Serena Williams's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Serena Williams.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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: 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: 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: 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.
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.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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