Lasting Legacy of Serena Williams: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Serena Williams—a timeline of influence.

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

1931: Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year Award

Since the Associated Press Female 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.

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. She also helped the US win the Fed Cup final, ending the year ranked No.4.

2000: Richard Williams Speaks on Unique Path

When asked in 2000 whether it would have been more beneficial for them to have followed the normal path of playing regularly on the junior circuit, Richard Williams responded, "Everyone does different things. I think for Venus and I, we just attempted a different road, and it worked for us."

2002: Holding Four Major Singles Titles

In 2002-2003, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles, demonstrating her dominance in the sport. This achievement placed her among the greats in tennis history.

2003: Holding Four Major Singles Titles

In 2002-2003, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles, demonstrating her dominance in the sport. This achievement placed her among the greats in tennis history.

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. She also received the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award.

2014: Holding Four Major Singles Titles

In 2014-2015, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles, demonstrating her dominance in the sport. This achievement placed her among the greats in tennis history.

2015: Holding Four Major Singles Titles

In 2014-2015, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles, demonstrating her dominance in the sport. This achievement placed her among the greats in tennis history.

2016: Highest Paid Woman Athlete

In 2016, Serena Williams was the world's highest-paid woman athlete, earning almost $29 million. This recognition highlighted her success and marketability in the world of sports.

2017: 23rd Major Singles Title

At the 2017 Australian Open, Serena Williams won her 23rd major singles title, surpassing Steffi Graf's Open Era record and further cementing her legacy in the world of tennis.

2017: Named Greatest Female Tennis Player of the Open Era by BBC Sport

In 2017, BBC Sport users selected Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player of the Open Era.

2017: Only Woman on Forbes' List

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. This underscored her financial success and prominence in sports.

2018: Tennis.com Panel Names Williams Greatest of All Time

In 2018, a Tennis.com panel also concluded that Serena Williams is the greatest female tennis player of all time.

March 2019: US Women's National Soccer Team Honors Williams

In March 2019, the members of the United States women's national soccer team each wore a jersey with the name of a woman who inspired them on the back. Crystal Dunn chose Serena Williams.

December 2019: Named Female Athlete of the Decade by Associated Press

In December 2019, the Associated Press named Serena Williams as the Female Athlete of the Decade for the 2010s.

2020: Greatest Female Tennis Player in History

In 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player in history, solidifying her legacy as one of the most dominant and influential figures in the sport.

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2020: Tennis Channel Ranks Williams as Greatest Female Tennis Player

In 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player in history.

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.

2022: McEnroe Calls Williams the "GOAT of GOATs"

In 2022, McEnroe described Serena Williams as an "icon" and the "GOAT of GOATs".

2025: Awarded Princess of Asturias Award

In 2025, Serena Williams was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award in the category of "Sport", acknowledging her significant contributions and achievements in the field of sports.