History of Serena Williams in Timeline
Serena Williams is a highly accomplished American former professional tennis player, renowned for her dominance in the sport. She held the world No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks and concluded the year as No. 1 on five occasions. Williams has secured 73 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including a record-breaking 23 major women's singles titles in the Open Era, making her second overall. Notably, she stands as the only player to have achieved a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
1931: Associated Press Athlete of the Year Awards First Handed Out
Since the Associated Press Athlete of the Year awards were first handed out in 1931, only Evert and Babe Didrikson have been chosen more often as Athlete of the Year than Serena Williams.
1978: Martina Navratilova's Ranking
Martina Navratilova's ranking in 1978.
September 26, 1981: Serena Williams is born
On September 26, 1981, Serena Jameka Williams, a future world No. 1 professional tennis player, was born.
1984: Martina Navratilova Wins Surface Slam
In 1984, Martina Navratilova achieved the Surface Slam, winning major titles on hard, clay, and grass courts.
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.
1993: Steffi Graf Wins Surface Slam
In 1993, Steffi Graf achieved the Surface Slam, winning major titles on hard, clay, and grass courts.
October 1994: Hingis turned pro
In October 1994, Martina Hingis turned professional, less than a year before Serena Williams did.
1994: Richard Williams became Serena's coach
In 1994, Richard Williams became one of Serena Williams' coaches.
October 1995: First Professional Event at Bell Challenge
In October 1995, Serena Williams participated in her first professional event at the Bell Challenge in Quebec, where she lost in the first qualifying round.
1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's Ranking
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's ranking in 1995.
1995: Turns Professional
In 1995, Serena Williams turned professional in tennis, marking the beginning of her illustrious career.
1995: Steffi Graf Wins Surface Slam
In 1995, Steffi Graf achieved the Surface Slam, winning major titles on hard, clay, and grass courts.
1995: Father Takes Over Coaching
In 1995, when Serena Williams was in the ninth grade, her father pulled his daughters out of Rick Macci's academy and took over all coaching at their home.
1996: Graf's Year-End Ranking
In 1996, Graf achieved the feat of holding the top ranking for the entire calendar year, a feat not accomplished again until Serena Williams in 2014.
1996: Did Not Play
In 1996, Serena Williams did not participate in any tennis tournaments.
1996: Steffi Graf Wins Surface Slam
In 1996, Steffi Graf achieved the Surface Slam, winning major titles on hard, clay, and grass courts.
November 1997: First Main-Draw Match Win at Ameritech Cup Chicago
In November 1997, Serena Williams won her first main-draw match at the Ameritech Cup Chicago, upsetting top players and reaching the semifinals.
1997: Lowest Ranking Since 1997
In 2006, Serena Williams's ranking dropped to No.139, her lowest ranking since 1997. She also finished the year ranked No.95, her lowest year-end ranking since 1997.
1998: First match against Martina Hingis
In 1998, Serena Williams and Martina Hingis first played each other at the Miami Open, with Hingis winning in three sets.
1998: First Professional Match against Venus
In 1998, Serena Williams played her older sister Venus in their first professional match.
1998: First Grand Slam Main Draw and Mixed Doubles Titles
In 1998, Serena Williams played in her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open and won mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open with Max Mirnyi.
1998: Wins Two Mixed Doubles Majors
In 1998, Serena Williams won two mixed doubles majors, marking an early achievement in her doubles career.
1998: Failed to Qualify for Year-End Championship
In 2005, Serena Williams failed to qualify for the year-end championship for the first time since 1998.
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: Match on clay in Rome
In 1999, Serena Williams and Martina Hingis played on clay in Rome, with Hingis winning in straight sets.
1999: Graduated from Driftwood Academy and signed deal with Puma
In 1999, Serena Williams graduated from Driftwood Academy and signed a $12 million endorsement deal with Puma.
1999: Used Wilson Hammer Stretch range of rackets
In 1999, Serena Williams used the Wilson Hammer Stretch range of rackets when she won her first Grand Slam title.
1999: Wins First Major Singles Title at US Open
In 1999, Serena Williams won her first major singles title at the US Open, marking a significant milestone in her career.
1999: US Open Win and Fed Cup Title
In 1999, Serena Williams won the US Open, becoming the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam singles tournament, and helped the US win the Fed Cup title.
1999: Rivalry with Jennifer Capriati began
In 1999, Serena Williams' rivalry with Jennifer Capriati began, initially with Capriati winning four of the first five matches.
1999: Drop Out of Top 10
In 2004, after losing in the Wimbledon final, Serena Williams dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since 1999.
2000: Match Fixing Rumors
During the 2000 Wimbledon semifinal, John McEnroe hinted at possible match-fixing due to Richard Williams' influence.
2000: Wimbledon Doubles Title and Sydney Olympics Gold Medal
In 2000, Serena Williams and Venus Williams won the doubles title at Wimbledon and the gold medal in doubles at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Father Addresses Junior Circuit Decision
In 2000, when asked about bypassing the junior circuit, Richard Williams defended his decision, emphasizing the unique path he chose for Venus and Serena.
2000: Olympics
In the 2000 Olympics, Serena and Venus Williams had a career record of 15-0 until the 2016 Olympics.
2001: Allegations of Match Fixing
After losing to Venus at the Indian Wells quarterfinals in 2001, Elena Dementieva claimed that Richard Williams had decided the results of matches between the sisters, leading to speculation and crowd behavior during the final.
2001: First Grand Slam Loss Since 2001
At the 2003 French Open, Serena Williams experienced her first loss in a Grand Slam tournament since 2001. She was defeated in the semifinals by eventual champion Justine Henin.
2001: Career Grand Slam in Doubles and Boycott of Indian Wells
In 2001, Serena Williams and Venus Williams completed a Career Grand Slam in doubles. Serena also boycotted the Indian Wells tournament due to racist comments made to her father.
2001: Reached Indian Wells Final
In 2001, Serena Williams competed in Indian Wells as the No.1 seed and reached the final for the first time.
2001: First Season Since 2001 Without Grand Slam Win
In 2004, Serena Williams concluded the season without securing a Grand Slam singles tournament victory, marking the first instance of this occurrence since 2001.
2002: Wins First of Four Consecutive Grand Slam Titles
Beginning with the 2002 French Open, Serena Williams began a dominant run, winning four major singles titles in a row, each time defeating her sister Venus in the final.
2002: Consecutive Grand Slam Finals
Beginning with the 2002 French Open, Serena and Venus played each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
2002: Holds All Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously
From 2002 to 2003, Serena Williams held all four major singles titles simultaneously, showcasing her dominance in women's tennis.
2002: Last match against Martina Hingis
In 2002, Serena Williams and Martina Hingis played their last match at the Miami Open, which Williams won.
2002: Wins Miami Masters and Title in Scottsdale
In 2002, Serena Williams won the Miami Masters and the title in Scottsdale, Arizona, showcasing her strong performance early in the year.
2002: Wins US Open and Finishes Year Ranked No.1
In 2002, Serena Williams won the US Open, defeating her sister Venus in the final, and finished the year ranked No. 1, marking a highly successful season.
2002: First Clay-Court Title Since 2002
In 2008, Serena Williams claimed victory at the Family Circle Cup, marking her first clay-court title since 2002.
2003: 2003 Season Highlights: Titles, Controversies, and Injury
During the spring of 2003, Serena Williams captured singles titles at the Open Gaz de France and the Sony Ericsson Open. Her 21-win streak ended at the Family Circle Cup. At the French Open, she lost in the semifinals to Henin, amidst controversy over sportsmanship. Serena rebounded at Wimbledon, defeating Venus for her second consecutive title there, before undergoing knee surgery in August and ending her season prematurely.
2003: Holds All Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously
From 2002 to 2003, Serena Williams held all four major singles titles simultaneously, showcasing her dominance in women's tennis.
2003: Oracene Price was Serena's coach
In 2003, Oracene Price was one of Serena Williams' coaches.
2003: Australian Open Victory and Career Grand Slam
In 2003, Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams at the Australian Open, marking her fourth consecutive Grand Slam tournament final against her sister. This victory made her the sixth woman in the Open Era to achieve a Career Grand Slam and the fifth woman to simultaneously hold all Grand Slam singles titles, a feat celebrated as the "Serena Slam". The Williams sisters also secured their sixth Grand Slam doubles title at the same tournament.
2003: Posed for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 2003, Serena Williams posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
2003: Received 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 won the "Young Heroes Award" from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. and Inland.
2003: Wins Fourth Consecutive Grand Slam Title
In 2003, Serena Williams won the Australian Open, completing a non-calendar year Grand Slam, later nicknamed the "Serena Slam".
2003: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2003, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year.
2003: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2003, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, recognizing her outstanding achievements in sports.
2003: NAACP President's Award
In 2003, the NAACP honored Serena Williams with its President's Award.
2003: Top-Ranked American Since 2003
In 2007, Serena Williams finished the year as the top-ranked American for the first time since 2003.
2003: Returned to No.1 Ranking
In 2008, after capturing her third US Open title, Serena Williams returned to the No.1 ranking for the first time since 2003.
2003: Discovery of Yetunde's Murderer's Parole
In 2018, during the Silicon Valley Classic, Serena Williams discovered that the man who murdered her half-sister, Yetunde, in 2003 had been released on parole.
March 2004: Comeback at NASDAQ-100 Open
In March 2004, after eight months away from tennis, Serena Williams started her comeback at the NASDAQ-100 Open, winning the title for the third consecutive year.
2004: Wore denim skirt and knee-high leg wraps at US Open
In 2004, Serena Williams arrived at the US Open in a denim skirt and knee-high leg wraps that looked like boots, which she was not allowed to wear during matches.
2004: First match against Sharapova at Miami Open
In 2004, Serena Williams defeated Sharapova in the fourth round of the Miami Open, marking their first encounter. Also, in 2004, Sharapova defeated the defending champion Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final.
2004: Posed for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 2004, Serena Williams posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
2004: Signed deal with Nike
In 2004, Serena Williams signed a five-year deal with Nike for $40 million.
2004: Consecutive losses against Sharapova
In 2004, Serena Williams withdrew from a match due to an injury after besting Sharapova 18 consecutive times.
2004: Won the "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". Also, Serena and Venus visited hospitals and played tennis matches to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House charities.
2004: 2004 Season: China Open Victory and Tour Championship Final
In 2004, Serena Williams won the China Open, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova. She also reached the final of the Tour Championships, but lost to Sharapova after suffering an abdominal injury. It was her first season since 2001 without winning a Grand Slam singles tournament.
2004: Controversial US Open Quarterfinal Loss
In 2004, at the US Open, Serena Williams faced Capriati in a controversial quarterfinal match. A bad call by umpire Mariana Alves favored Capriati, leading to arguments and ultimately a loss for Williams. This incident helped spur the adoption of new technology like the MacCAM and Hawk-Eye systems in tennis.
2005: Switched to the Wilson nCode
In 2005, Serena Williams briefly switched to the Wilson nCode racket.
2005: 2005 Australian Open Victory and Season Challenges
In 2005, Serena Williams won the Australian Open, defeating Lindsay Davenport and claiming her seventh Grand Slam singles title. However, she faced challenges with an ankle injury, missed the French Open, and had an early exit at Wimbledon. She finished the year ranked No.11.
2005: Authored the book Venus & Serena: Serving From The Hip: 10 Rules For Living, Loving and Winning
In 2005, Serena and Venus Williams authored the book Venus & Serena: Serving From The Hip: 10 Rules For Living, Loving and Winning, which was written with Hilary Beard.
2005: Visited hospitals and played tennis matches for charity
In 2005, Serena and Venus Williams visited hospitals and played tennis matches in predominantly Black cities to raise funds for the local Ronald McDonald House charities.
2005: Earliest Wimbledon Elimination Since 2005
In 2014, Serena Williams suffered her earliest Wimbledon elimination since 2005, losing in the third round to Alizé Cornet.
2006: 2006 Season: Injury, Depression, and Return to Tennis
In 2006, Serena Williams experienced a challenging season marked by injury and depression, leading to a six-month hiatus from tennis. She sought therapy and made her return in Cincinnati, with her ranking at No.139. By the end of the year, she had risen to No.95.
2007: Henin's WTA Championship Title Defense
In 2007, Henin was the last person to defend the WTA Championship title, a feat later matched by Serena Williams in 2013.
2007: 2007 Season: Resurgence and Sponsorship Pressure
In 2007, Serena Williams aimed to return to the top of the rankings, facing skepticism. Before the Australian Open, Nike threatened to cancel her sponsorship if she didn't reach at least the quarterfinals.
2007: Laureus Comeback of the Year
In 2007, Serena Williams won the Laureus Comeback of the Year award, recognizing her resilience and return to form after facing challenges.
2007: 2007 Season: Miami Victory, Wimbledon Injury, and Year-End Ranking
In 2007, Serena Williams won the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami for the fourth time. She faced challenges at Wimbledon, including an acute muscle spasm during a match. She finished the year ranked No.7 and as the top-ranked American for the first time since 2003.
2007: Returns to Form and Reclaims World No. 1 Ranking
Starting in 2007, despite continued injuries, Serena Williams gradually returned to form, reclaiming the world No. 1 singles ranking.
2008: 2008 Wimbledon Finals, Olympics Doubles Gold, and US Open Victory
In 2008, Serena Williams reached the Wimbledon finals for the first time in four years, losing to Venus, but won the doubles title with her sister. She and Venus won the gold medal in doubles at the Beijing Summer Olympics. She captured her third US Open title, returning her to No.1 for the first time since 2003. She ended the year ranked No.2.
2008: 2008 Season: Hopman Cup Win, Titles, and Injury
In 2008, Serena Williams started by winning the Hopman Cup for the US. She experienced a quarterfinal losing streak at Grand Slam singles tournaments, but also secured multiple titles, including her fifth Miami title and her first clay-court title since 2002. A back injury led to a withdrawal in Rome.
2008: Rivalry against Azarenka began
In 2008, Serena Williams' rivalry with Azarenka began at the Australian Open.
2008: Funded the construction of Serena Williams Secondary School in Kenya
In 2008, as part of the work of the Serena Williams Foundation, Serena Williams helped to fund the construction of the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya.
2008: Used various iterations of the Wilson Blade
Since 2008, Serena Williams has used various iterations of the Wilson Blade racket.
August 2009: Minority owner of the Miami Dolphins
In August 2009, Serena and Venus Williams became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins, becoming the first African-American women to hold any amount of ownership in an NFL franchise.
2009: Begins Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam in Doubles
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.
2009: Holds All Four Major Women's Doubles Titles Simultaneously
From 2009 to 2010, Serena and Venus Williams simultaneously held all four major women's doubles titles, highlighting their dominance in doubles tennis.
2009: 2009 Season: Doubles Titles, WTA Tour Championships Victory, and Awards
In 2009, Serena Williams and Venus captured their third Grand Slam doubles title of the year. She won the WTA Tour Championships, defeating Venus in the final, finishing the year ranked No.1. She set a record for prize money earned by a female tennis player in a year. 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: Launched Signature Statement handbag and jewelry collection
In 2009, Serena Williams launched a signature collection of handbags and jewelry, Signature Statement, which is sold mainly on the Home Shopping Network.
2009: Released autobiography On the Line and appeared in Tampax Pearl tampons advertisements
In 2009, Serena Williams released the autobiography On the Line. The same year, 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: 2009 Australian Open Victory and Prize Money Leader
In 2009, Serena Williams won her tenth Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, regaining her No.1 ranking and becoming the all-time career prize money leader in women's sports. She and Venus also won the doubles event. She withdrew from Open GdF Suez due to a knee injury.
2010: US Open Racket Abuse Warning and Fine
At the 2010 US Open, Serena Williams received a racket abuse warning and was later penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct after verbally attacking a lineswoman, resulting in Clijsters winning the match. She was fined $10,500 initially, and later an additional $175,000 by the Grand Slam Committee, along with a two-year probation. She later apologized for her outburst.
2010: Completes Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam in Doubles
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: Holds All Four Major Women's Doubles Titles Simultaneously
From 2009 to 2010, Serena and Venus Williams simultaneously held all four major women's doubles titles, highlighting their dominance in doubles tennis.
2010: Became a certified nail technician
In 2010, Serena Williams became a certified nail technician in preparation for her upcoming nail collection with HairTech.
2010: Finishing the year ranked No.4 in singles and No.11 in doubles
In 2010, Serena Williams finished the year ranked No.4 in singles and No.11 in doubles after an injury in Munich on July 7 forced her to miss the rest of the year.
2010: 2010 Australian Open Victory and Leg Injury
In 2010, Serena Williams won the Australian Open, defeating Justine Henin for her twelfth Grand Slam singles title, and successfully defended their title in doubles with Venus. She sat out several events due to a leg injury, and returned for the Rome Masters.
2010: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2010, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year.
2010: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2010, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award for the second time, recognizing her outstanding achievements in sports.
2010: Assisted Haiti earthquake victims
In 2010, in response to 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: Confirmation of 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 Earn More in One Season
In 2011, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic earned more money in one season. In 2013, Novak Djokovic repeated the feat.
2011: Became an International Goodwill Ambassador with UNICEF
In 2011, Serena Williams became an International Goodwill Ambassador with UNICEF, and helped launch UNICEF's Schools for Asia campaign.
2011: Alleged romantic involvement with Drake
In 2011, Serena Williams is alleged to have been romantically involved with Drake, with whom Kendrick Lamar is involved in an ongoing feud.
2011: WTA Comeback, US Open Controversy, and Season End
In 2011, Serena Williams returned to the WTA tour, faced challenges at Wimbledon, but won titles in Stanford and Toronto. She reached the US Open final, where she argued with an umpire and was fined. She finished the year ranked No.12 with a 22-3 record.
2012: Dominant Return and 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: Novak Djokovic Earns More in One Season
In 2012, Novak Djokovic earned more money in one season than Serena Williams did in 2013.
2012: Patrick Mouratoglou became Serena's coach
In 2012, Patrick Mouratoglou became Serena Williams' coach.
2012: Wimbledon Win and Record Aces
In 2012, Serena Williams started with an ankle injury at the Brisbane International and a loss at the Australian Open. She later won titles in Charleston and Madrid, captured her fifth Wimbledon singles title, becoming the first female player to serve 24 aces in a match, and won her fifth trophy in Wimbledon doubles with her sister.
2013: Third-fastest serve in WTA history
At the 2013 Australian Open, Serena Williams delivered the third-fastest serve in WTA recorded history, a 128.6 mph ace against Ayumi Morita.
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 ESPY Awards.
2013: Rogers Cup, US Open Win, and WTA Championships
In 2013, Serena Williams won her third Rogers Cup title in Toronto and reached the US Open final, capturing her 17th Grand Slam singles title. She also beat Janković to win the China Open and triumphed over Li Na at the WTA Championships, becoming the first person to defend the title since Henin in 2007.
2013: Victories, Rankings, and Grand Slam Success
In 2013, Serena Williams won the title at Brisbane International and reached No.1 for the sixth time, becoming the oldest woman in the Open Era to hold the ranking. She secured her 50th career singles title in Madrid, won her second French Open, and triumphed at the Swedish Open, remaining undefeated on clay.
2014: Holds All Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously
From 2014 to 2015, Serena Williams held all four major singles titles simultaneously, showcasing her dominance in women's tennis.
2014: Began hosting "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 Williams Sisters Fund.
2014: Founded Serena Ventures
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: US Open Win and WTA Finals Title
In 2014, Serena Williams won her third consecutive and sixth overall US Open singles title, tying Evert for most US Open titles in the Open Era. She also claimed the WTA Finals title, finishing the year ranked No.1 for the fourth time in her career.
2014: Earliest defeat at the Australian Open
In 2019, Serena William's loss was her earliest defeat at the Australian Open since her fourth-round loss in 2014.
2014: Wins First of Four Consecutive Grand Slam Titles
Starting in 2014, Serena Williams won four Grand Slam 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, recognizing her exceptional performance and impact in sports.
2015: Became Chief Sporting Officer for Aston Martin
In 2015, Serena Williams became the Chief Sporting Officer for British luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin.
2015: French Open and Wimbledon Victories
In 2015, Serena Williams claimed the French Open trophy, winning her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam singles title. She also triumphed at Wimbledon, securing her sixth Wimbledon singles title and 21st Grand Slam singles title overall, completing her second "Serena Slam".
2015: Wins Fourth Consecutive Grand Slam Title
In 2015, Serena Williams completed her second "Serena Slam" by winning four consecutive Grand Slam titles.
2015: End of Indian Wells Boycott
In 2015, Serena Williams ended her boycott of the Indian Wells tournament, which had been in place since 2001 due to racist comments made to her father.
2015: Alleged romantic involvement with Drake
In 2015, Serena Williams is alleged to have been romantically involved with Drake, with whom Kendrick Lamar is involved in an ongoing feud.
2015: US Open Series
In 2015, Serena Williams made her first appearance in the US Open series.
2015: Return to Indian Wells in partnership with Equal Justice Initiative
In 2015, Serena Williams returned to Indian Wells after a 14-year boycott, in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization providing legal representation to people who may have been denied a fair trial.
2015: Australian Open Victory and 700 Match Wins
In 2015, Serena Williams won her sixth Australian Open singles title, surpassed Evert and Navratilova for the second most Grand Slam singles titles won in the Open Era, and recorded her 700th match win at the Miami Open.
2015: Wins the Surface Slam
In 2015, Serena Williams won the Surface Slam, achieving major titles on hard, clay, and grass courts in the same calendar year.
2015: Mutua Madrid Open
In the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open, 2015, Williams suffered her first defeat of the season, ending a 50-match winning streak at Premier-Mandatory events.
September 5, 2016: Tied Graf's Record
On September 5, 2016, Serena Williams marked her 186th consecutive week ranked No.1, tying her with Graf for the longest run in WTA history.
December 10, 2016: Alexis Ohanian proposed
On December 10, 2016, Alexis Ohanian proposed to Serena Williams.
2016: Open letter in Porter Magazine in support of gender equality
Also in 2016, Serena Williams wrote an open letter in Porter Magazine's feature "Incredible Women of 2016" in support of gender equality and to share her personal struggles as a woman in tennis, commenting on the issue of unequal pay.
2016: Rematch of the 2016 US Open semifinal
At the US Open, Serena William's quarterfinal face-off against Karolína Plíšková was a rematch of the 2016 US Open semifinal, which the Czech player had won.
2016: Fed Cup Loss and Olympic Eligibility
In 2016, Serena Williams competed in the Fed Cup to ensure her eligibility for the Summer Olympics. She and Alison Riske lost the decisive doubles match, resulting in the United States being relegated to World Group II. It was Williams's first loss in the Fed Cup.
2016: Supported Black Lives Matter on her Facebook page
In 2016, Serena Williams voiced her support for Black Lives Matter on her Facebook page, expressing concern that her young nephew could be in danger from police 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, marking a significant financial achievement.
2016: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2016, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year.
2016: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2016, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award for the third time, recognizing her outstanding achievements in sports.
2016: Founded the 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.
2016: Li Na comment on Serena's serve on break points
In 2016, retired player Li Na noted that Serena Williams had an 80% chance of serving an ace when facing a break point.
April 19, 2017: Pregnancy Announcement
On April 19, 2017, Serena Williams revealed 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, experiencing a pulmonary embolism after delivery.
November 16, 2017: Married Alexis Ohanian
On November 16, 2017, Serena Williams married Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans. Celebrities like Beyoncé, Anna Wintour, Kelly Rowland and Kim Kardashian attended the wedding.
2017: Wins 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: Ambassador for Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse project
In 2017, Serena Williams became an Ambassador for the Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse project, an initiative to provide financial empowerment to domestic abuse victims.
2017: Serena said she never really practiced the Jehovah's Witness faith
In 2017, Serena Williams said she "never really practiced [the Jehovah's Witness faith]".
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 for a record seventh time, defeating Venus in the final, securing her 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
2017: Wilson manufactured a signature racket, the Wilson Blade SW104
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 due to insufficient preparation after her pregnancy.
2018: Joined the board of directors of SurveyMonkey
In 2018, Serena Williams joined the board of directors of SurveyMonkey.
2018: Outrageous Plan
In 2018, Serena Williams mentioned competing in the Australian Open after giving birth to her daughter.
2018: Wimbledon Seed
In 2018, Serena Williams played Wimbledon and was seeded No.25, sparking debate over bias due to her ranking.
2018: Catsuit and Tutu Controversy
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, and wore a black tutu during her first match at the US Open.
2018: Response to Tennys Sandgren's insensitive tweets
In 2018, Serena Williams responded to Tennys Sandgren's insensitive tweets about the LGBT community and alt-right affiliations, stating that she didn't need or want an apology but an entire group of people deserved one.
2018: Withdrew from French Open
In 2018, Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open before her fourth round match, which does not officially count as a loss.
2018: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
In 2018, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year.
2018: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2018, Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award for the fourth time, setting a record and recognizing her outstanding achievements in sports.
2018: Tennis.com panel selected as greatest female tennis player
In 2018, a Tennis.com panel arrived at the conclusion that Serena Williams is the greatest female tennis player of the Open Era.
February 2019: Appointed to the board of directors of Poshmark
In February 2019, Serena Williams was appointed to the board of directors of the online fashion marketplace Poshmark.
March 2019: USWNT honored Serena Williams
In March 2019, members of the United States women's national soccer team wore jerseys with the names of women who inspired them; Crystal Dunn chose Serena Williams.
December 2019: Named Female Athlete of the Decade by the Associated Press
In December 2019, the Associated Press named Serena Williams Female Athlete of the Decade for the 2010s.
2019: Final match against Sharapova at US Open
In 2019, Serena Williams defeated Sharapova in two sets in the first round of the US Open, which was their final match.
2019: Australian Open Loss and Injury
In 2019, Serena Williams experienced her earliest defeat at the Australian Open since 2014 after twisting her ankle in a match against Karolína Plíšková.
January 2020: First Title as a Mother
In January 2020, Serena Williams won her first singles title as a mother at the ASB Classic, defeating Jessica Pegula.
July 2020: Part of investors' group awarded new National Women's Soccer League franchise
In July 2020, it was announced that Serena Williams was part of a nearly all-women investors' group that was awarded a new franchise in the National Women's Soccer League.
2020: Most recent match against Azarenka
In 2020, Serena Williams and Azarenka played their most recent match in the semifinals of the US Open.
2020: Withdrew from French Open
In 2020, Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open before her second round match, which does not officially count as a loss.
2020: Tennis Channel ranked as greatest female tennis player
In 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player in history.
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, solidifying her legacy in the sport.
2020: Used Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph
Since 2020, Serena Williams has used a smaller variant of her signature racket, the Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph.
February 2021: Hired a tennis coach for Olympia
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.
December 2021: Australian Open Withdrawal
In December 2021, Serena Williams announced she would not play the 2022 Australian Open due to a leg injury.
2021: Injury and Ranking Drop
In 2021, Serena Williams faced injuries leading to a drop in her world ranking to 41st, her lowest in 15 years.
2021: Executive producer on King Richard
In 2021, Serena and Venus Williams 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: Announces 'Evolution' Away From Tennis
In August 2022, Serena Williams announced her impending 'evolution' away from professional tennis.
September 2022: Announcement of Retirement Plans
In September 2022, Serena Williams announced in Vogue her plans to "evolve away" from tennis after the 2022 US Open, indicating retirement.
September 2022: Most tweeted-about female athlete of all time
In September 2022, Twitter announced that Serena Williams was the most tweeted-about female athlete of all time.
2022: Serena Ventures raised more than $110 million
As of 2022, Serena Ventures had raised more than $110 million.
2022: Eric Hechtman and Rennae Stubbs became Serena's coach
In 2022, Eric Hechtman and Rennae Stubbs became Serena Williams' coaches.
2022: McEnroe described Williams as "GOAT of GOATs"
In 2022, McEnroe described Serena Williams as an "icon" and the "GOAT of GOATs".
2022: Angel City FC began playing
In 2022, the new team, Angel City FC, began playing.
2022: Competed through the 2022 US Open
Through 2022, Serena Williams competed through the 2022 US Open.
August 2023: Gave birth to daughter Adira River Ohanian
In August 2023, Serena Williams gave birth to her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian.
2023: Baptized as a Jehovah's Witness
In 2023, Serena Williams was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness.
2023: NAACP Jackie Robinson Sports Award
In 2023, the NAACP honored Serena Williams with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award.
2024: Voted best female athlete of the past 100 years
In 2024, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) voted Serena Williams as the best female athlete of the past 100 years.
2025: Received the Princess of Asturias Award for Sport
In 2025, Serena Williams received the Princess of Asturias Award for Sport, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the world of sports.
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