Serena Williams's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Serena Williams.

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 and finished five years as the top-ranked player. Williams amassed 73 WTA singles titles, including a record-breaking 23 major women's singles titles in the Open Era, second only to Margaret Court's all time record. Notably, she is the only player to achieve a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, demonstrating her unparalleled dominance and versatility in the sport.

Sections (6)

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

1975: Chris Evert

In 1975, Chris Evert achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1976: Evonne Goolagong

In 1976, Evonne Goolagong achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1978: Martina Navratilova

In 1978, Martina Navratilova achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1980: Tracy Austin

In 1980, Tracy Austin achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1983: First Solo Woman Honored by Sports Illustrated Since 1983

In 1983, Serena Williams became the third solo woman, and the first since 1983, to be chosen as Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

1984: Martina Navratilova's Surface Slam

In 1984, Martina Navratilova won the Surface Slam.

1985: Chris Evert

In 1985, Chris Evert achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1987: Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf

In 1987, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1991: Monica Seles

In 1991, Monica Seles achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1993: Steffi Graf's Surface Slam

In 1993, Steffi Graf won the Surface Slam.

1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

In 1995, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1995: Steffi Graf's Surface Slam

In 1995, Steffi Graf won the Surface Slam.

1996: Rankings Milestone

In 1996, Graf achieved the feat of holding the top ranking for the entire calendar year. Serena Williams accomplished this feat in 2014

1996: Steffi Graf's Surface Slam

In 1996, Steffi Graf won the Surface Slam.

November 1997: First Main-Draw Match Win

In November 1997, Serena Williams won her first main-draw match at the Ameritech Cup Chicago, upsetting top-10 players and reaching the semifinals.

1997: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis

In 1997, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1998: Lindsay Davenport

In 1998, Lindsay Davenport achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

1998: Various Milestones in 1998

In 1998, Serena Williams achieved several milestones, including defeating No.3 Davenport, reaching her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open, winning mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open with Max Mirnyi, and winning her first professional non-mixed doubles title with Venus at the U.S. National Indoor Championships.

1998: Mixed Doubles Majors

In 1998, Serena Williams won two mixed doubles majors.

February 1999: First Professional Singles Title

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: 1999 Season Achievements

In 1999, Serena Williams made her Fed Cup debut, won her third title at the JPMorgan Chase Open, and won the US Open, becoming the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam singles tournament. She and Venus also won the doubles event at the US Open, and Serena helped the US win the Fed Cup final. She ended the year ranked No.4.

1999: First Grand Slam Title with Wilson Hammer Racket

In 1999, Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam title using the Wilson Hammer Stretch range of rackets.

1999: First Major Singles Title at US Open

In 1999, Serena Williams won her first major singles title at the US Open, a significant achievement in her early career.

2000: Mixed Results in 2000

In 2000, Serena Williams did not defend her titles in Paris and Indian Wells and missed the French Open due to injury. She and Venus won the doubles title at Wimbledon and a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics. She finished the year by winning the Toyota Princess Cup and finishing at No.6.

2001: Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati

In 2001, Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2001: Various Tournaments and Boycott

In 2001, Serena Williams experienced mixed results in various tournaments, won the doubles event at the Australian Open with Venus, and won the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells. Following racist comments made to her father, she boycotted the Indian Wells event. She won the Tour Championships by walkover and finished the year at No.6.

2002: Serena Slam Begins

Beginning at the 2002 French Open, Serena Williams began a dominant streak, winning all four major singles titles consecutively.

2002: Four Consecutive Grand Slam Finals Starting in 2002

Beginning with the 2002 French Open, Serena and Venus Williams played each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals, marking the first time in the Open Era that the same two players had faced off in four consecutive finals in Grand Slam singles.

2002: Injury and Miami Masters Win

Early in 2002, Serena Williams faced injury setbacks, but she later won the Miami Masters after defeating the world's top 3 ranked players at the same event.

2002: Holding Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously

From 2002 to 2003, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles.

2002: Dominant season and Surface Slam

In 2002, Serena Williams had a dominant season, winning the US Open against her sister Venus, and titles at the Toyota Princess Cup in Tokyo and the Sparkassen Cup in Leipzig. She finished the year with a 56-5 win/loss record, eight singles titles, and the No. 1 ranking, achieving a "Surface Slam", winning three consecutive Grand Slam titles.

2002: Venus Williams and Serena Williams

In 2002, Venus Williams and Serena Williams achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2002: First Clay-Court Title Since 2002

In 2008, Serena Williams won the Family Circle Cup, her first clay-court title since 2002.

2003: Completing Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam

At the 2003 Australian Open, Serena Williams completed a non-calendar year Grand Slam (Serena Slam) by winning all four major singles titles in a row.

2003: Holding Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously

From 2002 to 2003, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles.

2003: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin

In 2003, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2003: Singles Titles and Wimbledon Victory

In 2003, Serena Williams captured singles titles at the Open Gaz de France and the Sony Ericsson Open. She won the 2003 Wimbledon Championships, defeating Venus in the final, marking her second consecutive Wimbledon title and sixth Grand Slam singles title. She later underwent knee surgery in August.

2003: Awards from Avon Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters

In 2003, Serena Williams received a Celebrity Role Model Award from the Avon Foundation for her work fighting breast cancer, and the "Young Heroes Award" from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. and Inland.

2003: Laureus World Sports Award

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.

2003: NAACP President's Award

In 2003, The NAACP honored Williams with its President's Award.

2003: Australian Open win and Career Grand Slam

In 2003, at the Australian Open, Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams in the final, completing a Career Grand Slam and holding all Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously, a feat dubbed the "Serena Slam". She also won her sixth Grand Slam doubles title with Venus.

March 2004: Comeback and NASDAQ-100 Open Win

In March 2004, Serena Williams began her comeback after eight months away from tennis, winning the NASDAQ-100 Open for the third consecutive year.

2004: Amélie Mauresmo

In 2004, Amélie Mauresmo achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

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". In 2004 and 2005, Serena and Venus 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.

2004: China Open Title and Tour Championship

In 2004, Serena Williams won the China Open in September, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova. She qualified for the Tour Championships but lost to Maria Sharapova in the final, finishing the year ranked No. 7.

2005: Maria Sharapova

In 2005, Maria Sharapova achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2005: Australian Open Victory and Injury

In 2005, Serena Williams won the Australian Open, claiming her seventh Grand Slam singles title. However, a reoccurring ankle injury caused her to miss the French Open and impacted her performance throughout the year. She finished 2005 ranked No. 11.

2006: Lindsay Davenport

In 2006, Lindsay Davenport achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2006: Injury, Depression, and Comeback

In 2006, Serena Williams faced challenges including an injury at the Australian Open and struggles with depression, leading to a six-month break from tennis. She made a comeback in July, eventually reaching the semifinals in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. She finished the year ranked No. 95.

2007: Comeback of the Year

In 2007, Serena Williams was awarded the Comeback of the Year award.

2007: Sony Ericsson Open Win and Wimbledon Injury

In 2007, Serena Williams won the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. At Wimbledon, she experienced a muscle spasm during a match. She finished the year as No. 7 and the top-ranked American.

2007: Return to Form

Starting in 2007, Serena Williams began to gradually return to form despite facing continued injuries, reclaiming the world No. 1 singles ranking.

2008: Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković

In 2008, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2008: Wimbledon Finals, Olympic Gold, and US Open Title

In 2008, Serena Williams reached the Wimbledon finals for the first time in four years, losing to Venus. They won the doubles title. She won a gold medal in doubles at the Beijing Olympics and captured her third US Open title, returning to No. 1 for the first time since 2003. Serena ended 2008 ranked No.2 with four singles titles.

2008: Hopman Cup Win and Title Victories

In 2008, Serena Williams won the Hopman Cup for the US, with Mardy Fish. She then won three consecutive singles titles, including her fifth Miami title and her first clay-court title since 2002 at the Family Circle Cup.

2009: Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam (Doubles)

Between the 2009 Wimbledon Championships and the 2010 French Open, Serena and Venus Williams achieved a non-calendar year Grand Slam in women's doubles.

2009: Holding Four Major Women's Doubles Titles Simultaneously

From 2009 to 2010, Serena and Venus Williams simultaneously held all four major women's doubles titles.

2009: Jelena Janković and Dinara Safina

In 2009, Jelena Janković and Dinara Safina achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2009: Doubles Title, WTA Tour Championship, and Athlete of the Year

In 2009, Serena Williams and Venus won their third Grand Slam doubles title of the year. Serena won the WTA Tour Championships, defeating Venus in the final. She finished the year ranked No. 1 and was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press and International Tennis Federation World Champion in both singles and doubles.

2009: Australian Open Title and Prize Money Leader

In 2009, Serena Williams won her tenth Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, regaining the No. 1 ranking and becoming the all-time career prize money leader in women's sports. She also won the doubles event with Venus.

2010: Holding Four Major Women's Doubles Titles Simultaneously

From 2009 to 2010, Serena and Venus Williams simultaneously held all four major women's doubles titles.

2010: Caroline Wozniacki

In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2010: 2010 Season

In 2010, Serena Williams lost to Dementieva in the Sydney final, won her twelfth Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open defeating Justine Henin, and successfully defended her doubles title with Venus. She sat out events due to a leg injury, lost in the Rome Masters semifinals to Janković, and partnered with Venus to win the Madrid doubles title after losing to Nadia Petrova in singles.

2010: Laureus World Sports Award

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 a second time.

2010: Doubles World No. 1 Ranking

In 2010, Serena and Venus Williams achieved the doubles world No. 1 ranking after their non-calendar year Grand Slam.

2011: Kim Clijsters

In 2011, Kim Clijsters achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2011: 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: Dominance and Olympic Gold

Beginning with the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, Serena Williams returned to dominance, also claiming Olympic gold to complete the career Golden Slam in singles.

2012: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka

In 2012, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2012: 2012 Season

In 2012, Serena Williams injured her ankle at the Brisbane International, losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open. She lost in the Miami quarterfinals, then won titles in Charleston and Madrid. She withdrew from the Rome semifinal due to a back injury and suffered a first-round loss at the French Open. She won her fifth Wimbledon singles title and set records for aces. Williams and her sister captured their fifth Wimbledon doubles trophy.

2013: 2013 Season Continued

In 2013, Serena Williams won her third Rogers Cup title and reached the Western & Southern Open final. She won her 17th Grand Slam title at the US Open and became the oldest US Open champion in the Open Era. She won the China Open, her 10th title of 2013, and triumphed at the WTA Championships. She became the oldest player to win the WTA Championships and the first woman to win over $10 million in a season.

2013: Victoria Azarenka

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2013: Third-Fastest Serve in WTA History

In 2013, at the Australian Open, Serena Williams delivered the third-fastest serve in WTA recorded history, a 128.6 mph ace against Ayumi Morita.

2013: Year-End Achievements

Serena Williams finished as the year-end No.1 for the third time in 2013, 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: 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.

2014: Holding Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously

From 2014 to 2015, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles.

2014: Second Serena Slam Begins

In 2014, Serena Williams began another dominant streak, winning four consecutive major singles titles.

2014: 2014 Season

In 2014, Serena Williams rebounded with 19 wins out of 20 matches, including titles at the Bank of the West Classic, the Western & Southern Open, and her sixth US Open singles title. She tied Evert for most US Open titles and tied Evert and Navratilova with 18 Grand Slam titles. She won $4 million for winning both the US Open and the US Open Series. She won the WTA Finals title and finished the year ranked No.1 for the fourth time. Williams was voted WTA Player of the Year and ITF World Champion.

December 2015: Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

In December 2015, Serena Williams was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine.

2015: Holding Four Major Singles Titles Simultaneously

From 2014 to 2015, Serena Williams simultaneously held all four major singles titles, and also won the Surface Slam.

2015: Second Serena Slam Continues

In 2015, Serena Williams continued her dominant streak, contributing to her second "Serena Slam."

2015: 2015 Season

In 2015, Serena Williams reached the Hopman Cup final and won her 19th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, surpassing Evert and Navratilova. She won her Fed Cup match against Argentina. After a 14-year boycott, she returned to the Indian Wells Masters. She withdrew from the semifinals due to a knee injury. She recorded her 700th match win at the Miami Open and won a record eighth title in Miami.

2015: Grand Slam Success and Recognition

In 2015, Serena Williams won her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam singles title, becoming the third person to win each Grand Slam at least three times. At Wimbledon, she defeated multiple former No.1 players and then bested Muguruza for her sixth Wimbledon singles title and 21st Grand Slam singles title. She completed her second "Serena Slam" and became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. Williams was awarded her seventh ESPY for Best Female Tennis Player.

September 5, 2016: Tying Graf's Record and US Open Loss

On September 5, 2016, Serena Williams tied with Graf for the longest run as world No.1 with 186 consecutive weeks. However, her streak ended when she lost to Karolína Plíšková in the semifinals of the US Open.

2016: Angelique Kerber

In 2016, Angelique Kerber achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2016: Highest Paid Woman Athlete

In 2016, Serena Williams was the world's highest-paid woman athlete, earning almost $29 million.

2016: Laureus World Sports Award

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 a third time.

2016: Rematch of 2016 US Open Semifinal

In the quarterfinals of the US Open, Serena Williams faced Karolína Plíšková in a rematch of the 2016 US Open semifinal, which Plíšková had won. Williams prevailed, marking her first win against a top 10 player since her return from pregnancy.

2016: Rankings Milestone

In the week of April 20, 2016, Williams marked her 114th consecutive week ranked No.1, which at the time was the third-longest run in WTA history.

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.

2017: Greatest Female Tennis Player of the Open Era

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 earnings.

2017: Winning the 2017 Australian Open

In 2017, Serena Williams won the Australian Open for a record seventh time, defeating Venus in the final. This victory marked her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, surpassing Graf's record, and ensured her return to the No.1 ranking.

2017: Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep

In 2017, Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2018: Caroline Wozniacki

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

2018: Wimbledon Semifinals and US Open Series Return in 2018

In 2018, Serena Williams reached the Wimbledon semifinals and also entered the 2018 Silicon Valley Classic, marking her first appearance in a US Open series tournament since 2015.

2018: Laureus World Sports Award

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 a record fourth time.

2018: Regarded as the Greatest Female Tennis Player

In 2018, a Tennis.com panel and Roger Federer both regarded Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player of all time. Federer stated that Williams probably has the best case for "Greatest Of All Time", man or woman.

March 2019: USWNT Honors Serena Williams

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

December 2019: Associated Press Female Athlete of the Decade

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

2019: Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty

In 2019, Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty achieved the Weeks at number 1 milestone.

January 2020: First Singles Title as a Mother in January 2020

In January 2020, Serena Williams won her first singles title as a mother at the ASB Classic, defeating Jessica Pegula in the final.

2020: Greatest Female Tennis Player

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

2020: Ranked Greatest Female Tennis Player in History

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, acknowledging her significant influence and popularity.