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 titles. Furthermore, she secured a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In doubles, Williams has claimed 22 titles, which include 14 major titles and three Olympic gold medals, underscoring her dominance in both singles and doubles tennis.
October 31, 1994: Turned Professional
On October 31, 1994, Venus Williams turned professional at the age of 14, defeating Shaun Stafford in the first round of the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland.
1994: Turned Professional
In 1994, Venus Williams turned professional as a tennis player.
1994: Grand Slam Matches
In 2011, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match. This ended her record of most Grand Slam matches without ever retiring since 1994, with 250 consecutive matches.
1995: Wildcard Tournament Appearances
In 1995, Venus Williams played three more events as a wildcard, reaching the quarterfinals in Oakland after defeating Amy Frazier.
1995: Endorsement deal with Reebok and use of Wilson racket
In 1995, at the age of 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: Tournament Appearances
In 1996, Venus Williams played five events, reaching the third round in Los Angeles before losing to Steffi Graf.
April 14, 1997: Top 100 Ranking
On April 14, 1997, Venus Williams was first ranked in the top 100.
1997: Wimbledon Loss
At Wimbledon in 2012, Venus Williams lost to Elena Vesnina in the first round, her first opening round loss at Wimbledon since her debut in 1997.
1997: US Open Debut and Controversy
During her 1997 US Open debut, Venus Williams collided with Irina Spîrlea in a semifinal match, leading to accusations of racism after the match. She eventually lost to Martina Hingis in the final.
1997: Lowest Ranking Since Turning Pro
In 1997, Venus Williams began to play on the WTA Tour full-time. In 2006, she ended the season ranked No. 46, her lowest finish since she began to play on the WTA Tour full-time in 1997. It was the second consecutive year she finished higher than her sister Serena, who finished the year at No. 95.
1997: Early Exit from Wimbledon
In 1997, Venus Williams had her first early exit from Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals.
1997: First Major Final
In 1997, at the age of 17, Venus Williams reached her first major final at the US Open.
1997: Ranking
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.
March 30, 1998: Highest World Ranking Achieved
On March 30, 1998, Venus Williams achieved her highest world ranking yet, at No. 10.
July 27, 1998: World Ranking Rise to No. 5
On July 27, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking rose to world No. 5.
1998: Quarterfinals of All Majors
In 1998, Venus Williams reached at least the quarterfinals of all majors for the first time.
1998: Mixed Doubles Titles and Women's Doubles Titles
In 1998, Venus Williams teamed with Justin Gimelstob to win the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and the French Open. She also won her first two women's doubles titles with her sister Serena.
1998: Grand Slam Cup Win and Knee Tendonitis
In 1998, Venus Williams won her third title of the year at the Grand Slam Cup in Munich. She withdrew from the WTA Tour Championships due to tendonitis in her knee, finishing the year ranked No. 5.
August 30, 1999: World Ranking Reached Third
On August 30, 1999, Venus Williams' world ranking reached third for the first time.
2000: Won Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles at Sydney Olympics
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Venus Williams became the second player to win Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles at one Olympic Games.
2000: Wimbledon and US Open Titles and Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles, as well as Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Missed Months Due to Injury
In 2000, Venus Williams missed the first five months of the year with tendinitis in both wrists.
2000: Loss to Lindsay Davenport
In 2000, Venus Williams was beaten by Lindsay Davenport for the first time since 2000 at the Stanford Classic in California.
2000: Sydney Olympics Gold Medal
In 2000, Venus Williams won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2000, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles with Serena.
2000: US Open Win and Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams won the US Open and a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics. She finished the year ranked world No. 3.
2001: First win at Indian Wells since 2001
At the Indian Wells Open in 2017, Venus came back from a set down and saved three match points in the second round to defeat Jelena Janković. This was her first win at Indian Wells since 2001.
2001: Wimbledon and US Open Titles
In 2001, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles.
2001: Year-End Ranking
In 2001, Venus Williams finished a year ranked higher than her sister Serena Williams.
2001: US Open Win and Other Tournament Victories
In 2001, Venus Williams had a successful year, winning tournaments in San Diego and New Haven for the second consecutive year. She also secured her second consecutive US Open singles title without dropping a set, defeating Clijsters, Capriati, and her sister Serena in the final. She became the sixth woman to win both Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.
2001: Australian Open Semifinals and Doubles Title
In 2001, Venus Williams reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time and won the doubles title with her sister, 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: Wimbledon Championship Win
In 2001, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon Championships, defeating Sharapova in the semifinals and Davenport in the final. 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: Defeating Serena in a Grand Slam Final
In 2008, Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena in a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2001. She reached her seventh Wimbledon singles final, winning her fifth Wimbledon singles title.
2001: Return to Indian Wells After Boycott Since 2001
In 2016, Venus Williams returned to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years after boycotting the tournament in 2001.
2001: Victory Over Serena and Semifinal Loss
In March 2001, at the Miami Open, Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001 but lost in the semifinals to Sharapova. She later won the İstanbul Cup but lost in the third round of the French Open.
February 25, 2002: First African-American Woman World No. 1
On February 25, 2002, Venus Williams reached the singles world No. 1 ranking, becoming the first African-American woman to do so in the Open era.
2002: Ascension to World No. 1 and Tournament Wins
In 2002, Venus Williams started strongly, winning the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts and later the Open Gaz de France and the Proximus Diamond Games. On February 25, 2002, she achieved the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position. However, she held it for only three weeks.
2002: Victories in San Diego and New Haven, US Open Final Appearance
In 2002, Venus Williams won titles in San Diego and New Haven for the third consecutive year. At the US Open in 2002, she reached the final but lost to her sister Serena, marking their third consecutive Grand Slam final. She finished the year ranked No. 2, having won seven titles.
2002: Leading head-to-head matches with Serena
In 2009, Venus Williams's win over Serena Williams at the Dubai Tennis Championships meant that Williams led the head-to-head in career matches with her sister for the first time since 2002.
2002: Ended Year in Top 5
Venus Williams ended the year of 2010 ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002.
May 2003: Williams Sisters Occupy Top 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 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. She then suffered from injuries.
2003: Williams Sisters Not Competing
Due to injury in 2011, Venus Williams missed the clay court season. 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: Australian Open Quarterfinal Win
In 2003, Venus Williams defeated Daniela Hantuchová at the Australian Open. In 2017, she achieved her 50th win at the Australian Open, marking the first time she won a quarterfinal match in Melbourne since defeating Hantuchová in 2003.
2003: Australian Open Final and Doubles Title
In 2003, Venus Williams reached the Australian Open final for the first time but lost to her sister Serena. They teamed up to win the women's doubles title, their sixth Grand Slam title together.
2003: First Major Semifinal Outside Wimbledon
In 2007, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open.
2003: US Open Performance
In 2008, Venus Williams had some of her best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003.
2003: First Grand Slam Doubles Title Since 2003
In 2008, Venus and Serena Williams teamed to win the women's doubles title, their first Grand Slam doubles title together since 2003.
2003: Two Slam Finals in a Season
In 2017, Venus Williams reached two slam finals, marking the first season since 2003 that she had achieved this.
2004: US Open 2004
At the 2018 US Open, Venus Williams defeated 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova en route to a third round encounter.
2004: Inconsistent Results and Early Losses
In 2004, Venus Williams experienced inconsistent results, losing in the third round of the Australian Open and in the quarterfinals of her next three tournaments.
2004: Olympics and US Open Performance
In 2004, Venus Williams lost in the third round of the Athens Olympics and in the fourth round of the US Open, marking the first time she had lost at the US Open prior to the semifinals. She finished the year ranked No. 9.
2004: Retirement From A Match
In 2011, at the Australian Open, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match. This was her first retirement from a match since LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles in 2004, ending her 294 consecutive matches without retiring.
2005: Record as Lowest-Seeded Wimbledon Champion
Due to past results at Wimbledon, Venus Williams was seeded 23rd at the tournament due to her past results at Wimbledon in 2007. Williams advanced to reach her sixth Wimbledon final, where she won, becoming the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history, breaking the record she herself set in 2005.
2005: Australian Open Loss and Antwerp Final
In 2005, Venus Williams lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open and reached the final in Antwerp, where she lost to Mauresmo after being a set and a break up.
2005: Played a season with the Delaware Smash
In 2005, Venus Williams played a season with the Delaware Smash in the World TeamTennis.
2005: Final in Stanford, US Open Performance
In 2005, Venus Williams reached the final in Stanford but lost to Clijsters. At the US Open in 2005, she defeated her sister Serena but lost in the quarterfinals to Clijsters. She finished the year ranked No. 10.
2005: Advocacy for Equal Prize Money
In 2005, despite ongoing protests led by Billie Jean King and others, the French Open and Wimbledon still did not offer equal prize money to women and men in all rounds. That year, Venus Williams engaged in private meetings with officials from both tournaments, advocating for complete equal prize money.
2005: Most Recent Singles Title
In 2007, after having missed the Australian Open, Venus won the Cellular South Cup, her first singles title since her victory at Wimbledon in 2005.
2005: Meeting Serena
In 2008, Venus Williams met her sister Serena for the first time since 2005.
2005: First clay title since 2005
In 2009, Venus Williams won the Abierto Mexicano, marking her first title on clay since 2005.
2006: Grand Slam Loss
At Wimbledon in 2012, Venus Williams lost to Elena Vesnina in the first round, the first time Venus Williams lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
2006: Injury Struggles
Between 2003 and 2006, Venus Williams struggled with injuries, winning just one major title.
2006: Played with the Philadelphia Freedoms and won first King Trophy
In 2006, Venus Williams played with the Philadelphia Freedoms and claimed her first King Trophy in World TeamTennis.
2006: Essay in The Times
In 2006, Venus Williams published an essay in The Times on the eve of Wimbledon, accusing the tournament of being on the "wrong side of history" regarding equal prize money. This essay gained public support from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and members of Parliament.
2006: Early Loss at Australian Open and Wrist 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 reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.
February 2007: Wimbledon Announces Equal Prize Money
In February 2007, under immense pressure, Wimbledon announced that it would award equal prize money to all competitors in all rounds, with the French Open following suit a day later. The Chicago Sun-Times credited Venus Williams as "the single factor" that changed the minds of the officials.
2007: First Woman to Benefit from Equal Prize Money at Wimbledon
In 2007, Venus Williams became the first woman to benefit from the new equal prize money policy at Wimbledon. She won the tournament and was awarded the same amount as the men's champion, Roger Federer.
2007: Launched EleVen Fashion Line with Steve & Barry's
In 2007, Venus Williams partnered with retailer Steve & Barry's to launch her own fashion line, EleVen. She expressed her excitement about using her design education to create clothing and footwear for both on and off the tennis court.
2007: US Open Semifinal and Other Tournament Performances
In 2007, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open. She also won the Korea Open in Seoul but lost in the final of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. She qualified for the WTA Championships but withdrew due to anemia.
2007: Wimbledon Win
In 2007, Venus Williams returned to form, winning Wimbledon.
2007: Return from Injury and Memphis Title
In 2007, Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open due to a wrist injury but returned in February to win the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, her first singles title since her victory at Wimbledon in 2005.
2007: Wimbledon Straight Sets Streak
Venus Williams advanced to her eighth Wimbledon final in 2007, holding a 34-straight set record that was held since Wimbledon 2007.
2008: Played with the Philadelphia Freedoms
In 2008, Venus Williams continued to play with the Philadelphia Freedoms in World TeamTennis.
2008: End-of-Year Successes
In 2008, Venus Williams defeated Dinara Safina at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, won the Zurich Open, and won the year-ending WTA Tour Championships in Doha. She ended the year ranked No. 6 with three titles.
2008: Beijing Olympics and US Open Performance
In 2008, Venus Williams lost in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympics but earned a gold medal in women's doubles with her sister Serena. She also reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, losing to Serena.
2008: Australian Open Quarterfinal and Bangalore Open Semifinal
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003. She also made her first semifinal of the year at the Bangalore Open in India, where she met her sister Serena for the first time since 2005.
2008: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2008, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles with Serena.
2008: WTA Tour Championships Win
In 2008, Venus Williams won the WTA Tour Championships.
2008: Wimbledon Championships Final Victory Against Serena
In 2018 at the Indian Wells Open, Venus defeated Serena for the 12th time in her career, marking her first straight sets victory against her since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final almost a decade earlier.
August 2009: Minority Owner of the 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 hold ownership in an NFL franchise.
2009: US Open Doubles Title
At the 2009 US Open, Venus Williams reached the fourth round in singles and won the doubles title with Serena Williams.
2009: First Wimbledon Semifinal Since 2009
At the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams reached her first Wimbledon semifinal since 2009.
2009: Year-End Ranking
In 2009, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Serena Williams.
2009: Australian Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, Abierto Mexicano wins and top five ranking
In 2009, Venus Williams lost in the second round of the Australian Open but won the women's doubles title with her sister Serena. She then won the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Serena in the semifinals, and the Abierto Mexicano, marking her first clay title since 2005. These wins placed her in the top five ranking for the first time since 2003.
2009: Tour Championship Results
In 2009, Venus Williams participated in the year-ending Tour Championships, where she advanced to the semifinal in singles, losing to Serena. In doubles, she and Serena lost in the semifinal.
2009: First Meeting Since 2009 WTA Tour Championships
In 2009, Venus Williams reached the semifinals in Charleston, where she lost to her sister Serena in two sets. This was their first meeting since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships.
2009: First Victory Over Serena Since 2009 Wimbledon Championships
In 2014, the text mentions the victory over reigning No. 1 Serena Williams in the Rogers Cup which was her first win against her sister since the 2009 Wimbledon Championships.
2009: WTA Finals Runner-Up
In 2017, Venus Williams advanced to her first final at the year-end WTA championships since 2009, where she finished runner-up to sister Serena Williams.
2009: Wimbledon 2009 Grand Slam Final
Venus Williams advanced to her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009 at the 2017 Australian Open.
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: Released "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", co-written with Kelly E. Carter. She promoted the book with a nationwide tour and appearances on shows like The Early Show and Good Morning America.
2010: First Major Semifinal Since 2010 US Open
At the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal since the 2010 US Open.
2010: Injury and Year-End Ranking
Due to a left knee injury in 2010, Venus Williams missed the rest of the tournaments, ending the year ranked fifth in singles and 11th in doubles.
2010: US Open Semifinal and Grand Slam Performance
In 2010, Venus Williams reached the US Open semifinal. She also became one of two women to reach at least the fourth round at all four Grand Slam singles tournaments in 2010.
2010: Return to World No. 2 and Injuries
In 2010, Venus Williams returned to the world No. 2 position in singles but then suffered again from injuries.
2010: Started playing with the Washington Kastles
In 2010, Venus Williams started playing with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2010: Seeded in top ten in all four Grand Slam tournaments
In 2010, Venus Williams was seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments. At the 2016 US Open she repeated this achievement, marking the first time since 2010 that she achieved this.
2010: Madrid Open Win
In 2010, the text mentions the Madrid Open win which is the biggest title of Venus Williams since 2010.
2010: Doubles Competition
In 2012, Venus Williams competed in doubles with sister Serena in Wimbledon. In just the pair's first tournament since 2010 Wimbledon, they advanced to the final and won.
2010: Top 20 Finish Since 2010
In 2014, the text mentions the year 2010, which is the first finish since then inside the top 20.
2010: Grand Slam Quarterfinal Since 2010 US Open
In 2015, the text mentions making it to the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam championship for the first time since the 2010 US Open.
2010: Fourth Round at French Open Since 2010
In 2016, Venus Williams reached the fourth round of the French Open for the first time since 2010.
2010: Reached the Second Week of all Majors
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the second week of all majors in a single season for the first time since 2010.
2010: WTA Finals Qualification
On September 26, 2017, Venus Williams qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010. She progressed to the semifinals, avenging her loss to Garbiñe Muguruza in the Wimbledon final.
January 2011: Return to WTA Top Five
In 2017 at the US Open, Venus Williams guaranteed her return to the top five in the WTA rankings at the conclusion of the tournament for the first time since January 2011.
2011: Wimbledon Championships
At the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams was seeded 23rd. She won against Kimiko Date-Krumm in the second round. She was then defeated by Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round.
2011: Won trophy with the Washington Kastles
In 2011, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2011: Historical Match Record
In 2011, a record was matched by Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic who met in Wimbledon 2011 final through the French Open 2012 final. The Williams sisters also met in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
2011: Top Ten Finish Since 2011
In 2015, the text mentions re-entering the top ten for the first time since 2011.
2011: Second Week of a Grand Slam Tournament Since 2011 Wimbledon Championships
In 2015, the text mentions reaching the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
2011: Highest Ranking Since Sjögren's Syndrome Diagnosis in 2011
In 2016, Venus Williams's result at the Stanford Classic led to her ascending to No. 6 in the rankings, which was her highest position since being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome in 2011.
2011: First Tournament Since 2011 Australian Open
In 2016, the text mentions Venus Williams's first tournament since the 2011 Australian Open.
2012: Earliest Wimbledon Exit
At Wimbledon in 2019, Venus Williams lost to Coco Gauff in the first round, matching 2012 as her earliest Wimbledon exit.
2012: London Olympics Achievements
At the 2012 London Olympics, Venus Williams reached the third round in singles and won her third gold medal in doubles with Serena, becoming the tennis players with the most Olympic gold medals.
2012: First Major Final Since 2012
At the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, Venus and Serena Williams advanced to their first major final since 2012 and won their 14th major title together.
2012: Won trophy with the Washington Kastles and named WTT Final MVP
In 2012, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles and was named the WTT Final MVP for her efforts in World TeamTennis.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2012, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles with Serena.
2012: EleVen Debuts at New York Fashion Week
In 2012, Venus Williams's EleVen fashion line debuted during New York Fashion Week. The show featured athletes as models, showcasing the line's designs for the intended demographic.
2012: Designed the Set of the Tavis Smiley Show
In 2012, Venus Williams's interior design firm, V Starr Interiors, designed the set of the Tavis Smiley Show on the Public Broadcasting Service.
2012: Historical Match Record
In 2012, the Williams sisters' record of playing four consecutive Grand Slam finals was matched by Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic who met in Wimbledon 2011 final through the French Open 2012 final.
2012: Italian Open Quarterfinal
In 2017, Venus Williams made her European clay-court debut at the Italian Open where she reached her first quarterfinal in Rome since 2012, ultimately losing to Garbiñe Muguruza.
2013: 2013 Season Tournaments
In 2013, Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Roger's Cup to Kirsten Flipkens. At the Western and Southern Open, she won against Jana Čepelová but lost to Elena Vesnina. At the 2013 US Open, she defeated Kirsten Flipkens but was defeated by Zheng Jie. She reached the semifinals in doubles with Serena Williams. She reached the quarter finals of the Pan Pacific Open, but lost in the semi-finals. Venus participated in the 2013 China Open and the Kremlin Cup, withdrawing from the latter due to injury.
2013: 2013 Season Events and Injury
In 2013, Venus Williams participated in Fed Cup, securing a 3–2 victory for the United States over Sweden. She withdrew from the Madrid Open before her first match. She lost in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome and the French Open. She also withdrew from the 2013 Wimbledon Championships due to a back injury, marking the first time she missed Wimbledon in her career.
2013: Hopman Cup
In 2013, at the Hopman Cup, Venus Williams beat Chanelle Scheepers. Alongside John Isner, they defeated the South African pair Scheepers and Kevin Anderson. They also won against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mathilde Johansson. Next she faced Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and won in two sets.
2014: 2014 US Open Series and Victories
In 2014, Venus Williams competed in the US Open Series, including the Standord Classic where she defeated Victoria Azarenka, the Rogers Cup where she defeated Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams, and the Cincinnati Open where she lost to Lucie Šafářová. At the 2014 US Open, she reached the third round.
2014: Bell Challenge and Wuhan Open
In 2014, Venus Williams played at the Bell Challenge in Quebec, reaching the final but losing to Mirjana Lučić-Baroni. She also played at the Wuhan Open, where she lost in the first round, and at the China Open, where she withdrew before the third round. She ended the year ranked No. 19.
2014: Won trophy with the Washington Kastles
In 2014, Venus Williams won a King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2014: First Grand Slam Doubles Match Win Since 2014 US Open
In 2016, the text mentions that Venus Williams also 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.
2015: Serena Entered Indian Wells Tournament
In 2015, Serena Williams entered the Indian Wells tournament after a 14-year absence due to a controversy. Venus also did not participate due to the events that occurred in 2001.
2015: 2015 US Open Series and US Open
In 2015, Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Rogers Cup and withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to a virus. At the 2015 US Open, she reached the quarterfinals, losing to her sister Serena Williams.
2015: 46th Career Singles Title
In 2015, Venus Williams won her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open, defeating Caroline Wozniacki. She also reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, for the first time since the 2010 US Open.
2015: Won fourth trophy with the Washington Kastles
In 2015, Venus Williams won her fourth King Trophy with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2016: Won 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.
2016: US Open Major Appearances Record
In 2016 at the US Open, Venus Williams surpassed Amy Frazier's record with the most major appearances at 71. It was also the first time since 2010 that she was seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments that year. She reached the fourth round, where she lost to Karolína Plíšková.
2016: Rio Summer Olympics
In 2016, Venus Williams competed at the Rio Summer Olympics. She failed to win a medal in either the singles or doubles events, losing in the first round of both. However, partnering with Rajeev Ram, she won a silver medal in mixed doubles, making her the only female player besides Kathleen McKane Godfree to win a medal in all three events. She now shares the record for most Olympic medals won in tennis with Godfree, with a total of five medals.
2016: Olympic Mixed Doubles Silver
In 2016, Venus Williams won a mixed doubles silver medal at the Olympics.
2017: 2017 Season Highlights
In 2017, Venus Williams began her season in Auckland but withdrew due to a right arm pain. She reached the Australian Open final, losing to her sister Serena. She achieved her first win at Indian Wells since 2001. Williams reached the Wimbledon final but lost to Garbiñe Muguruza. Venus also scored her first top-ten win since 2015, against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of the Miami Open. She defeated No. 1 Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals, becoming the oldest player to beat a current No. 1.
2017: Played with the Washington Kastles
In 2017, Venus Williams continued playing with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2017: Major Final Appearances
In 2017, Venus Williams had two major final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships.
2017: US Open Series & US Open
In 2017, Venus Williams participated in the US Open Series, reaching the third round of the Canadian Open and the second round of the Cincinnati Open. She then reached the US Open semifinal, losing to Sloane Stephens. This marked her return to the top five in the WTA rankings for the first time since January 2011.
2017: Wimbledon Quarterfinal & Final Appearance
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 13th time in her career and lost the final in straight sets to Garbiñe Muguruza.
2017: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2017, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader again.
2017: Grand Slam Quarterfinal Since 2017
In 2025, Venus Williams lost in the first round at Cincinnati Open and US Open. She reached her first grandslam quarterfinal since 2017 in women's doubles alongside Leylah Fernandez.
2017: First top five win since 2017 WTA Finals
Ranked 36th at Indian Wells, in 2019, Williams defeated the third seed Petra Kvitová in the second round. This was Williams's first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals.
2017: Claimed record for the longest time between major singles 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: 2018 US Open and Season End
At the 2018 US Open, Venus Williams lost to Serena in the third round. She then withdrew from the Wuhan Open and China Open due to physical readiness issues, and from the Luxembourg Open due to a knee injury. She finished the season ranked No. 40.
2018: 2018 Season Start and Australian Open
In 2018, Venus Williams started her season at the Sydney International where she lost in the second round to Angelique Kerber. As the defending finalist at the Australian Open, Williams lost in the first round to Belinda Bencic, ending her streak of seven consecutive appearances in the second week of the Grand Slams.
2018: Parting ways with David Witt
Venus Williams ended her long-term coaching relationship with David Witt at the end of the 2018 season.
2019: Played with the Washington Kastles
In 2019, Venus Williams continued playing with the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2019: Record of longest time between major singles finals appearances surpassed by Serena
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.
2019: 2019 Season Start and Australian Open
Venus Williams started the 2019 season with an exhibition match against Serena. She played in the ASB Classic in Auckland, losing in the quarterfinals to Bianca Andreescu. At the Australian Open, she lost to Simona Halep in the third round.
August 31, 2020: WTA Ranking Drop
Following the Western & Southern Open tournament, Venus Williams dropped to No. 67 in the WTA August 31, 2020, rankings.
2020: Joined the Washington Kastles for the 2020 WTT season
In 2020, it was announced that Venus Williams would be joining the Washington Kastles during the 2020 WTT season set to begin July 12 at The Greenbrier.
2021: Competed in 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. She had a five-match losing streak, leading to her lowest ranking since 2011.
2022: Competed in the US Open
In 2022, Venus Williams received a wildcard for the US Open, losing in the first round to Alison Van Uytvanck. She also played doubles with Serena, marking their final Grand Slam tournament match as a pair.
2023: Injury-Plagued Season
Despite her injury-plagued season in 2023, Venus Williams announced her intention to return to action in March 2024.
2023: Competition and Injury at Rosmalen, Birmingham, and Wimbledon
In 2023, Venus Williams received a wildcard at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships, losing in the first round. She won her first match as a 43-year-old at the Birmingham Classic, defeating Camilla Giorgi, but lost in the second round to Jelena Ostapenko. At Wimbledon, she lost to Elina Svitolina, suffering a serious knee injury and expressing frustration at her form being affected by injuries.
2023: Injury and Withdrawal from Australian Open
In 2023, Venus Williams received a wildcard for the Auckland Open and then the Australian Open, but was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open after sustaining an injury in her second round match against Lin in Auckland. This injury caused her to miss the rest of the hard court swing and the clay season.
2023: Year-End Ranking
Venus Williams ended the 2023 season ranked No. 412 in the world.
May 2025: Denies Retirement at Met Gala
While attending the Met Gala in May 2025, Venus Williams denied that she has retired and said that she will 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 in career prize money winnings, ranking fourth all-time.
2025: Lost in the opening round in mixed doubles
In 2025, Venus Williams lost in the first round at Cincinnati Open and US Open. She also lost in the opening round in mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka
2026: Extended record at Australian Open
At the 2026 Australian Open, Venus Williams extended her record as the all-time leader in Grand Slam singles tournaments played, with her 95th appearance.
2026: Elimination from Auckland Open and Hobart International
In 2026, Venus Williams received a wildcard to the Auckland Open but was eliminated in the first round by Magda Linette. She was also a wildcard entry to the Hobart International and was eliminated in the first round by Tatjana Maria. Their combined ages set a record for the highest combined age of a match in the history of the WTA Tour.
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