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 considered one of the greatest of all time. She held the world No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. Williams won 73 WTA Tour singles titles, including a record 23 major women's singles titles in the Open Era. She is the only player to achieve a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, cementing her status as a dominant force in tennis history.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1931: Beginnings of Athlete of the Year Awards

Since the 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.

1983: First Solo Woman to Receive Sports Illustrated Award

In 2015, Serena Williams became the third solo woman, and the first since 1983, to receive the Sportsperson of the Year award by Sports Illustrated.

1984: Navratilova's Surface Slam

In 2002, Serena Williams became the third player in history to win the "Surface Slam", after Martina Navratilova who achieved the feat in 1984.

1993: Graf's Surface Slam

In 2002, Serena Williams became the third player in history to win the "Surface Slam", after Steffi Graf who achieved the feat in 1993,1995,1996.

1995: Graf's Surface Slam

In 2002, Serena Williams became the third player in history to win the "Surface Slam", after Steffi Graf who achieved the feat in 1993,1995,1996.

1996: Graf's Surface Slam

In 2002, Serena Williams became the third player in history to win the "Surface Slam", after Steffi Graf who achieved the feat in 1993,1995,1996.

2000: Father's Perspective on Alternative Path

When asked in 2000 whether it would have been more beneficial for Serena and Venus 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."

2013: Year-End No.1 Ranking and ESPY 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 also received two prizes at the 2013 ESPY Awards: Best Female Athlete and Best Female Tennis Player.

2016: Open letter in Porter Magazine in support of gender equality

In 2016, Serena Williams wrote an open letter in Porter Magazine's "Incredible Women of 2016" feature, advocating for gender equality and sharing her personal struggles as a woman in tennis, emphasizing unequal pay.

2016: Li Na Praises Williams' Ability to Serve Aces

In 2016, retired player Li Na noted Serena Williams' exceptional ability to serve aces at critical moments, stating there is an 80% chance she serves an ace on break point down.

2017: Named Greatest Female Tennis Player

In 2017, BBC Sport users selected Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player of the Open Era, recognizing her exceptional career and impact on the sport.

2018: Tennis.com Panel Names Williams Greatest

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

March 2019: USWNT Honors Williams

In March 2019, members of the United States women's national soccer team wore jerseys with the names of women who inspired them, with Crystal Dunn choosing Serena Williams.

2020: Tennis Channel Ranks Williams as Greatest

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

2020: 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.

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, showcasing her significant cultural impact.

2022: McEnroe Calls Williams "GOAT of GOATs"

In 2022, John McEnroe described Serena Williams as an "icon" and the "GOAT of GOATs", highlighting her unparalleled achievements and influence.

2024: 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, celebrating her extraordinary impact on sports.