Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Venus Williams
How Venus Williams built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Venus Williams is a highly accomplished American professional tennis player. She has achieved the world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles. Her impressive career includes 49 WTA Tour-level singles titles, with seven being major championships. She's also an Olympic gold medalist in singles (2000) and has won the WTA Tour Championships (2008). In doubles, she has secured 22 titles, including 14 majors and three Olympic gold medals, highlighting her dominance in both singles and doubles play.
October 31, 1994: Turning Professional
On October 31, 1994, Venus Williams turned professional at the age of 14, marking the beginning of her professional tennis career.
1994: Turning Professional
In 1994, Venus Williams turned professional as a tennis player.
1994: First retirement from a Grand Slam since 1994
In 2011, At the Australian Open, Williams retired in the second game of her third round match against Andrea Petkovic. This was Williams's first retirement during a match in a Grand Slam tournament since 1994.
1995: Pulling daughters out of tennis academy
In 1995, Richard Williams pulled his daughters, Venus and Serena, out of Macci's tennis academy and took over all coaching responsibilities.
1995: Early Professional Career
In 1995, Venus Williams played three events as a wildcard, with varied results, including reaching the quarterfinals in Oakland.
1995: Endorsement Deal with Reebok
In 1995, at age 14, Venus Williams signed an endorsement deal with Reebok, wearing the company's apparel and shoes, and used a Wilson Hammer 6.2 Stretch racket.
1996: Continued Tournament Play
In 1996, Venus Williams played five events, reaching the third round in Los Angeles but facing several first-round losses.
April 14, 1997: Top 100 Ranking
On April 14, 1997, Venus Williams was first ranked in the top 100 tennis players.
1997: Unseeded for the first time since 1997
At Wimbledon 2012, Venus Williams was unseeded for the first time since 1997.
1997: Earliest Wimbledon Exit Since 1997
At Wimbledon in 1997, marked the first time since 1997 that Venus Williams had exited Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals.
1997: US Open Debut and Controversy
During her debut at the 1997 US Open, Venus Williams collided with Irina Spîrlea in a semifinal match, leading to accusations of intentional contact and racism. She lost to Martina Hingis in the final.
1997: Lowest Finish Since 1997
In 1997, Venus Williams finished the season as No. 46, her lowest finish since she began to play on the WTA Tour full-time in 1997.
1997: First Grand Slam Singles Final
In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the US Open. In 2017 she set the Open era record for the longest span (20 years) between grand slam singles final appearances.
1997: First Major Final
In 1997, at the age of 17, Venus Williams reached her first major final at the US Open.
1997: Ranked outside top 50 since 1997
In 2011, Venus Williams ended the year ranked No. 102, her first year-end finish ranked outside of the top 50 since 1997.
March 30, 1998: Top 10 Ranking
On March 30, 1998, Venus Williams achieved her highest world ranking yet, at No. 10.
July 27, 1998: Ranking Rose to World No. 5
On July 27, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking rose to world No. 5.
1998: Mixed Doubles Titles and WTA Doubles Titles
In 1998, Venus Williams and Justin Gimelstob won the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and the French Open. Venus also won her first two women's doubles titles with her sister Serena.
1998: Finishing the Year Ranked No. 5
In 1998, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 5, despite withdrawing from the WTA Tour Championships due to tendonitis.
1998: Quarterfinals of All Majors
In 1998, Venus Williams reached at least the quarterfinals of all major tournaments for the first time in her career.
1998: "Battle of the Sexes" Against Karsten Braasch
In 1998, Venus and Serena Williams participated in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match against Karsten Braasch at the Australian Open. Braasch defeated Serena 6–1 and Venus 6–2 in single sets.
August 30, 1999: World Ranking Reached Third
On August 30, 1999, Venus Williams' world ranking reached third for the first time. At the 1999 US Open, she lost in the semifinals to Hingis but won the women's doubles title with Serena.
1999: 1999 Season
In 1999, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Sydney International and the Australian Open, defended titles in Oklahoma City and Key Biscayne, with the Key Biscayne tournament marking the first time a pair of sisters faced off in a final on the WTA Tour.
2000: Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Venus Williams became only the second player to win Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles at one Olympic Games.
2000: Final at Stanford Classic
In 2000, Venus Williams reached her fourth final of the year at the Stanford Classic in California, where she was beaten by Lindsay Davenport for the first time since 2000.
2000: Return to the Tour
In 2000, Venus Williams returned to the tour during the European clay court season after missing the first five months due to tendinitis in both wrists. She reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.
2000: Sydney Olympics Gold Medal
In 2000, Venus Williams won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: US Open and Olympic Wins
In 2000, Venus Williams won the US Open, defeating Hingis and Davenport, and also won gold medals in both singles and doubles (with Serena) at the Sydney Summer Olympics.
2000: Wimbledon and US Open Titles and Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon and US Open titles, as well as Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Won gold medal at Sydney Olympics
In 2008, Venus Williams earned a gold medal along with her sister Serena in women's doubles, their second gold medal as a team, having won together at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
2001: Wimbledon and US Open Titles
In 2001, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles.
2001: Australian Open Semifinals and Doubles Title
In 2001, Venus Williams reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time, losing to Hingis. However, she teamed with her sister to win the doubles title at the event, completing a Career Golden Slam in women's doubles.
2001: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2001, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader.
2001: Won San Diego, New Haven, and US Open titles
In 2001, Venus Williams won the tournaments in San Diego and New Haven for the second consecutive year. Venus also won the 2001 US Open singles title for the second consecutive year, without dropping a set, defeating her sister Serena in the final. She became the sixth woman to win Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.
2001: Finished Ranked Higher Than Serena
In 2001, Venus finished the year ranked higher than her sister Serena Williams.
2001: First time since 2001 that Venus defeated Serena
In 2008, Venus won her fifth Wimbledon singles title, and seventh Grand Slam singles title overall, by beating sister Serena. This was the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final.
2001: Return to Indian Wells
In 2016, Venus Williams returned to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years after boycotting the tournament in 2001 but lost in the second round.
2001: First Win at Indian Wells Since 2001
In 2017, Venus Williams had her first win at Indian Wells since 2001, defeating Jelena Janković.
2001: Defeated Serena Williams Since 2001
In March 2001, at the Miami Open, Venus Williams defeated sister Serena in the quarterfinals, the first time she had defeated her since 2001. In May 2001, she won her first title in over a year at the clay-courts at the İstanbul Cup. At the French Open, she lost in the third round to Sesil Karatantcheva.
2001: Won Wimbledon Championships
Venus Williams won the Wimbledon Championships in 2001. In the quarterfinals, she defeated French Open runner-up Pierce. In the semifinals, she defeated defending champion Maria Sharapova. Playing top-seeded Davenport in the final, Williams saved a match point with a backhand winner en route to winning.
February 25, 2002: World No. 1 Ranking
On February 25, 2002, Venus Williams achieved the singles world No. 1 ranking, the first African-American woman to do so in the Open era.
2002: Leading career matches against Serena
In 2002, Venus Williams led the head-to-head in career matches with her sister Serena for the first time.
2002: Won Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts, Open Gaz de France and Proximus Diamond Games
In 2002, Venus Williams started by winning the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts. She then won the Open Gaz de France in Paris and the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp. As a result of her strong start to the season, on February 25, 2002, Williams assumed the world No. 1 position for the first time.
2002: Won San Diego and New Haven; Runner-up at US Open
In 2002, Venus Williams won the titles in San Diego and New Haven for the third consecutive year. At the 2002 US Open, Williams made the final, playing her younger sister Serena where her sister won. Williams finished the year ranked No. 2 having won seven titles.
2002: Ranked fifth in singles since 2002
In 2010, Venus Williams' knee injury forced her to miss the rest of the year. She ended the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002.
May 2003: Williams sisters ranked at the top
On May 17, 2010, Venus's ranking improved to No. 2, behind Serena. The Williams sisters occupied the top two spots for the fourth time, and the first time since May 2003.
2003: Major Final Losses and Injuries
Between 2002 and 2003, Venus Williams reached four consecutive major finals but lost each time to Serena and then suffered from injuries.
2003: Australian Open Quarterfinal Win
In 2003, Venus Williams defeated Daniela Hantuchová to win a quarterfinal match in Melbourne, a feat she repeated in 2017 at the Australian Open by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
2003: Runner-up at Australian Open & Won Doubles Title
In 2003, Venus Williams lost to her sister Serena in the final of the Australian Open. Venus and Serena Williams teamed to win the women's doubles title at the event, their sixth Grand Slam title in women's doubles.
2003: Ranked in top three for the first time since 2003
In 2003, after reaching the semifinals in Rome, Venus Williams was ranked in the top three for the first time since 2003.
2003: Advanced to Semifinal since 2003
In 2007, Venus Williams advanced to her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003.
2003: Playing Some of Her Best Tennis Since 2003
In 2008 at the US Open, Williams was playing some of her best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003.
2003: First Quarterfinal Since 2003
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open for the first time since 2003.
2003: First Grand Slam doubles title together since 2003
In 2008, Venus and Serena Williams won the women's doubles title, their first Grand Slam doubles title together since 2003.
2003: Absence from the Grand Slam tournament since 2003
In 2011, Williams missed the clay court season which caused her ranking to drop to No. 29. Her absence from the French Open marked the first Grand Slam tournament since the 2003 US Open where neither of the Williams sisters were competing.
2003: First Season Since 2003 Reaching Two Slam Finals
In 2017, it was the first season since 2003 that Venus Williams reached two slam finals.
2004: Lost at Athens Olympics and US Open
In 2004, Venus Williams lost in the third round at the Athens Olympics. She then lost in the fourth round of the 2004 US Open. Williams completed the year by losing in the quarterfinals of three indoor tournaments in the fall, and finished the year as No. 9.
2004: First retirement since 2004
In 2011, at the Australian Open, Williams retired in the second game of her third round match against Andrea Petkovic. This was also her first retirement from a match since LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles in 2004.
2005: First Title Since Wimbledon
In 2005, Venus William's victory at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis was her first singles title since her victory at Wimbledon in 2005.
2005: Season with the Delaware Smash
In 2005, Venus Williams played a season with the Delaware Smash in World TeamTennis.
2005: Advocacy for Equal Prize Money
In 2005, Venus Williams privately met with officials from the French Open and Wimbledon to advocate for equal prize money for women players.
2005: Lost at Stanford & US Open
In 2005, Venus Williams reached her fourth final of the year in Stanford, where she lost to Clijsters. At the 2005 US Open, Williams achieved her second consecutive win over sister Serena in the fourth round, but then lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Kim Clijsters. Venus finished the year ranked No. 10.
2005: Lost in Australian Open, Final in Antwerp
In 2005, Venus Williams started the year by losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open. She then reached the final in Antwerp, where she lost to Amélie Mauresmo.
2005: First Meeting with Serena Since 2005
In 2008, Venus Williams met sister Serena for the first time since 2005 with Serena Williams winning at the Bangalore Open in India.
2005: Won Wimbledon Championships
Venus Williams won the Wimbledon Championships. Williams was a game away from defeat in her first round match against Alla Kudryavtseva and in her third round match against Akiko Morigami she was two points away from defeat. Williams thus became only the fourth woman in the open era to win Wimbledon at least four times.
2006: Lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since 2006
At Wimbledon 2012, Venus Williams lost in the first round, the first time she lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
2006: Injury Struggles
Between 2003 and 2006, Venus Williams won just one major title due to injuries.
2006: Essay on Equal Prize Money
In 2006, Venus Williams published an essay in The Times accusing Wimbledon of being on the "wrong side of history" regarding equal prize money. The Women's Tennis Association and UNESCO later partnered with Williams to promote gender equality in sports.
2006: First Round Loss at Australian Open
In 2006, Venus Williams was upset in the first round of the Australian Open. She returned in late April on clay in Warsaw, and completed the clay-court season by reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open.
2006: First King Trophy with the Philadelphia Freedoms
In 2006, Venus Williams won her first King Trophy with the Philadelphia Freedoms in World TeamTennis.
February 2007: Wimbledon Announces Equal Prize Money
In February 2007, Wimbledon announced it would award equal prize money to all competitors, followed by the French Open a day later. This decision was heavily influenced by Venus Williams' advocacy, and she was hailed as a key figure in achieving this milestone.
2007: Advanced to US Open Semifinal
In 2007, Venus Williams advanced to her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003. Williams won her third title of the year at the Korea Open in Seoul, before then losing in the final of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. Venus withdrew from the year-ending WTA Championships in Madrid because of continuing problems with anemia.
2007: First Woman to Benefit from Equal Prize Money at Wimbledon
In 2007, Venus Williams became the first woman to receive equal prize money at Wimbledon after winning the tournament, matching the amount awarded to the men's champion, Roger Federer.
2007: Launch of EleVen Fashion Line
In 2007, Venus Williams partnered with retailer Steve & Barry's to launch her own fashion line, EleVen, expressing her passion for fashion and design.
2007: Wimbledon Victory
In 2007, Venus Williams returned to form, winning Wimbledon.
2007: Won Cellular South Cup
In 2007, Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open. She returned in February at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, defeating top-seeded Shahar Pe'er in the final, her first singles title since her victory at Wimbledon in 2005.
2007: Winning streak since 2007 Wimbledon
In 2007, prior to her eighth Wimbledon final, Venus Williams had won 34 straight sets since Wimbledon 2007.
2007: Fastest Serve on WTA Tour
Up to 2014, Venus held the record for the fastest serve on the WTA Tour, recorded at the 2007 US Open, at 208 km/h (129 mph).
2008: Played for the Philadelphia Freedoms
In 2008, Venus Williams concluded three seasons with the Philadelphia Freedoms in World TeamTennis.
2008: Lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinal match
In 2008, Venus Williams lost in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympics to Li Na. At the 2008 US Open, she was defeated by Serena Williams in a quarterfinal match.
2008: Lost to Ivanovic at Australian Open & Semifinal at Bangalore Open
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. She made her first semifinal of the year at the Bangalore Open in India, where she met sister Serena for the first time since 2005 with Serena Williams winning.
2008: Olympic Gold Medals in Doubles
In 2008, Venus Williams won Olympic gold medals in women's doubles with Serena.
2008: WTA Tour Championships Title
In 2008, Venus Williams won the WTA Tour Championships.
2008: Defeated Safina at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
In 2008, at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in October, Venus Williams defeated No. 3 Dinara Safina. She won the Zurich Open, and won the year-ending tournament for the first time by defeating Vera Zvonareva in the final. Venus ended the year ranked No. 6 with three titles and a winning percentage of 78.
2008: First Straight Sets Victory Against Serena Since 2008 Wimbledon
In 2018, at the Indian Wells Open, Venus Williams defeated Serena Williams for the 12th time in her career, achieving her first straight sets victory against her since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final almost a decade earlier.
August 2009: Minority Ownership of Miami Dolphins
In August 2009, Venus and Serena Williams became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins, making them the first African-American women to have ownership in an NFL franchise.
2009: US Open doubles title
At the 2009 US Open, Venus Williams reached the fourth round in singles and, teamed with Serena Williams, won the doubles title.
2009: Wimbledon Semifinal
At the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams made it to her first Wimbledon semifinal since 2009, losing to Angelique Kerber.
2009: Victory over Dinara Safina at Wimbledon
In 2009, Venus Williams defeated Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals of the Wimbledon Championships, marking her 14th victory over a reigning No. 1 player.
2009: 2009 Ranking
In 2009, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Serena Williams.
2009: 2009 Tour Championship
In 2009, Venus Williams participated in the year-ending Tour Championships. Despite initial losses, she advanced to the semifinal in singles, defeating Jelena Janković. She lost the final against her sister Serena. In doubles, the Williams sisters lost in the semifinal.
2009: Wimbledon Final Appearance
In 2009, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon final. In 2017, she advanced to her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009 and her first Australian Open final since 2003.
2009: Australian Open, Dubai Championships and Abierto Mexicano wins
In 2009, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams lost in the second round in singles but won the women's doubles title with her sister Serena. In February 2009, she won the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Serena in the semi-finals and Razzano in the final, reaching the top five in rankings for the first time since 2003. Venus also won the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco, her first clay title since 2005.
2009: Last meeting since 2009 WTA Tour Championships
In 2013, Venus Williams reached the semifinals in Charleston, where she lost to her sister Serena in the sisters' first meeting since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships.
2009: Year-End Championships Final Appearance
In 2017, Venus Williams advanced to her first final at the year-end championships since 2009.
June 7, 2010: World No. 1 in Doubles
On June 7, 2010, Venus Williams became the world No. 1 in doubles for the first time, partnering with Serena, after completing a non-calendar-year Grand Slam at the French Open.
June 2010: Release of "Come to Win"
In June 2010, Venus Williams released her first book, "Come to Win; On How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession", co-authored with Kelly E. Carter, embarking on a nationwide tour to promote it. The book became a New York Times Best Seller.
2010: US Open
At the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams made it to her first major semifinal since the 2010 US Open, losing to Angelique Kerber.
2010: Joins the Washington Kastles
In 2010, Venus Williams joined the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2010: Second Week of All Majors and US Open Semifinal
In 2010, Venus Williams last reached the second week of all majors in a single season, a feat she repeated in 2017. Also in 2017, she reached the US Open semifinal for the first time since 2010.
2010: Return to World No. 2 and Further Injuries
In 2010, Venus Williams returned to the world No. 2 position in singles but then suffered again from injuries.
2010: Top Ten Seeding in Grand Slam Tournaments
In 2010, Venus Williams was last seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments, a feat she matched again in 2016.
2010: Ended year ranked fifth in singles
In 2010, Venus Williams' knee injury forced her to miss the rest of the year. She ended the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002.
2010: Australian Open & Mexican Open
In 2010, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams lost in the quarterfinals in singles but successfully defended her doubles title with Serena. At the Mexican Open in Acapulco 2010, she won her 43rd career title.
2010: Wimbledon doubles title
In 2012, The Williams sisters claimed their fifth Wimbledon doubles title, in their first tournament since 2010.
2010: US Open Quarterfinals since 2010
In 2015, Venus Williams made it to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time since the 2010 US Open.
2010: WTA Finals Qualification
On September 26, 2017, Venus Williams qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010, eventually finishing as runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki after being down a set and 0-5 in the final.
January 2011: Return to Top Five in WTA Rankings
At the conclusion of the 2017 US Open, Venus Williams guaranteed her return to the top five in the WTA rankings for the first time since January 2011.
2011: WTA Comeback Player of the Year Award
After a strong season, Venus Williams became an Alternate for the WTA Finals in Singapore, qualified for the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, won the WTA Elite Trophy, re-entered the top ten for the first time since 2011, and ended the year at No. 7 in the WTA rankings. She was also named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year.
2011: Wimbledon Championships
In 2011, Venus Williams participated in the Wimbledon Championships, reaching the fourth round before being defeated by Tsvetana Pironkova.
2011: Withdrawal from the US Open
In 2011, Venus Williams withdrew from the US Open after being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome. This was the first time in her career that she did not reach the quarterfinals or better in any of the Grand Slam tournaments in a season.
2011: King Trophy with the Washington Kastles
In 2011, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2011: Highest ranking since 2011
In 2017, after her result at the Stanford Classic, Venus Williams ascended to No. 6 in the rankings, her highest position since being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome in 2011.
2011: Top-10 Player
The 2016 Auckland Open loss was also Venus Williams's first tournament since the 2011 Australian Open as a top-10 player.
2012: Wimbledon Doubles Title
At the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, Venus and Serena Williams advanced to their first major final since 2012. They then won their 14th major title together and sixth at Wimbledon.
2012: Olympic Gold Medals in Doubles
In 2012, Venus Williams won Olympic gold medals in women's doubles with Serena.
2012: King Trophy and WTT Final MVP
In 2012, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles and was named the WTT Final MVP.
2012: EleVen Debuts at New York Fashion Week
In 2012, Venus Williams's fashion line, EleVen, debuted during New York Fashion Week, featuring athletes as models.
2012: First Quarterfinal in Rome Since 2012
In 2017, at the Italian Open, Venus Williams lost in her first quarterfinal in Rome since 2012 to Garbiñe Muguruza.
2012: Designed Set of the Tavis Smiley Show
Venus William's interior design firm V Starr Interiors designed the set of the Tavis Smiley Show on the Public Broadcasting Service in 2012.
2013: 2013 Season
In 2013, Venus Williams had a mixed season, with losses at the Roger's Cup, Western and Southern Open, and China Open. She experienced some success at the US Open and Pan Pacific Open, reaching the semifinals in doubles at the US Open with her sister Serena. However, her season ended prematurely when she withdrew from the Kremlin Cup due to injury.
2013: Winning match in a Fed Cup
In 2013, Venus Williams won a match against Johanna Larsson in Fed Cup, leading the United States to victory over Sweden. However, she withdrew from the Madrid Open and the Wimbledon Championships due to injury.
2014: 2014 Season End
In 2014, Venus Williams advanced to the quarterfinals at the Bell Challenge in Quebec, ultimately losing in the final. She withdrew from the China Open before the third round. She ended the year ranked No. 19 in singles, marking her first finish inside the top 20 since 2010. Williams joined the Bangalore Raptors team in 2014 for the first edition of Champions Tennis League India.
2014: King Trophy with the Washington Kastles
In 2014, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2014: Grand Slam Doubles Match
In 2016, Venus Williams won her first Grand Slam doubles match with sister Serena Williams since the 2014 US Open.
2014: Return to Form
Starting in 2014, Venus Williams gradually returned to form after injuries.
2014: Retained fastest serve record until 2014
Venus held the record for the fastest serve on the WTA Tour until 2014, recorded at the 2007 US Open, at 208 km/h (129 mph).
2015: 2015 US Open Series
In 2015, Venus Williams had a mixed US Open Series. She lost in the first round at the Rogers Cup, causing her to drop out of the top 20. She withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to a virus. At the US Open, she reached the quarterfinals, where she lost to her sister Serena Williams in three sets.
2015: 2015 Auckland Open Title and Australian Open Quarterfinals
In 2015, Venus Williams won her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open. Later that year, she reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open for the first time since the 2010 US Open.
2015: King Trophy with the Washington Kastles
In 2015, Venus Williams won her fourth King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2016: Silver in mixed doubles at Rio Olympics
After winning silver in mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Venus Williams became the first tennis player to win a medal at four Olympic Games, as well as the first player in the Open Era to win an Olympic medal in all three events (singles, doubles, mixed).
2016: 2016 Rio Summer Olympics
At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Venus Williams failed to medal in her singles and doubles events but won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram. This accomplishment made her the only female player (besides Kathleen McKane Godfree) to win a medal in all three events, sharing the record for most Olympic medals won in tennis with Godfree.
2016: 2016 Season Start
In 2016, Venus Williams started by playing in an exhibition event in Thailand, losing to Sara Errani and Angelique Kerber. She then lost in the first round of the Auckland Open, where she was the defending champion. Williams would go on to win the Taiwan Open, earning her 49th career title.
2016: Mixed Doubles Silver Medal
In 2016, Venus Williams won a mixed doubles silver medal.
2016: US Open and Major Appearances Record
In 2016, at the US Open, Venus Williams broke the record for the most major appearances, surpassing Amy Frazier's record of 71. It was also the first time since 2010 that she was seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments. She lost in the fourth round to Karolína Plíšková.
2017: Major Final Appearances
In 2017, Venus Williams made two major final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships.
2017: Plays for the Washington Kastles
In 2017, Venus Williams played for the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2017: US Open Series and Semifinal
In 2017, Venus Williams played in the US Open Series, reaching the semifinals of the US Open for the first time since 2010, where she lost to Sloane Stephens. She also reached the second week of all majors in a single season for the first time since 2010.
2017: Australian Open Final and Other Tournaments
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Australian Open final, losing to her sister Serena. She also competed in other tournaments, including Auckland, St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy, Indian Wells Open, and Miami Open, achieving notable wins and losses. She set the Open era record for the longest span (20 years) between grand slam singles final appearances, having first reached a Grand Slam singles final at the 1997 US Open.
2017: Wimbledon Quarterfinal Win and Final Appearance
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 13th time in her career, defeating Jeļena Ostapenko. She advanced to her ninth Wimbledon final but lost to Garbiñe Muguruza. This marked the first season since 2003 that Williams reached two slam finals, and she gained the No. 9 ranking.
2017: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2017, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader for the second time.
2017: Wimbledon singles final record
In 2017, with her run to the Wimbledon singles final, Venus Williams claimed the record for the longest time between a player's first and most recent major singles finals appearances.
2017: Top Five Win Since 2017 WTA Finals
In 2019, at Indian Wells, Venus Williams secured her first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals by defeating Petra Kvitová.
2017: First grandslam quarterfinal since 2017
In 2025, Venus Williams reached her first grandslam quarterfinal since 2017 in women's doubles alongside Leylah Fernandez.
2019: Plays for the Washington Kastles
In 2019, Venus Williams played for the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2019: Serena surpasses Venus' record at US Open
In 2019, Venus Williams' record for the longest time between a player's first and most recent major singles finals appearances was surpassed by her sister Serena at the US Open.
2020: Joins the Washington Kastles during the 2020 WTT season
In 2020, it was announced that Venus Williams would be joining the Washington Kastles during the 2020 WTT season, which was set to begin July 12 at The Greenbrier.
2021: Grand Slam Appearance and Wimbledon Win
In 2021, Venus Williams won her first-round match at Wimbledon against Mihaela Buzărnescu, marking her record-breaking 90th Grand Slam appearance and 90th match win at Wimbledon. She also reached the second round of the Australian Open and experienced a five-match losing streak, dropping out of the top 100 for the first time since 2011.
2022: US Open First Round Loss and Doubles with Serena
In 2022, Venus received a wildcard for the US Open but lost in the first round to Alison Van Uytvanck. She also played doubles with Serena Williams; their first-round match was the first doubles match in history to be played in the nighttime slot at Arthur Ashe Stadium, however, they lost to Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková. This marked Serena's final Grand Slam tournament and Venus's last doubles match.
2023: Year-End Ranking
At the end of 2023, Venus Williams was ranked No. 412 in the world.
2023: Announcement of Return Despite Injury
Despite an injury-plagued season, Venus Williams announced in 2023 her intention to return to action in March 2024.
2023: Mixed Results and Knee Injury at Wimbledon
In 2023, Venus experienced mixed results, including a first-round loss at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships and a victory at the Birmingham Classic, her first win against a top 50 player in four years. She then suffered a first-round defeat and a knee injury at Wimbledon.
2023: Injury and Withdrawal from Australian Open
In 2023, after a first-round victory at the Auckland Open, Venus withdrew from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained in her second round match against Lin, causing her to miss the hard court swing and clay season.
May 2025: Denial of Retirement at Met Gala
In May 2025, while attending the Met Gala, Venus Williams denied rumors of her retirement and indicated that she would return to the court "when the time feels right".
November 2025: Career Prize Money Winnings
As of November 2025, Venus Williams had earned over US$42 million, ranking fourth in all-time career prize money winnings.
2025: First round exits at Cincinnati Open and US Open, quarterfinal in women's doubles
In 2025, Venus Williams lost in the first round at the Cincinnati Open to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and at the US Open to Karolína Muchová. She also lost in the opening round in mixed doubles. However, she reached her first grandslam quarterfinal since 2017 in women's doubles alongside Leylah Fernandez.
2026: Record at Australian Open
At the 2026 Australian Open, Venus Williams extended her record as the all-time leader, male or female, in Grand Slam singles tournaments played, with her 95th appearance.
2026: First Round Eliminations and Combined Age Record
In 2026, Venus Williams was eliminated in the first round of the Auckland Open and the Hobart International. The match at the Hobart International set a record for the highest combined age of a match in WTA Tour history. She also received a wildcard to the Australian Open, where she was eliminated in the first round.
Mentioned in this timeline
Ashleigh Barty is a retired Australian professional tennis and cricket...
Serena Williams is a retired American professional tennis player widely...
Naomi Osaka is a highly accomplished Japanese professional tennis player...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Rafael Nadal a Spanish former professional tennis player achieved the...
Maria Sharapova is a retired Russian professional tennis player She...
Trending
7 minutes ago North Carolina weather alerts: Meteorologists share safety tips, prepare for dense fog.
7 minutes ago Air India flight tailstrike at Bengaluru airport prompts emergency landing; passengers safe.
1 hour ago Jason Lewis Returns to Social Media After Three Years with Cryptic Video
1 hour ago Jenna Bush Hager's Daughter Jokes About Her Mom Needing More Botox Injections
3 hours ago JPEGMAFIA Releases 'Experimental Rap' Album Amidst Feud and Backlash: Streaming Now.
3 hours ago Andor vs Baby Yoda: Star Wars' Creative Choice and Diego Luna's Exhibition.
Popular
Thomas Massie is a Republican politician and engineer representing Kentucky's...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer serving as...
William Franklin Graham III known as Franklin Graham is an...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
Sir David Attenborough is a highly acclaimed English broadcaster natural...
Chip Roy is an American attorney and politician currently serving...