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 tennis player. She achieved the world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles, holding the top singles spot for 11 weeks. Her impressive career includes 49 WTA Tour-level singles titles, with seven major wins. Williams also excelled in doubles, securing 22 titles, highlighted by 14 majors and three Olympic gold medals. Her success and longevity have solidified her status as a prominent figure in tennis history.
1975: Chris Evert's ranking
In 1975, Chris Evert held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 260 weeks.
1976: Evonne Goolagong's ranking
In 1976, Evonne Goolagong held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 2 weeks.
1978: Martina Navratilova's ranking
In 1978, Martina Navratilova held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 331 weeks.
1980: Tracy Austin's ranking
In 1980, Tracy Austin held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 22 weeks.
1985: Chris Evert's ranking
In 1985, Chris Evert held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 260 weeks.
1987: Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova's ranking
In 1987, Steffi Graf held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 377 weeks and Martina Navratilova held it for 331 weeks.
1991: Monica Seles's ranking
In 1991, Monica Seles held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 178 weeks.
October 31, 1994: Turned 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, beginning her career in tennis.
1994: First Retirement During a Match in a Grand Slam Tournament Since 1994
In 2011, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match against Andrea Petkovic after sustaining a hip muscle injury in her second round. This was Williams's first retirement during a match in a Grand Slam tournament since 1994.
1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's ranking
In 1995, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 12 weeks.
1995: Wildcard Tournaments
In 1995, Venus Williams played three more events as a wildcard, with varying results in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Oakland.
1995: Endorsement Deal with Reebok
In 1995, when Venus Williams was 14, she signed an endorsement deal with Reebok and wore the company's apparel and shoes. She used a Wilson Hammer 6.2 Stretch racket.
1996: Monica Seles's ranking
In 1996, Monica Seles held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 178 weeks.
1996: Tournament Appearances
In 1996, Venus Williams played five events, reaching the third round in Los Angeles but facing first-round losses in four other tournaments.
April 14, 1997: Top 100 Ranking
On April 14, 1997, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 100.
1997: US Open Final Debut
During her debut at the 1997 US Open, Venus Williams lost the final to Martina Hingis, after a controversial semifinal match.
1997: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis's ranking
In 1997, Steffi Graf held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 377 weeks and Martina Hingis held it for 209 weeks.
1997: First Grand Slam singles final at the US Open
In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the US Open.
1997: First Major Final
In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first major final at the US Open.
1997: Williams exits Wimbledon prior to quarterfinals
In 1997, Williams exited Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals for the first time.
1997: Williams has lowest finish since 1997
In 1997, Williams finished the season at No. 46, her lowest finish since she began to play on the WTA Tour full-time.
1997: Year-End Ranking Outside of Top 50
In 2011, Venus Williams ended the year ranked No. 102. This was her first year-end finish ranked outside of the top 50 since 1997.
1997: Unseeded for the First Time Since 1997
In 2012, at Wimbledon, Venus Williams was unseeded for the first time since 1997 and lost in the first round, which was her first opening round loss at Wimbledon since her debut in 1997. She claimed their fifth Wimbledon doubles title with her sister Serena.
March 30, 1998: Top 10 Ranking
On March 30, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 10 for the first time, at world No. 10.
July 27, 1998: World No. 5 Ranking
On July 27, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking rose to world No. 5.
1998: Lindsay Davenport's ranking
In 1998, Lindsay Davenport held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 98 weeks.
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: 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" with Serena.
1998: Tendonitis
In 1998, Venus Williams withdrew from the WTA Tour Championships due to tendonitis in her knee. She finished the year ranked No. 5.
1998: "Battle of the Sexes" at Australian Open
In 1998, Venus Williams, along with her sister Serena, competed in a "Battle of the Sexes" against Karsten Braasch at the Australian Open, where she lost 6-2.
August 30, 1999: World Ranking Reached Third
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: Davenport beats Williams at Stanford Classic
In 2000, Lindsay Davenport beat Venus Williams at the Stanford Classic for the first time since 2000.
2000: Wimbledon and Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon title and Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Wrist Tendinitis
In 2000, Venus Williams missed the first five months of the year due to tendinitis in both wrists.
2000: Williams wins gold medal at Sydney Olympics
In 2008, Venus Williams earned a gold medal along with her sister Serena in women's doubles at the Beijing Olympics, their second gold medal as a team, having won together at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
2001: Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati's ranking
In 2001, Martina Hingis held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 209 weeks and Jennifer Capriati held it for 17 weeks.
2001: First win at Indian Wells since 2001
In 2001, Venus Williams had her first win at Indian Wells.
2001: Australian Open Semifinal 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: Return to Indian Wells After Boycott
In 2001, Venus Williams returned to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years after boycotting the tournament. She lost in the second round to Kurumi Nara.
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, defeating Serena Williams in the final. This victory marked her fourth Grand Slam singles title and made her the sixth woman in history to win both Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.
2001: Williams Wins Wimbledon Championships
In 2001, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon Championships, defeating top-seeded Davenport in the final after saving a match point. This was her third Wimbledon singles title, her fifth Grand Slam singles title overall, and her first since 2001. It was the first time in 70 years that a player had won after being down match point during the women's final at Wimbledon.
2001: Williams Wins Wimbledon and Doubles Title with Serena
In 2008, Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles title, defeating her sister Serena in the final. It was the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final.
February 2002: World No. 1 Ranking
On February 25, 2002, Venus Williams first reached the singles world No. 1 ranking, becoming the first African American woman to do so in the Open era.
2002: Venus Williams finishes year ranked No. 2
In 2002 Venus Williams won titles in San Diego and New Haven for the third consecutive year. At the US Open, she lost to Serena in the final, and finished the year ranked No. 2, with seven titles.
2002: Venus and Serena Williams ranking
In 2002, Venus Williams held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 11 weeks and Serena Williams held it for 319 weeks.
2002: Ended the Year in Top 5 Since 2002
In 2010, Venus Williams finished the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002.
2002: Venus Williams Assumes World No. 1 Ranking
On February 25, 2002, Venus Williams became the world No. 1, dislodging Jennifer Capriati. She was the first African-American woman ever to hold the ranking, though she held it for only three weeks.
May 2003: Williams Sisters Occupying Top Two Spots
In May 2003, The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, occupied the top two ranking spots, which was achieved again in 2009.
2003: Williams makes major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003
At the 2007 US Open, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003.
2003: Williams lost to Serena at US Open
At the 2008 US Open, Williams was playing some of her best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003, However, she was defeated in two tiebreaks by Serena Williams.
2003: Major Final Appearances
Between 2002 and 2003, Venus Williams reached four consecutive major finals, but lost each time to Serena.
2003: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin's ranking
In 2003, Kim Clijsters held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 20 weeks and Justine Henin held it for 117 weeks.
2003: Won Quarterfinal match in Melbourne
In 2003, Venus Williams last won a quarterfinal match in Melbourne, defeating Daniela Hantuchová.
2003: Venus Williams makes Australian Open Final and wins doubles title
In 2003, Venus Williams reached the final of the Australian Open for the first time, losing to her sister Serena. They teamed up to win the women's doubles title at the event, marking their sixth Grand Slam title in women's doubles.
2003: Top Three Ranking and First Since 2003
In 2003, Venus Williams's run to the semifinals in Rome in 2009 meant that she was ranked in the top three for the first time since 2003.
2003: First season since 2003 that Williams reached two slam finals
In 2003, it was the first season when Williams reached two slam finals.
2003: Williams reaches Australian Open Quarterfinals in 2008, for the first time since 2003
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003.
2003: Williams Wins Wimbledon and Doubles Title with Serena
In 2008, Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles title, defeating her sister Serena in the final. They teamed to win the women's doubles title, their first Grand Slam doubles title together since 2003.
2003: Absence From the French Open
In 2011, Venus Williams's absence from the French Open marked the first Grand Slam tournament since the 2003 US Open where neither of the Williams sisters were competing.
2004: Amélie Mauresmo's ranking
In 2004, Amélie Mauresmo held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 39 weeks.
2004: Williams competed at the Athens Olympics and US Open
In 2004, Venus Williams lost in the third round to Mary Pierce at the Athens Olympics and lost to Davenport in the fourth round of the US Open. She finished the year as No. 9.
2004: Defeated 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova
In 2004, Venus defeated champion Svetlana Kuznetsova en route to a third round encounter.
2004: First Retirement From a Match Since LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles in 2004
In 2011, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match against Andrea Petkovic after sustaining a hip muscle injury in her second round. This was also her first retirement from a match since LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles in 2004.
2005: Maria Sharapova's ranking
In 2005, Maria Sharapova held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 21 weeks.
2005: Venus defeated Serena at the US Open
In 2005, Venus Williams defeated Serena Williams at the US Open for her second consecutive win over her sister. Venus did not qualify for the year-ending Tour Championships due to an injury.
2005: Advocating for Equal Pay
In 2005, Venus Williams met with officials from the French Open and Wimbledon to argue for equal pay for female tennis players.
2005: Season with Delaware Smash
In 2005, Venus Williams played a season with the Delaware Smash in World TeamTennis.
2005: Williams loses Antwerp Final
In 2005, Venus Williams reached the final in Antwerp, but lost to Mauresmo after being a set and a service break up.
2005: Williams set Wimbledon record in 2005
In 2005, Williams became the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history. She became the fourth woman in the open era to win Wimbledon at least four times.
2005: Williams meets Serena for the first time since 2005
In 2008, Williams met Serena for the first time since 2005 with Serena winning despite Venus holding a match point.
2006: Seasons with Philadelphia Freedoms
From 2006 to 2008, Venus Williams played three seasons with the Philadelphia Freedoms in World TeamTennis, claiming her first King Trophy in 2006.
2006: Lindsay Davenport's ranking
In 2006, Lindsay Davenport held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 98 weeks.
2006: Essay in The Times
In 2006, Venus Williams accused Wimbledon of being on the "wrong side of history" in an essay published in The Times.
2006: Williams Upset at Australian Open and Returns After Injury
In 2006, Venus Williams was upset in the first round of the Australian Open and did not play for three months due to a wrist injury. She returned in late April, reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open.
2006: French Open Singles and Doubles
In 2010, at the French Open Venus advanced past the third round for the first time since 2006 before losing to Nadia Petrova in singles. In doubles, she and Serena defeated Huber and Anabel Medina Garrigues, reaching No. 1 in doubles. They then defeated Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik to win their fourth consecutive Grand Slam women's doubles title.
2006: First Loss in the First Round of a Grand Slam Since 2006
In 2012, at Wimbledon, Venus Williams lost to Elena Vesnina in the first round, making it the first time Venus lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
February 2007: Wimbledon Announces Equal Prize Money
In February 2007, Wimbledon announced it would award equal prize money to all competitors in all rounds, with the French Open following suit. This was after pressure arising from an essay written by Williams in 2006.
2007: Williams sets Grand-Slam record
At the 2007 US Open, Venus Williams set a Grand-Slam record with a 129 mph serve and reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003.
2007: Wimbledon Win
In 2007, Venus Williams returned to form and won Wimbledon.
2007: Launch of EleVen Fashion Line
In 2007, Venus Williams teamed with retailer Steve & Barry's to launch her own fashion line, EleVen.
2007: Wimbledon Win and Equal Prize Money
In 2007, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon tournament and was awarded the same amount as the male winner, Roger Federer, becoming the first woman to benefit from the equalization of prize money at Wimbledon.
2007: Williams wins Memphis Title
In February 2007, Venus Williams returned from a wrist injury to win the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, her first singles title since Wimbledon in 2005.
2008: Seasons with Philadelphia Freedoms
From 2006 to 2008, Venus Williams played three seasons with the Philadelphia Freedoms in World TeamTennis, claiming her first King Trophy in 2006.
2008: Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Janković's ranking
In 2008, Justine Henin held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 117 weeks, Ana Ivanovic held it for 12 weeks, and Jelena Janković held it for 18 weeks.
2008: Williams wins gold medal at Beijing Olympics
In 2008, Venus Williams earned a gold medal along with her sister Serena in women's doubles at the Beijing Olympics. At the US Open, Williams was defeated in two tiebreaks by Serena Williams in a quarterfinal match.
2008: Winning the Zurich Open and WTA Tour Championships
In 2008, Venus Williams had a successful year. In October, she reached the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix semifinal in Stuttgart. She then won the Zurich Open, securing a spot in the 2008 WTA Tour Championships in Doha, where she won against Vera Zvonareva in the final, ending the year ranked No. 6.
2008: Straight sets victory against her sister
In 2008, Venus Williams had her first straight sets victory against her sister Serena at the Wimbledon Championships final.
2008: Williams reaches Australian Open Quarterfinals
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003.
2008: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2008, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles with Serena Williams.
August 2009: Minority Owner of Miami Dolphins
In August 2009, Venus Williams and her sister Serena became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins, making them the first African-American women to obtain ownership in an NFL franchise.
2009: Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković's ranking
In 2009, Dinara Safina held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 26 weeks, and Jelena Janković held it for 18 weeks.
2009: WTA Tour Championships
In 2009, Venus Williams faced her sister Serena in the semifinals of the WTA Tour Championships, marking their first meeting since the competition. Serena won the match in two sets.
2009: Finished runner-up at the year-end championships
In 2009, Venus Williams finished runner-up at the year-end championships to sister Serena Williams.
2009: Year-End Ranking
In 2009, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 6 in singles with a 70% winning percentage. She also finished No. 3 in doubles with Serena Williams, despite playing only six events together.
2009: US Open Doubles Title
In 2009, Venus Williams made it to the fourth round of the US Open. She teamed up with Serena Williams to win the doubles title, claiming their third major doubles title in 2009.
2009: Tour Championships Performance
In 2009, Venus Williams participated in the year-ending Tour Championships as the defending champion. She advanced to the semifinal and then defeated Jelena Janković to advance to her second consecutive final. She lost to her sister Serena in the final. In doubles, she lost in the semifinal. Her doubles record at the end of the year was 24–2.
2009: Wimbledon Semifinal
In 2009, Venus Williams reached her first Wimbledon semifinal since 2009.
2009: Last time reached Grand Slam Final since Wimbledon
In 2009, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon Grand Slam Final.
2009: Victory over Dinara Safina at Wimbledon
In 2009, at Wimbledon, Venus Williams defeated Dinara Safina 6–1, 6–0 in the semifinals. This marked one of her 14 victories over a reigning No. 1 player.
2009: Australian Open Doubles Title and Dubai Tennis Championships Win
In 2009, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams and her sister Serena won the women's doubles title. In February, Venus won the Dubai Tennis Championships. She also won the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco, marking her 40th professional singles title. This was her first title on clay since 2005.
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 the pair completed a non-calendar-year Grand Slam at the French Open.
June 2010: Release of "Come to Win"
In late June 2010, Venus Williams released her first book, Come to Win; On How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession, which she cowrote with Kelly E. Carter. The book reached the top five on The New York Times Best Seller list.
2010: Seasons with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
2010: Caroline Wozniacki's ranking
In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 71 weeks.
2010: Grand Slam Quarterfinals at Australian Open
In 2010, Venus Williams made it to the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open for the first time since the 2010 US Open.
2010: US Open Series
In 2010, Venus Williams made it to the third round of the US Open for the first time since 2010.
2010: Reaching Fourth Round Since 2010 at French Open
In 2010, Venus Williams reached the fourth round for the first time since 2010 at the French Open.
2010: Last time reached second week of all majors in a single season
In 2010, Venus Williams reached the second week of all majors in a single season.
2010: Last time reached semi-final in Miami
2010: Return to World No. 2
In 2010, Venus Williams returned to the world No. 2 position in singles but then suffered again from injuries.
2010: Last time seeded in the top ten at all Grand Slam tournaments
In 2010, Venus Williams was last seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
2010: Knee Injury and Season End
In 2010, Venus Williams's left knee injury forced her to miss the rest of the year, including the WTA Championships and Fed Cup final. She ended the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002, and 11th in doubles.
2010: Return to Doubles Competition
In 2012, at Wimbledon, Venus Williams returned to doubles competition with her sister Serena, marking their first tournament since 2010 Wimbledon. The Williams sisters claimed their fifth Wimbledon doubles title.
2010: Serena Williams Wins Fifth Wimbledon Singles Title
In 2012, at Wimbledon, Venus Williams's sister, Serena Williams, won her fifth Wimbledon singles title on the same day that Venus and Serena won their fifth Wimbledon doubles title.
2010: Qualified for the WTA Finals
On September 26, 2010, Venus Williams qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010.
January 2011: Return to the top five in the WTA rankings
In January 2011, Venus Williams was guaranteed to return to the top five in the WTA rankings for the first time since then.
2011: Played a Wimbledon warmup event since 2011
For the first time since 2011, Venus Williams played a Wimbledon warmup event after accepting a wildcard into the Birmingham Classic.
2011: King Trophies with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
2011: Highest Ranking Since Sjögren's Syndrome Diagnosis
In 2011, After competing in the Stanford Classic and Rogers Cup, Venus Williams ascended to No. 6 in the rankings, her highest position since being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome in 2011.
2011: Kim Clijsters's ranking
In 2011, Kim Clijsters held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 20 weeks.
2011: Top-10 Player
In 2011, The Auckland Open was Williams's first tournament since the 2011 Australian Open as a top-10 player.
2011: Recovered from a Set at Wimbledon
In 2011, Venus Williams made it to the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2011 Wimbledon Championships after recovering from a set and break down.
2011: Wimbledon Championships Performance
In 2011, Venus Williams participated in the Wimbledon Championships as the 23rd seed. She defeated María José Martínez Sánchez in the third round but was defeated by Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round.
2011: Lowest Ranking Since 2011
In 2021, Venus Williams experienced a five-match losing streak and dropped out of the top 100 in May, marking her lowest ranking since 2011 before the French Open.
2012: King Trophies with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015. She was also named the 2012 WTT Final MVP for her efforts.
2012: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka's ranking
In 2012, Maria Sharapova held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 21 weeks, and Victoria Azarenka held it for 51 weeks.
2012: Third Gold Medal in Doubles at London Olympics
In 2012, Venus Williams participated in the London Olympics, reaching the third round in singles and winning her third gold medal in doubles with her sister Serena. 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: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2012, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles with Serena Williams.
2012: EleVen Debut at New York Fashion Week
In 2012, Venus Williams's fashion line, EleVen, debuted during New York Fashion Week. The models for the line were athletes.
2012: Wimbledon Doubles Title with Serena
In 2012, Venus and Serena Williams won their 14th major title together and sixth at Wimbledon in the doubles tournament, marking their first major final since 2012.
2012: Earliest Wimbledon exit
In 2012, Williams had her earliest Wimbledon exit after losing against Coco Gauff in a tight two-set match.
2012: Olympic Bid Design
Venus William's company designed the Olympic athletes' apartments as part of New York City's failed bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2013: Hopman Cup Success
In 2013, Venus Williams played for USA at the Hopman Cup with John Isner. Williams beat Chanelle Scheepers in the first rubber and won both her singles and in mixed doubles against France. She next faced Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and won in two sets.
2013: Withdrawal from Wimbledon Championships
In 2013, Venus Williams withdrew from the Wimbledon Championships due to a back injury, marking the first time she missed Wimbledon in her career.
2013: First time failing to finish the season inside the top 20
In 2013, Venus failed to finish the season inside the top 20.
2013: Victoria Azarenka's ranking
In 2013, Victoria Azarenka held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 51 weeks.
2013: 2013 US Open and Season End
In 2013, at the Roger's Cup, she lost in the first round. She then played the Western and Southern Open, defeating Jana Čepelová before losing to Elena Vesnina. At the 2013 US Open, she defeated Kirsten Flipkens but was then defeated by Zheng Jie. In doubles with Serena Williams, they reached the semifinals. She also played the Pan Pacific Open and the 2013 China Open in Beijing. Venus withdrew from the 2013 Kremlin Cup in Moscow due to injury, ending her 2013 season.
2014: King Trophies with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
2014: Bell Challenge and Champions Tennis League India
In 2014, Venus Williams reached the final of the Bell Challenge in Quebec, losing to Mirjana Lučić-Baroni. She also played at the Wuhan Open and China Open. She ended the year ranked No. 19. She joined the Bangalore Raptors team in 2014 for the first edition of Champions Tennis League India.
2014: Grand Slam Doubles Match with Serena Williams
In 2014, Venus Williams won her first Grand Slam doubles match with sister Serena Williams since the 2014 US Open.
2014: Rogers Cup Semifinal Victory over Serena Williams
In 2014, at the Rogers Cup, Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena Williams in the semifinals, marking her 14th victory over a reigning No. 1 and her first win against Serena since 2009. She eventually lost in the championship match. At the 2014 US Open she made it to the third round.
2014: Return to Form
Starting in 2014, Venus Williams gradually returned to form.
2015: Seasons with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
2015: Serena Williams enters Indian Wells after boycott
In 2015, Serena Williams entered the Indian Wells tournament after a 14-year boycott, following appeals for forgiveness from the event and the WTA Tour, due to the controversial events in 2001.
2015: US Open Series
In 2015, Venus Williams participated in the Rogers Cup and the Cincinnati Open. She was seeded 23rd for the 2015 US Open and played Monica Puig in the first round. She advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open where she lost to her sister Serena Williams.
2015: 46th Career Singles Title at Auckland Open
In 2015, Venus Williams won her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open, defeating Caroline Wozniacki. At the Australian Open, she reached the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2010 US Open. She also competed at the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Open. Williams competed at the Miami Open, where she won against Samantha Stosur in the third round and Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round.
2016: Olympic Medal Record
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: Breaks record for most major appearances at US Open
At the 2016 US Open, Venus Williams surpassed Amy Frazier's record with her 72nd major appearance. She reached the fourth round, losing to Karolína Plíšková after failing to convert match point.
2016: Angelique Kerber's ranking
In 2016, Angelique Kerber held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 34 weeks.
2016: Failed to medal in singles and doubles events at the Rio Summer Olympics
In 2016, Venus Williams had a disappointing run at the Rio Summer Olympics, failing to medal in both singles and doubles events, marking her worst Olympic exits. However, she and Rajeev Ram won a silver medal in mixed doubles, making Williams the only female player besides Kathleen McKane Godfree to win a medal in all three events. Her five medals tied her with Godfree for the most Olympic medals won in tennis.
2016: Olympic Mixed Doubles Silver
In 2016, Venus Williams won a mixed doubles silver at the Olympics.
2016: Taiwan Open Title
In 2016, Venus Williams won her 49th career title at the Taiwan Open, defeating Misaki Doi in the final. At the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to Johanna Konta. Afterwards, she helped the USA Fed Cup Team to a 4–0 victory over Poland, winning both of her singles matches.
2017: Seasons with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
2017: Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza, and Simona Halep's ranking
In 2017, Serena Williams held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 319 weeks, Karolína Plíšková held it for 8 weeks, Garbiñe Muguruza held it for 4 weeks, and Simona Halep held it for 64 weeks.
2017: US Open Series
In 2017, Venus Williams competed in the US Open Series, reaching the second week of all majors in a single season for the first time since 2010, and reached the second week of seven consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. She lost in the semi-finals of the US Open to Sloane Stephens.
2017: First top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals
In 2017, Venus Williams had her first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals.
2017: Major Final Appearances
In 2017, Venus Williams had two major final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
2017: 2017 Season Highlights: Australian Open Final and WTA Success
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Australian Open final, losing to her sister Serena. This marked a 20-year span between Grand Slam singles final appearances. She had success at the Indian Wells Open, securing her first win there since 2001. She also achieved her first top-ten win since 2015 at the Miami Open, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2010.
2017: Wimbledon 2017: Reaching the Final
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Garbiñe Muguruza. She reached the quarterfinals for the 13th time and marked her 100th career match at Wimbledon. This was also the first season since 2003 that Williams reached two slam finals.
2017: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2017, Venus Williams was again the season prize money leader.
2017: Longest Time Between Major Finals
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: Parted ways with coach David Witt
At the end of the 2018 season, Venus Williams parted ways with her long-time coach David Witt.
2018: 2018 US Open and Season Conclusion
In 2018 at the US Open, Venus Williams suffered a lopsided loss to her sister Serena in the third round. She withdrew from the Wuhan Open and China Open, citing physical readiness issues, and also pulled out of the Luxembourg Open due to a knee injury. She finished the season ranked No. 40.
2018: Caroline Wozniacki's ranking
In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 71 weeks.
2018: 2018 Season Start and Australian Open Performance
In 2018, Venus Williams began her season at the Sydney International, losing to Angelique Kerber in the second round. As the fifth seed at the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to Belinda Bencic, ending her streak of seven consecutive appearances in the second week of Grand Slams.
2019: Seasons with Washington Kastles
From 2010 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019, Venus Williams played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis, winning four King Trophies in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.
2019: Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, and Ashleigh Barty's ranking
In 2019, Simona Halep held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 64 weeks, Naomi Osaka held it for 25 weeks, and Ashleigh Barty held it for 121 weeks.
2019: 2019 Season Start
In 2019, Venus Williams began her season with an exhibition match against Serena at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. She then played in the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she was seeded sixth and lost in the quarterfinals to Bianca Andreescu. At the Australian Open, she lost to Simona Halep in the third round.
2019: Serena Surpasses Record
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 (a record later surpassed by her sister Serena at the 2019 US Open).
August 2020: WTA Rankings drop
Following the Western & Southern Open tournament in August 2020, Venus Williams dropped to No. 67 in the WTA rankings.
2020: Withdrawals from Brisbane and Adelaide International
In 2020, Venus Williams was scheduled to start her season at the Brisbane International but withdrew before the tournament began. She also had to withdraw from the Adelaide International.
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 Record
At the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams extended her record as the all-time leader, male or female, in Grand Slam tournaments played, with 90.
2021: Yarra Valley Classic and Australian Open
In 2021, Venus Williams started the season at the Yarra Valley Classic, defeating Arantxa Rus before losing to Petra Kvitová. She also reached the second round of the Australian Open in 2021.
March 2022: Career Prize Money Winnings
As of March 2022, Venus Williams had earned over US$42 million in career prize money winnings.
2022: Ashleigh Barty and Iga Świątek's ranking
In 2022, Ashleigh Barty held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 121 weeks and Iga Świątek held it for 125 weeks.
2022: US Open and Serena's Retirement
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 due to Serena's retirement. Their first round match was the first doubles match in history to be given the nighttime slot on Center Court.
2023: Aryna Sabalenka's ranking
In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 37 weeks.
2023: Year-End Ranking
In 2023, Venus Williams ended the season ranked No. 412 in the world.
2023: Injuries and Wimbledon Loss
In 2023, Venus Williams lost in the first round at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships. She won her first match as a 43-year-old at the Birmingham Classic, marking her first victory over a top 50 player in almost four years. She later lost in the second round and received a medical timeout due to injuries. At the 2023 Wimbledon, she lost in the first round and suffered a serious knee injury, expressing frustration with her improving form being affected by injuries.
2023: Injury and Withdrawal from Australian Open
In 2023, Venus Williams received a wildcard for the Auckland Open and won her first match. She then withdrew from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained during her second round match in Auckland, causing her to miss the rest of the hard court swing and the clay season.
2024: Iga Świątek's ranking
In 2024, Iga Świątek held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 125 weeks.
2025: Aryna Sabalenka's ranking
In 2025, Aryna Sabalenka held the number one ranking in women's tennis for 37 weeks.
2025: Indian Wells Wildcard
In 2025, Venus Williams received a main-draw wildcard for Indian Wells, but turned it down.
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