA Tour Championships.
2004: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 2004, Serena Williams posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
2004: Nike Endorsement Deal
In 2004, Serena Williams signed a five-year deal with Nike for $40 million, solidifying a long-standing partnership where Nike designed custom clothing and footwear for her.
2004: Family Circle and Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference Award
In 2004, Serena Williams won the "Family Circle and Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference Award", recognizing her positive impact both on and off the tennis court.
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.
2005: Wilson nCode racket use
In 2005, Serena Williams briefly switched to the Wilson nCode racket.
2005: Victory at Australian Open
In 2005, Serena Williams rejected claims of decline and won the Australian Open, defeating Davenport and claiming her seventh Grand Slam singles title. This victory moved her back to No.2 in rankings.
2005: Charity Tour
In 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.
2005: Publication of "Venus & Serena: Serving From The Hip"
In 2005, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, co-authored the book "Venus & Serena: Serving From The Hip: 10 Rules For Living, Loving and Winning", written with Hilary Beard.
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: Justine Henin defended her title at the WTA Championships
In 2007, Justine Henin was the last person to defend her title at the WTA Championships, before Serena Williams matched the achievement in 2013.
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.
2007: Laureus Comeback of the Year
In 2007, Serena Williams won the Laureus Comeback of the Year award.
2007: Wins Sony Ericsson Open and finishes as No. 7
In 2007, Serena Williams won the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami for the fourth time, defeating Henin. She then lost to Henin during the quarterfinals in three consecutive Grand Slam tournaments: the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Williams finished 2007 as No.7 and the top-ranked American for the first time since 2003.
2007: Return to Form and Reclaiming No. 1 Ranking
Starting in 2007, Serena Williams gradually returned to form and reclaimed the world No. 1 singles ranking after suffering from injury and a decline in form.
2008: Wins US Open and returns to No.1
In 2008, Serena Williams captured her third US Open title, which was also her ninth Grand Slam singles title. The victory returned her to No.1 for the first time since 2003. She ended 2008 ranked No.2 and with four singles titles, her strongest performance in both respects since 2003.
2008: Serena Williams Secondary School Construction
In 2008, as part of the Serena Williams Foundation's work, Williams helped fund the construction of the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya, contributing to community development through education.
2008: Rivalry against Azarenka began
In 2008, the rivalry between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka began at the Australian Open.
2008: Wins Hopman Cup and three consecutive singles titles
Serena Williams started 2008 by winning the Hopman Cup for the US, with Mardy Fish. She then won three consecutive singles titles at Bangalore and her fifth Miami title, tying Graf for the most singles titles at this tournament. She claimed victory at the Family Circle Cup, her first clay-court title since 2002.
2008: Wilson Blade racket use
Since 2008, Serena Williams has used various iterations of the Wilson Blade racket.
August 2009: Miami Dolphins Minority Owner
In August 2009, Serena and Venus Williams became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins, becoming the first African-American women to hold ownership in an NFL franchise.
2009: Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam in Doubles Begins
Between the 2009 Wimbledon Championships and the 2010 French Open, Serena and Venus Williams achieved a non-calendar year Grand Slam in doubles.
2009: Wins Australian Open and becomes prize money leader
In 2009, Serena Williams claimed her tenth Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, defeating Safina. This win restored her No.1 ranking and made her the all-time career prize money leader in women's sports.
2009: Launch of Signature Statement collection
In 2009, Serena Williams launched her signature collection of handbags and jewelry called Signature Statement. This collection was mainly sold on the Home Shopping Network.
2009: Release of Autobiography "On the Line" and Tampax Pearl Ad Campaign
In 2009, Serena Williams released her autobiography titled "On the Line". Also in 2009, she appeared in online videos and print advertisements for Tampax Pearl tampons, becoming the first active female professional athlete to appear in advertising for a feminine hygiene product.
2009: Wins WTA Tour Championships and Named Athlete of the Year
In 2009, Serena Williams won all three of her round-robin matches at the year-end WTA Tour Championships and defeated Venus in the final. Serena finished the year ranked No.1 and broke the record for most prize money earned by a female tennis player in one year, with $6,545,586 in prize-money earnings. She was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press and the International Tennis Federation World Champion in both singles and doubles.
2009: Held All Four Major Women's Doubles Titles Simultaneously: Start
In 2009, Serena and Venus Williams began holding all four major women's doubles titles simultaneously.
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: Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam in Doubles Ends
Between the 2009 Wimbledon Championships and the 2010 French Open, Serena and Venus Williams achieved a non-calendar year Grand Slam in doubles, earning them the doubles world No. 1 ranking.
2010: Certification as nail technician
In 2010, Serena Williams became a certified nail technician as preparation for her upcoming nail collection with HairTech.
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.
2010: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2010, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.
2010: Held All Four Major Women's Doubles Titles Simultaneously
In 2010, Serena and Venus Williams held all four major women's doubles titles simultaneously.
2010: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2010, Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year for the second time.
2010: Haiti earthquake relief
In 2010, following the Haiti earthquake, Serena Williams, along with other ATP and WTA stars, decided to forgo their final day of preparation for the Australian Open to assist earthquake victims.
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: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's earnings
In 2011, Novak Djokovic earned more money in one season, a feat only Rafael Nadal in 2013, and Novak Djokovic in 2012 and 2013 have done.
2011: Romantically involved with Drake?
In 2011, Serena Williams is alleged to have been romantically involved with Drake, with whom Lamar is involved in an ongoing feud.
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.
2011: UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador
Since 2011, Serena Williams has served as an International Goodwill Ambassador with UNICEF and helped launch UNICEF's Schools for Asia campaign, promoting education and children's rights.
2012: Return to Dominance, Olympic Gold
Beginning with the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, Serena Williams returned to dominance, claiming Olympic gold and completing the career Golden Slam in singles.
2012: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's earnings
In 2012, Novak Djokovic earned more money in one season, a feat only Rafael Nadal in 2013, and Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2013 have done.
2012: Patrick Mouratoglou becomes Serena's coach
In 2012, Patrick Mouratoglou began coaching Serena Williams, beginning a partnership that would last until 2022.
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.
2013: Third-Fastest Serve in WTA History
During the 2013 Australian Open, Serena Williams delivered the third-fastest serve in WTA recorded history, clocking in at 128.6 mph (207 km/h) against Ayumi Morita, demonstrating her powerful serve.
2013: Year-End No.1 Ranking and Awards
In 2013, Serena Williams finished as the year-end No.1 for the third time, becoming the oldest No.1 player in WTA history. She was named the ITF World Champion for the fourth time and received two prizes at the 2013 ESPY Awards: Best Female Athlete and Best Female Tennis Player. In December, Williams received the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award for the third time.
2013: Won Rogers Cup, US Open, China Open, and WTA Championships
In 2013, Serena Williams won her third Rogers Cup title in Toronto, beating Sorana Cîrstea in the final. She reached the final of the Western & Southern Open for the first time, but lost to Azarenka. At the US Open, Williams began as top seed and defending champion. She reached the final and defeated Azarenka in three sets, capturing her 17th Grand Slam singles title and pushing her career prize winnings past $50 million. At 31, she became the oldest US Open champion in the Open Era. After the US Open, Williams beat Janković to win the China Open, which was her 10th title of 2013. She went undefeated at the WTA Championships, triumphing over Li Na in the final and becoming the first person to defend the title since Henin in 2007. She also became the oldest player to win the WTA Championships, the fourth player to win it four times or more, and the first female player to win more than $10 million in a season (her total for 2013 was $12.4 million).
2013: Won Brisbane, Miami, Charleston, Madrid, Rome and French Open titles
In 2013, Serena Williams won the title in Brisbane without dropping a set. At the Australian Open, she was upset in the quarterfinals by fellow American Sloane Stephens. After defeating Petra Kvitová in Doha, Williams returned to No.1 for the sixth time in her career, becoming the oldest woman in the Open Era to hold the ranking. In the Miami final, Williams recorded her 70th come-from-behind win. The victory made Williams a six-time champion in Miami. She also defended her Charleston title, winning the event for the third time. She won her 50th career singles title in Madrid, prevailing over Sharapova in the final. She then played in Rome, where she won the title a second time. At the French Open, Williams lost only one game whilst defeating Sara Errani in the semifinal. She bested Sharapova in the final to claim her second French Open title and her 16th Grand Slam title overall. At Wimbledon, she advanced easily to the fourth round before being defeated by eventual finalist Sabine Lisicki. Williams then won the Swedish Open, her first victory at the International level. She was undefeated on clay during the 2013 season.
2014: "The Serena Williams Ultimate Fun Run"
In 2014, Serena Williams began hosting an annual charity run named "The Serena Williams Ultimate Fun Run" to support the Serena Williams Fund.
2014: Serena Ventures Founded
In 2014, Serena Williams founded the venture capital firm Serena Ventures, which invests in start-up companies whose "perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color".
2014: Loss at Australian Open
In 2014, Serena Williams had her fourth-round loss at the Australian Open, which was her earliest defeat.
2014: Held All Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously: Start
In 2014, Serena Williams started holding all four major singles titles simultaneously.
2014: US Open Win and WTA Finals Title
In 2014, Serena Williams won 19 out of her next 20 matches, including titles at the Bank of the West Classic and the Western & Southern Open, and her third consecutive and sixth overall US Open singles title. She tied Evert for most US Open singles titles won by a woman in the Open Era and tied Evert and Navratilova's record of 18 career Grand Slam singles titles won in the Open Era. She collected $4 million—the biggest payday in tennis history and claimed the WTA Finals title, which was her seventh title of the year, and finished the year ranked No.1 for the fourth time in her career. She was voted WTA Player of the Year and ITF World Champion for a third consecutive year in 2014.
2014: Second Serena Slam Start
Starting in 2014, Serena Williams won four major singles titles in a row, achieving a second 'Serena Slam'.
December 2015: Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
In December 2015, Serena Williams was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine.
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.
2015: Chief Sporting Officer for Aston Martin
In 2015, Serena Williams became the Chief Sporting Officer for British luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin, expanding her influence beyond the tennis court.
2015: Won Australian Open, reached Miami Open quarter-finals
In 2015, Serena Williams began the season by reaching the final of the Hopman Cup. At the Australian Open, Williams defeated Sharapova for the 16th consecutive time to claim her sixth Australian Open singles title and 19th career Grand Slam singles title. After a 14-year boycott of the Indian Wells Masters, Williams announced that she would be competing at the event. When Williams defeated Lisicki in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, she became the eighth woman in the Open Era to record 700 match wins in her career. Williams went on to win a record eighth title in Miami in 2015.
2015: Completion of Second Serena Slam
In 2015, Serena Williams completed her second 'Serena Slam', winning all four major singles titles consecutively.
2015: Won French Open and Wimbledon titles
In 2015, Serena Williams defeated Lucie Šafářová to claim the trophy and win her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam singles title. At Wimbledon, Williams defeated Muguruza and claimed her sixth Wimbledon singles title and 21st Grand Slam singles title overall. With this triumph, she completed her second "Serena Slam". The Wimbledon victory made Williams the oldest woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title in 2015.
2015: End to Indian Wells Boycott
In 2015, Serena Williams ended her boycott of the Indian Wells tournament, which began in 2001 after alleged racist comments were made to her father.
2015: Romantically involved with Drake?
In 2015, Serena Williams is alleged to have been romantically involved with Drake, with whom Lamar is involved in an ongoing feud.
2015: Surface Slam
In 2015, Serena Williams won the Surface Slam (major titles on hard, clay and grass courts in the same calendar year).
2015: Return to Indian Wells with Equal Justice Initiative
In 2015, Serena Williams' return to Indian Wells (after a 14-year boycott) occurred in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation to people who may have been denied a fair trial.
September 5, 2016: Tied for longest run in WTA history
On September 5, 2016, Serena Williams' 186th consecutive week ranked No.1, tying her with Graf for the longest run in WTA history.
December 10, 2016: Alexis Ohanian Proposes to Serena Williams
On December 10, 2016, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, proposed to Serena Williams, marking a significant milestone in their relationship.
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: Support for Black Lives Matter
In 2016, Serena Williams voiced her support for the Black Lives Matter movement on her Facebook page, expressing concern about potential danger to her young nephew due to his skin color.
2016: Highest Paid Woman Athlete
In 2016, Serena Williams was the world's highest paid woman athlete, earning almost $29 million.
2016: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2016, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.
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.
2016: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2016, Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year for the third time.
2016: Yetunde Price Resource Center
In 2016, in her childhood home of Compton, Serena and Venus Williams founded the Yetunde Price Resource Center, in honor of their late half-sister Yetunde, to assist individuals and communities affected by violence.
2016: Li Na's Comments on Serena's Serve Under Pressure
In 2016, retired player Li Na noted Serena Williams' ability to serve aces at critical moments, estimating an 80% chance of her serving an ace when facing a break point down.
2016: Ranking
In the week of April 20, 2016, Serena Williams marked her 114th consecutive week ranked No.1, the third-longest run in WTA history at the time.
April 19, 2017: Pregnancy Announcement
On April 19, 2017, Serena Williams revealed that she was 20 weeks pregnant and would miss the remainder of the season.
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.
November 16, 2017: Serena Williams Marries Alexis Ohanian
On November 16, 2017, Serena Williams married Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans. The wedding was attended by prominent personalities such as Beyoncé, Anna Wintour, Kelly Rowland and Kim Kardashian.
2017: 23rd Major Singles Title at Australian Open
At the 2017 Australian Open, Serena Williams won her 23rd major singles title, surpassing Steffi Graf's Open Era record.
2017: Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse Ambassador
In 2017, Serena Williams became Ambassador for the Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse project, an initiative to provide financial empowerment to domestic abuse victims.
2017: Comments on Jehovah's Witness Faith
In 2017, Serena Williams commented that she had "never really practiced" the Jehovah's Witness faith, despite being raised as one.
2017: Only Woman on Forbes List of Highest-Paid Athletes
In 2017, Serena Williams was the only woman on Forbes' list of the 100 highest-paid athletes, with $27 million in prize money and endorsements.
2017: Won Australian Open
In 2017, Serena Williams won the Australian Open
2017: Wilson Blade SW104 signature racket
Since 2017, Wilson has manufactured a signature racket for Serena Williams, the Wilson Blade SW104, which is designed to her specifications.
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: Played Doubles with Venus
In 2018, At the US Open, Williams played doubles with Venus for the first time since 2018; the sisters lost to the Czech duo of Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková.
2018: Roger Federer regarded Williams as the GOAT
In 2018, Roger Federer said Serena Williams probably has the best case for "Greatest Of All Time", man or woman.
2018: Joins SurveyMonkey Board of Directors
In 2018, Serena Williams joined the board of directors of SurveyMonkey, showcasing her business acumen and interest in technology.
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: French Open catsuit controversy and US Open tutu
In 2018, Serena Williams promoted her clothing line Serena by wearing a catsuit at the French Open, which was subsequently banned by the French Tennis Federation. Later in 2018, at the US Open, Williams wore a black tutu during her first match.
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.
2018: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2018, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.
2018: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2018, Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year for a record fourth time.
2018: Response to Tennys Sandgren's Tweets
In 2018, during Tennys Sandgren's breakthrough run at the Australian Open, Serena Williams responded to his past insensitive tweets by stating that an apology was deserved by an entire group of people, not necessarily herself.
February 2019: Appointment to Poshmark board of directors and launch of S by Serena
In February 2019, Serena Williams was appointed to the board of directors of the online fashion marketplace Poshmark. In the fall of 2019, she launched the first collection of her clothing line S by Serena, inspired by 1990s street wear and designed for a range of body types and sizes.
March 2019: USWNT Honors Serena Williams
In March 2019, the United States women's national soccer team honored Serena Williams by having Crystal Dunn wear a jersey with Williams' name on the back during their match, recognizing her as an inspiring figure.
December 2019: Associated Press Names Serena Williams Female Athlete of the Decade
In December 2019, the Associated Press named Serena Williams the Female Athlete of the Decade for the 2010s, recognizing her dominance and impact in the world of sports.
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.
2019: Final match against Sharapova
In 2019, Serena Williams' final match against Maria Sharapova was in the first round of the US Open, where Williams defeated Sharapova in two sets.
January 2020: Won First Singles Title as a Mother
In January 2020, Serena Williams won her first singles title as a mother at the ASB Classic, defeating Jessica Pegula in the final.
July 2020: Part of Investors' Group Awarded New NWSL Franchise
In July 2020, Serena Williams was announced as part of a nearly all-women investors' group that was awarded a new franchise in the National Women's Soccer League, the highest level of women's soccer in the United States.
2020: Most recent match against Azarenka
In 2020, Serena William's most recent match against Victoria Azarenka was in the semifinals of the US Open.
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.
2020: Tennis Channel Ranks Serena Williams as Greatest Female Tennis Player in History
In 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player in history, cementing her status as a tennis icon.
2020: Ranked Greatest Women's Tennis Player of All Time
In 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Serena Williams as the greatest women's tennis player of all time.
2020: Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph racket
Since 2020, Serena Williams has used a smaller variant of her signature racket, the Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph.
February 2021: Olympia gets a tennis coach
By February 2021, Serena Williams had hired a tennis coach for her daughter, Olympia, who was then three years old.
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.
2021: Executive Producer of "King Richard"
In 2021, Serena Williams, along with her sister Venus, served as executive producers on the film "King Richard", a biopic about their father.
June 2022: Return to Professional Play
In June 2022, Serena Williams returned to professional play, teaming up with Ons Jabeur for the Eastbourne International.
August 2022: Announcement of Evolution Away From Tennis
In August 2022, Serena Williams announced her impending "evolution" away from professional tennis, signaling the end of her career.
September 2022: Announcement of "Evolution Away" from Tennis
In September 2022, Serena Williams announced her plans to "evolve away" from tennis after the 2022 US Open in an issue of Vogue, stating her intention to focus on her family and her venture capital firm.
September 2022: Most Tweeted-About Female Athlete
In September 2022, Twitter announced that Serena Williams was the most tweeted-about female athlete of all time, highlighting her significant cultural impact and popularity on social media.
2022: Serena Ventures raises over $110 million
As of 2022, Serena Ventures had raised more than $110 million, demonstrating the firm's growth and influence in the venture capital world.
2022: Angel City FC begins playing
In 2022, Angel City FC began playing as part of the National Women's Soccer League.
2022: John McEnroe described Williams as the GOAT of GOATs
In 2022, John McEnroe described Serena Williams as an "icon" and the "GOAT of GOATs".
2022: Serena Williams changes coaches
In 2022, Serena Williams changed coaches, hiring Eric Hechtman and Rennae Stubbs.
August 2023: Birth of Second Daughter, Adira River Ohanian
In August 2023, Serena Williams gave birth to her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, expanding her family.
2023: Baptized as Jehovah's Witness
In 2023, Serena Williams was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness.
2024: International Sports Press Association (AIPS) voted her as the best female athlete of the past 100 years
In 2024, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) voted her as the best female athlete of the past 100 years.
December 2025: The Sporting News Ranks Serena Williams as Sixth Greatest Athlete of the Quarter Century
In December 2025, The Sporting News ranked Serena Williams as the sixth greatest athlete of the quarter century and the highest-ranked tennis player, solidifying her place among the sporting elite.
2025: Princess of Asturias Award for Sport
In 2025, Serena Williams received the Princess of Asturias Award for Sport.
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