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, though currently inactive, American tennis player. She achieved the world No. 1 ranking in both singles (for 11 weeks) and doubles (for 8 weeks). Her impressive career includes 49 WTA singles titles, highlighted by seven major victories. In doubles, she has secured 22 titles, featuring 16 majors and three Olympic gold medals. Williams is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
1975: Chris Evert Ranked Number 1
In 1975, Chris Evert was ranked number one.
1976: Evonne Goolagong Ranked Number 1
In 1976, Evonne Goolagong was ranked number one.
1978: Martina Navratilova Ranked Number 1
In 1978, Martina Navratilova was ranked number one.
1980: Tracy Austin Ranked Number 1
In 1980, Tracy Austin was ranked number one.
1985: Chris Evert Ranked Number 1
In 1985, Chris Evert was ranked number one.
1987: Martina Navratilova Ranked Number 1
In 1987, Martina Navratilova was ranked number one.
1991: Monica Seles Ranked Number 1
In 1991, Monica Seles was ranked number one.
October 31, 1994: Turned Professional
On October 31, 1994, Venus Williams turned professional at the age of 14.
1994: Turned Professional
In 1994, Venus Williams turned professional, marking the beginning of her professional tennis career.
1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Ranked Number 1
In 1995, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario was ranked number one.
1995: Wildcard Tournaments
In 1995, Venus Williams played three more events as a wildcard, falling in the first round of the tournaments in Los Angeles and Toronto but reaching the quarterfinals in Oakland.
1995: Endorsement Deal with Reebok
In 1995, at the age of 14, Venus Williams signed an endorsement deal with Reebok and wore the company's apparel and shoes.
1996: Monica Seles Ranked Number 1
In 1996, Monica Seles was ranked number one.
1996: Played Five Events
In 1996, Venus Williams played five events, falling in the first round four times but reaching the third round in Los Angeles.
April 14, 1997: Top 100 Ranking
On April 14, 1997, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 100.
1997: US Open Debut
During her debut at the 1997 US Open, Venus Williams lost the final to Martina Hingis. In the semifinal match saw Spîrlea and Williams collide during a changeover.
1997: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis Ranked Number 1
In 1997, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis were ranked number one.
1997: Williams Exits Wimbledon Early
In 1997, Venus Williams exited Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals, marking the first time this had happened since 1997.
1997: First Major Final at US Open
In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first major final at the US Open.
1997: Longest Span Between Grand Slam Finals
In 1997, Venus Williams set the Open era record for the longest span (20 years) between grand slam singles final appearances, after first reaching a Grand Slam singles final at the US Open that year.
1997: Williams Finishes Season at Lowest Ranking Since Turning Pro
In 2006, Venus Williams finished the season as No. 46, her lowest finish since she began to play on the WTA Tour full-time in 1997. She finished higher than her sister Serena for the second consecutive year.
March 30, 1998: Broke Into Top 10
On March 30, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 10 for the first time, at world No. 10.
July 27, 1998: Ranked No. 5
On July 27, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking rose to world No. 5.
1998: Quarterfinals of All Majors
1998 was the first year that Venus Williams reached at least the quarterfinals of all majors.
1998: Lindsay Davenport Ranked Number 1
In 1998, Lindsay Davenport was ranked number one.
1998: Finished Year Ranked No. 5
In 1998, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 5.
1998: Mixed Doubles Grand Slam
In 1998, Venus Williams teamed with Justin Gimelstob to win the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and the French Open, contributing to a "Williams Family Mixed Doubles Grand Slam".
1998: "Battle of the Sexes" at Australian Open
In 1998, Venus Williams, along with her sister Serena, participated in a "Battle of the Sexes" match against Karsten Braasch at the Australian Open, with Braasch defeating Venus 6-2.
August 30, 1999: Reached Third World Ranking
On August 30, 1999, Venus Williams' world ranking reached third for the first time.
2000: Olympic Gold Medals
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: Wimbledon, US Open Titles & Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles, as well as Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Williams Loses to Davenport
In 2000, Venus Williams lost to Lindsay Davenport for the first time since 2000 at the Stanford Classic final.
2000: US Open Victory and Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams won the US Open, defeating Davenport in the final, and won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics.
2001: Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati Ranked Number 1
In 2001, Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati were ranked number one.
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 and won the doubles title with her sister, completing a Career Golden Slam in women's doubles for the pair.
2001: First Win at Indian Wells Since 2001
In 2001, Venus Williams secured her first win at the Indian Wells Open since 2001, defeating Jelena Janković.
2001: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2001, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader.
2001: Venus Williams Wins 2001 US Open
In 2001, Venus Williams won the US Open singles title for the second consecutive year without dropping a set. She defeated Clijsters, Capriati, and her sister Serena in the final, marking the first Grand Slam singles final in the open era contested by two sisters. This victory made her the sixth woman to win Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.
2001: Williams Finishes Year Ranked Higher Than Serena
In 2005, Venus Williams finished the year ranked higher than her sister Serena Williams for the first time since 2001. This was a notable achievement in their sibling rivalry.
2001: Venus defeated Serena in a Grand Slam final
In 2008, Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles title by beating her sister Serena in the final. This was the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final.
2001: Venus Defeats Serena at the Miami Open
In March 2001, at the Miami Open, Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena in the quarterfinals, marking the first time she had defeated her since 2001. She then lost in the semifinals to Maria Sharapova. In May, she won the İstanbul Cup.
2001: Williams Wins Wimbledon
Venus Williams was seeded 14th at the Wimbledon Championships. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Pierce and then Sharapova to reach the final. In the final, she defeated Davenport after saving a match point, winning her third Wimbledon singles title, her fifth Grand Slam singles title overall and her first since 2001. This marked the first time in 70 years that a player had won after being down match point during the women's final at Wimbledon.
February 2002: First African American No. 1
In February 2002, Venus Williams reached the singles world No. 1 ranking, becoming the first African American woman to do so in the Open era.
2002: Williams Reaches US Open Final
At the 2002 US Open, Venus Williams advanced to the final after defeating Seles and Mauresmo. In the final, she played her younger sister Serena for their third consecutive Grand Slam final, with Serena winning. Williams finished the year ranked No. 2, having won seven titles.
2002: Williams Assumes World No. 1 Ranking
In 2002, Venus Williams had a strong start to the season, winning tournaments and ultimately assuming the world No. 1 position on February 25, dislodging Capriati. Williams was the first African-American woman ever to hold the ranking. She held it for just three weeks before surrendering it back to Capriati.
2002: Venus and Serena Williams Ranked Number 1
In 2002, Venus and Serena Williams were ranked number one.
2002: Led Head-to-Head Against Serena Williams
In 2009, Venus Williams led the head-to-head record in career matches against Serena Williams for the first time since 2002 after winning against her at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
2002: Ended Year in the Top Five for the First Time Since 2002
In 2010, despite missing much of the year due to injury, Venus Williams ended the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she had finished a year in the top five since 2002.
May 2003: Williams Sisters Occupied Top Two Spots
In May 2003, Venus Williams ranking improved to No. 2, behind Serena. This was the fourth time that the Williams sisters occupied the top two spots.
2003: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin Ranked Number 1
In 2003, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin were ranked number one.
2003: Williams Reaches Australian Open Final and Wins Doubles Title
In 2003, Venus Williams reached the Australian Open final for the first time, losing to her sister Serena. They also teamed up to win the women's doubles title at the event, their sixth Grand Slam title in women's doubles. This marked the first time in the open era that the same two players had met in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
2003: Ranked in Top Three For the First Time Since 2003
In 2003, Venus Williams was ranked in the top three for the first time since 2003, following a semifinal appearance in Rome.
2003: Quarterfinal Win at Australian Open
In 2003, Venus Williams won a quarterfinal match at the Australian Open since defeating Daniela Hantuchová.
2003: First Season Since 2003 Reaching Two Slam Finals
In 2003, it was noted that 2017 marked the first season since 2003 that Venus Williams reached two slam finals.
2003: Williams Reaches US Open Semifinal
In 2007, after not playing a major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003, Venus Williams reached US Open Semifinal.
2003: Williams Dominating Circuit
In 2008, Venus Williams was playing some of her best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003.
2003: Venus and Serena played each other in a Grand Slam final since 2003
In 2008, Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles title by beating her sister Serena in the final. This marked the first time since 2003 that they had played each other in a Grand Slam final.
2004: Amélie Mauresmo Ranked Number 1
In 2004, Amélie Mauresmo was ranked number one.
2004: Williams Returns to Tour with Inconsistent Results in 2004
In 2004, Venus Williams returned to the tour with inconsistent results. She reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to Lisa Raymond, and then lost in the quarterfinals of her next three tournaments.
2004: US Open Opponent - Svetlana Kuznetsova
In 2004, Venus defeated the 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2018 US Open.
2004: Williams Loses at Athens Olympics and US Open
In 2004, as the defending champion at the Athens Olympics, Venus Williams lost in the third round to Mary Pierce. At the US Open, she lost to Davenport in the fourth round, her earliest exit at the tournament. She completed the year losing in the quarterfinals of three indoor tournaments, including a loss to Maria Sharapova.
2005: Maria Sharapova Ranked Number 1
In 2005, Maria Sharapova was ranked number one.
2005: Advocacy for Equal Pay
In 2005, Venus Williams met with officials from the French Open and Wimbledon, advocating for equal pay for female tennis players.
2005: Williams Reaches US Open Quarterfinals
In 2005, Venus Williams reached her fourth final of the year in Stanford, where she lost to Clijsters. At the US Open, Williams defeated her sister Serena for the second consecutive time in the fourth round but lost in the quarterfinals to Kim Clijsters. She finished the year ranked No. 10.
2005: Williams Reaches Antwerp Final
In 2005, Venus Williams started the year by losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open to Alicia Molik. She then reached the final in Antwerp, defeating Clijsters and Myskina en route, but lost to Mauresmo after being up a set and a break.
2005: Williams Wins Fourth Wimbledon Title
In 2007, Venus Williams, ranked No. 31 and seeded 23rd, won her fourth Wimbledon title after defeating Marion Bartoli in the final. She became the fourth woman in the open era to win Wimbledon at least four times and the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history, breaking her own record set in 2005.
2005: Venus meets Serena for the first time since 2005
In 2008, Venus and Serena Williams played each other for the first time since 2005. Serena won despite Venus holding a match point in the third set tie break
2005: Williams Wins Memphis Title
In February 2007, Venus Williams returned to tennis after a wrist injury, winning the Cellular South Cup, her first since her victory at Wimbledon in 2005.
2006: Lindsay Davenport and Amélie Mauresmo Ranked Number 1
In 2006, Lindsay Davenport and Amélie Mauresmo were ranked number one.
2006: Advanced Past Third Round at French Open for First Time Since 2006
In 2006, Venus Williams advanced past the third round at the French Open for the first time since 2006.
2006: Essay on Wimbledon and Gender Equality
In 2006, Venus Williams published an essay in The Times accusing Wimbledon of being on the "wrong side of history" regarding equal pay.
2006: Williams Upset at Australian Open and Deals With Injury
In 2006, Venus Williams was upset in the first round of the Australian Open by Tsvetana Pironkova, marking her earliest loss at the tournament. She did not play for three months due to a wrist injury. She returned in late April on clay in Warsaw, where she defeated Hingis before losing to Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals.
2006: First King Trophy with 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, following pressure from Venus Williams and others.
2007: Won 34 Straight Sets Since Wimbledon 2007
In 2007, Venus Williams had won 34 straight sets leading up to the Wimbledon final, at which point she lost to sister Serena.
2007: Williams Reaches US Open Semifinal and Withdraws from WTA Championships
In 2007, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open, losing to Justine Henin. She then won the Korea Open in Seoul before losing in the final of the Japan Open. Williams qualified for the WTA Championships but withdrew due to anemia.
2007: Wimbledon Win
In 2007, Venus Williams returned to form, winning Wimbledon.
2007: Launch of EleVen Fashion Line
In 2007, Venus Williams teamed with Steve & Barry's to launch her own fashion line, EleVen.
2007: Williams Wins Memphis Title After Injury
In 2007, Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open due to a wrist injury. She returned in February at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, defeating Shahar Pe'er in the final, marking her first title since Wimbledon in 2005.
2007: Wimbledon Champion and Equal Prize Money
In 2007, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon tournament and became the first woman to benefit from the equalization of prize money at Wimbledon, receiving the same amount as the male winner.
2007: Fastest Serve
Up to 2014, Venus Williams held the record for the fastest serve on the WTA Tour, recorded at the 2007 US Open, at 208 km/h (129 mph).
2008: Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković Ranked Number 1
In 2008, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković were ranked number one.
2008: First Straight Sets Victory Against Serena Since 2008
In 2008, Venus Williams defeated Serena Williams at the Indian Wells Open, marking her first straight sets victory against her since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final.
2008: Williams Wins Gold Medal and Loses at US Open
In 2008, Venus Williams earned a gold medal with her sister Serena in women's doubles at the Beijing Olympics. At the US Open, she lost to Serena in the quarterfinals.
2008: Williams Reaches Australian Open Quarterfinals
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003, losing to Ana Ivanovic. She also made her first semifinal of the year at the Bangalore Open, losing to her sister Serena despite holding a match point.
2008: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2008, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles.
2008: Won Year-End WTA Tour Championships
In 2008, Venus Williams won the year-ending WTA Tour Championships in Doha, defeating Vera Zvonareva in the final. She defeated several top-ranked players en route to the title and ended the year ranked No. 6 with three titles.
2008: Williams Wins Wimbledon Singles and Doubles Titles
In 2008, Venus Williams, as the defending champion, won her fifth Wimbledon singles title by beating her sister Serena in the final. This marked the first time since 2003 that they had played each other in a Grand Slam final and the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final. They also won the women's doubles title together.
August 2009: Minority Owner of Miami Dolphins
In August 2009, Venus Williams and her sister Serena became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins, becoming the first African-American women to obtain ownership in an NFL franchise.
2009: Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković Ranked Number 1
In 2009, Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković were ranked number one.
2009: First Grand Slam Final Since Wimbledon
In 2009, Venus Williams advanced to her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon.
2009: Finished Year Ranked No. 6 in Singles
In 2009, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Serena Williams.
2009: Lost to Serena Williams at WTA Tour Championships
In 2009, Venus Williams lost to her sister Serena in two sets at the WTA Tour Championships semifinals. This was their first meeting since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships.
2009: Defended Championship Title
In 2009, Venus Williams was the defending champion in singles at the year-ending Tour Championships where she ultimately lost to her sister Serena in the final.
2009: First Finals at Year-End Championships Since 2009
In 2009, Williams reached her first final at the year-end championships since 2009, where she finished runner-up to sister Serena Williams.
2009: Last Victory over a Number 1 Ranked Player
In 2009, at Wimbledon, Venus Williams achieved her 13th victory over a reigning No. 1 when she defeated Dinara Safina in the semifinals.
2009: Won Australian Open Doubles Title
In 2009, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams and her sister Serena won the women's doubles title. In singles, she rebounded in February at the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Serena in the semi-finals and Virginie Razzano in the final.
2009: First Wimbledon Semifinal
In 2009, the 2016 Wimbledon Championships was the first Wimbledon semifinal for Venus Williams since that year.
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, alongside 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.
2010: Caroline Wozniacki Ranked Number 1
In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki was ranked number one.
2010: First Time Since 2010 Reaching Second Week of All Majors
In 2010, Venus Williams reached the second week of all majors for the first time since 2010, and reached the second week of seven consecutive Grand Slam tournaments.
2010: Returned to World No. 2
In 2010, Venus Williams returned to the world No. 2 position in singles but suffered again from injuries.
2010: Seeded Top Ten in all Grand Slam Tournaments
In 2010, Venus achieved being seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments, a feat she hadn't accomplished since that year.
2010: Sisters Claim Fifth Wimbledon Doubles Title
In 2010, Venus and Serena Williams claimed their fifth Wimbledon doubles title, marking the pair's first tournament since 2010 Wimbledon.
2010: First Time Since US Open
In 2010, it was the last time she made it to the Quarterfinals at a Grand Slam championship until 2015.
2010: French Open Round Since
In 2010, it was the last time that Venus made it to the fourth round for the first time since that year at the French Open.
2010: First Major Semifinal Since US Open
In 2010, the 2016 Wimbledon Championships was the first major semifinal for Venus Williams since the US Open.
2010: WTA Finals Qualification
On September 26, 2017, Williams qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010. She advanced to the final, finishing runner-up.
2010: First Finish Inside Top 20
Venus Williams had her last finish inside the top 20 until 2014.
January 2011: Return to Top Five in WTA Rankings
In January 2011, after her performance at 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: 2011 Wimbledon Championships
In 2011, It was the last time she made it to the second week of a Grand Slam tournament until 2015.
2011: Kim Clijsters Ranked Number 1
In 2011, Kim Clijsters was ranked number one.
2011: Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic met in Wimbledon 2011 final
In 2011, Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic met in Wimbledon final, similar to when Serena and Venus Williams met in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
2011: King Trophy with Kastles
In 2011, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2011: Time since Re-entering Top Ten
In 2011, Williams re-entered the top ten since that year and ended the year at No. 7 in the WTA rankings.
2011: Last Top-10 Player Australian Open
In 2011, it was the last time she was a Top-10 player as the Australian Open until 2016.
2011: First Time Since 2011 Playing Wimbledon Warmup
In 2019, Venus Williams played a Wimbledon warmup event for the first time since 2011, accepting a wildcard into the Birmingham Classic.
2012: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka Ranked Number 1
In 2012, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka were ranked number one.
2012: Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic met in French Open 2012 final
In 2012, Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic met in French Open final, similar to when Serena and Venus Williams met in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
2012: Won Third Gold Medal in Doubles at London Olympics
In 2012, Venus Williams and her sister Serena won their third gold medal in doubles at the London Olympics. With the win, the Williams sisters claimed the most Olympic gold medals of any other tennis player, male or female.
2012: First Quarterfinal in Rome since 2012
In 2012, Venus Williams reached her first quarterfinal in Rome since 2012, losing to Garbiñe Muguruza.
2012: WTT Final MVP and King Trophy
In 2012, Venus Williams was named the WTT Final MVP and won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2012, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles.
2012: Olympic Bid Apartment Design
In 2012, Venus Williams' company designed the Olympic athletes' apartments as part of New York City's failed bid to host the Summer Olympics.
2012: EleVen Debuts at New York Fashion Week
In 2012, Venus Williams's fashion line, EleVen, debuted during New York Fashion Week.
2012: Major Title Since
In 2012, they won their 14th major title together and sixth at Wimbledon.
2012: Earliest Wimbledon Exit Matched 2012
In 2019, Venus Williams faced Coco Gauff at Wimbledon, losing in two sets, which matched 2012 as her earliest Wimbledon exit.
2013: First Time Since 2013 Failing to Finish Season Inside Top 20
In 2013, 2018 marked the first time since 2013 that Venus Williams failed to finish the season inside the top 20, ending the year ranked No. 40.
2013: 2013 Season Summary
In 2013, Venus Williams experienced a mixed season, including a first-round loss at the Roger's Cup to Kirsten Flipkens, an upset victory at the US Open against Flipkens, and a semifinal appearance in doubles with Serena Williams. She ended her season prematurely at the Kremlin Cup due to injury.
2013: Participated at the Hopman Cup
In 2013, Venus Williams participated at the Hopman Cup playing for USA, partnering with John Isner, and won both her singles and mixed doubles matches against France.
2013: Withdrawal from Wimbledon Championships
In 2013, Venus Williams pulled out of the Wimbledon Championships due to a back injury, marking the first time she missed Wimbledon in her career.
2013: Victoria Azarenka Ranked Number 1
In 2013, Victoria Azarenka was ranked number one.
2014: Victory over Serena Williams at Rogers Cup
In 2014, Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena Williams at the Rogers Cup, marking her first victory over Serena since 2009. She reached the final but lost to Agnieszka Radwańska.
2014: WTA Top 20 Ranking
In 2014, Venus Williams ended the year ranked No. 19 in singles, marking her first finish inside the top 20 since 2010.
2014: King Trophy with Kastles
In 2014, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2014: Grand Slam Doubles Match
In 2014, she also won her first Grand Slam doubles match with sister Serena Williams since the US Open that year.
2014: Return to Form
Starting in 2014, Venus Williams gradually returned to form.
2014: Record for Fastest Serve Held Until 2014
Up to 2014, Venus Williams held the record for the fastest serve on the WTA Tour.
2015: Serena Williams enters Indian Wells after boycott
In 2015, Serena Williams entered the Indian Wells tournament after a 14-year boycott due to the 2001 controversy, following appeals for forgiveness from the event and the WTA Tour. Neither Williams sister entered the tournament for 14 years. This marked a return to the event after a long absence.
2015: Lost to Serena Williams at US Open
In 2015, Venus Williams lost to her sister Serena in the quarterfinals of the US Open in three sets.
2015: King Trophy with Kastles
In 2015, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2015: Won 46th Career Title at Auckland Open
In 2015, Venus Williams won her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open, defeating Caroline Wozniacki in the final.
2016: Olympic Medal in All Three Events
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: US Open
At the 2016 US Open, Williams broke the record for most major appearances with 71, surpassing Amy Frazier. She reached the fourth round, losing to Karolína Plíšková after failing to convert a match point.
2016: Angelique Kerber Ranked Number 1
In 2016, Angelique Kerber was ranked number one.
2016: Olympic Mixed Doubles Silver
In 2016, Venus Williams won a mixed doubles silver medal.
2016: Rio Summer Olympics
In 2016, Williams experienced her worst Olympic exits, failing to medal in singles and doubles, losing in the first round of both events. However, with Rajeev Ram, she won a silver medal in mixed doubles, becoming the only female player (besides Kathleen McKane Godfree) to win a medal in all three events and sharing the record for most Olympic medals in tennis.
2017: Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep Ranked Number 1
In 2017, Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep were ranked number one.
2017: US Open Series and US Open
In 2017, Venus Williams competed in the Canadian Open and Cincinnati, and reached the US Open semifinal, guaranteeing her return to the top five in the WTA rankings for the first time since January 2011.
2017: Major Final Appearances
In 2017, Venus Williams had two major final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
2017: 2017 Season Highlights
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Australian Open final, her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009. She lost to her sister Serena. She also had a strong run at the Indian Wells Open, marking her first win there since 2001. She reached the semifinals of the Miami Open.
2017: Wimbledon Performance
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon final, marking her 13th quarterfinal and 9th final at the event. She lost to Garbiñe Muguruza. She returned to the top 10 rankings.
2017: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2017, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader.
2017: First Top Five Win Since 2017
In 2019, at Indian Wells, Venus Williams secured her first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals by defeating Petra Kvitová.
2017: Longest Time Between Major Finals Appearances
With her run to the 2017 Wimbledon singles final, Venus Williams claimed the record for the longest time between a player's first and most recent major singles finals appearances.
2018: Caroline Wozniacki Ranked Number 1
In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki was ranked number one.
2018: 2018 Season Start and Australian Open
In 2018, Venus Williams started the season at the Sydney International, losing to Angelique Kerber. At the Australian Open, as a defending finalist, she lost in the first round to Belinda Bencic.
2018: 2018 US Open and Season End
In 2018, Venus Williams was handed her most-lopsided loss against Serena in five years at the US Open. She withdrew from several tournaments due to physical readiness and a knee injury, finishing the season ranked No. 40.
2019: Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty Ranked Number 1
In 2019, Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty were ranked number one.
2019: 2019 Season Start
In 2019, Venus Williams started her season with an exhibition match against Serena, winning it. She then competed in the ASB Classic and the Australian Open, losing in the quarterfinals and third round, respectively.
August 2020: Ranking Drop in August 2020
Following the Western & Southern Open tournament, Venus Williams dropped to No. 67 in the WTA 31 August 2020 rankings.
2020: Joining Washington Kastles
In 2020, it was announced that Venus Williams would be joining the Washington Kastles during the WTT season.
2021: Grand Slam Tournament Record
At the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams extended her record as the all-time leader in Grand Slam tournaments played, with 90.
2021: 90th Grand Slam Appearance
In 2021, Venus Williams achieved her record-breaking 90th Grand Slam appearance and also her 90th match win at Wimbledon. She also reached the second round of the Australian Open and won her first round match against Mihaela Buzărnescu at Wimbledon.
March 2022: Career Prize Money
As of March 2022, Venus Williams had earned over US$42 million.
2022: Ashleigh Barty and Iga Świątek Ranked Number 1
In 2022, Ashleigh Barty and Iga Świątek were ranked number one.
2022: US Open First Round Loss and Doubles with Serena
In 2022, Venus Williams received a wildcard for the US Open but lost in the first round. She also played doubles with Serena, marking their final Grand Slam tournament match together after Serena's retirement. The first round doubles match was historic, being the first doubles match in history to be given the nighttime slot on Center Court.
2023: Return to Action and Injury Impact
Despite an injury-plagued season in 2023, Venus Williams aimed to return to action in March, but her injuries forced her to miss tournaments. She lost in the first round of both tournaments to Nao Hibino and Diana Shnaider respectively.
2023: Aryna Sabalenka Ranked Number 1
In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka was ranked number one.
2023: Year-End Ranking
In 2023, Venus Williams ended the season ranked No. 412 in the world.
2023: Injury and Withdrawal from Australian Open
In 2023, Venus Williams received a main draw wildcard to the Australian Open but was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury in her second round match against Zhu Lin in Auckland. The injury caused Williams to miss the rest of the hard court swing and the clay season.
2023: Rosmalen and Birmingham Classic
In 2023, Venus Williams received a wildcard at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships where she lost in the first round. Venus then competed in the 2023 Birmingham Classic and won her first match as a 43-year-old, defeating Camilla Giorgi in over three hours in an epic three-set thriller. It was her first victory over a top 50 player in almost four years. Williams received a wildcard to the 2023 Wimbledon main draw but lost in straight sets to Elina Svitolina in the first round, suffering a serious knee injury.
2024: Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka Ranked Number 1
In 2024, Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka were ranked number one.
2025: Indian Wells Wildcard
In 2025, Venus Williams received a main-draw wildcard for Indian Wells but turned it down.
