Challenges Faced by Venus Williams: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Venus Williams's life and career.

Venus Williams is an American tennis player who has achieved world No. 1 rankings in both singles and doubles. She has secured 49 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including seven Grand Slam titles, and an Olympic gold medal in singles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In doubles, she has won 22 titles, including 16 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1994: First Grand Slam Retirement Since 1994

At the 2011 Australian Open, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match, ending her record of most Grand Slam matches without ever retiring since 1994.

1997: Venus Williams exits Wimbledon early

In 1997, Venus Williams lost a controversial second-round match at Wimbledon to Karolina Šprem, marking the first time since 1997 that she had exited Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals.

2000: Missed first five months with tendinitis

In 2000, Venus Williams missed the first five months of the year with tendinitis in both wrists. She returned to the tour during the European clay court season.

2000: Venus Williams loses to Davenport at Stanford Classic

In 2000, after Wimbledon, Venus Williams reached her fourth final of the year at the Stanford Classic in California, where she was defeated by Lindsay Davenport for the first time since 2000.

2003: Injuries

Between 2003 and 2006, Venus Williams suffered from injuries, winning just one major title.

2003: Missing First Grand Slam Since 2003

Due to injury, Venus Williams missed the clay court season and the 2011 French Open, marking the first Grand Slam tournament since the 2003 US Open where neither she nor her sister Serena were competing.

2003: Death of Yetunde Price

In 2003, Yetunde Price, Venus and Serena Williams's 31-year-old sister and their personal assistant, was shot dead in Compton, California.

2004: First Match Retirement Since 2004

At the 2011 Australian Open, Venus Williams's retirement from a match was her first since LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles in 2004.

2004: Venus Williams's inconsistent results in early 2004

In 2004, Venus Williams returned to the tour but experienced inconsistent results. She reached the third round of the Australian Open and then lost in the quarterfinals of her next three tournaments.

2004: Venus Williams at the Athens Olympics and US Open 2004

In 2004, as the defending champion at the Athens Olympics, Venus Williams lost in the third round to Mary Pierce. She then lost in the fourth round of the 2004 US Open to Davenport, marking her first loss at the US Open prior to the semifinals. She finished the year ranked No. 9 and did not qualify for the year-ending WTA Tour Championships.

2005: Venus Williams's performance at the Australian Open and Antwerp

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 in the final after leading by a set and a break.

2006: First Round Loss at Grand Slam

At Wimbledon 2012, Venus Williams lost to Elena Vesnina in the first round, marking her first first-round loss at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.

2006: Injuries

Between 2003 and 2006, Venus Williams suffered from injuries, winning just one major title.

2006: Venus Williams's early exit at the Australian Open and injury recovery

In 2006, Venus Williams was upset in the first round of the Australian Open by Tsvetana Pironkova, marking her earliest loss ever at that tournament. She then took a three-month break due to a wrist injury, returning in late April at the clay court tournament in Warsaw.

2006: Venus Williams loses at Wimbledon

In 2006, Venus Williams, as the defending champion at Wimbledon, lost in the third round to Jelena Janković. She also suffered from a wrist injury, causing her to miss the US Open Series and the US Open. Venus finished the season ranked No. 46, her lowest since 1997, but still higher than her sister Serena.

2007: Venus Williams's performance at the US Open and other tournaments

In 2007, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open, where she lost to Justine Henin. She then won the Korea Open in Seoul and lost in the final of the Japan Open. Venus qualified for the year-ending WTA Championships but withdrew due to anemia.

2010: Ending Year Ranked Fifth in Singles

Due to a left knee injury, Venus Williams missed the rest of 2010. However, she ended the year ranked fifth in singles, marking the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002.

2010: Returned to world No. 2

In 2010, Venus Williams returned to the world No. 2 position in singles, but then suffered again from injuries.

2011: Sjögren's Syndrome Diagnosis

In 2011, Venus Williams was forced to withdraw from the US Open before her second-round match following a Sjögren's syndrome diagnosis. After the diagnosis, she adopted a vegan diet and reduced her intake of calories and sugars.

2011: Diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome

In 2011, Venus Williams withdrew from the US Open after being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome, an autoimmune disease. This marked the first time in her career that she did not reach the quarterfinals or better in any of the Grand Slam tournaments in a season, causing her ranking to drop to one-hundred and five.

2011: Lowest Ranking Since 2011

In 2021, Venus Williams' ranking dropped out of the top 100 in May, which was her lowest ranking since 2011.

2013: 2013 Season Performance and Injury

In 2013, Venus Williams had mixed results, including a first-round loss at the Roger's Cup, a second-round loss at the Western and Southern Open, and a third-round loss at the US Open. She reached the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open. She withdrew from the Kremlin Cup due to injury, ending her 2013 season.

2016: Rio Summer Olympics

In 2016, Venus Williams' performance at the Rio Summer Olympics marked her worst Olympic exits, as she failed to medal in both singles and doubles, falling in the first round of both events. However, she won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram, 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 won in tennis with Godfree.

June 9, 2017: Car Collision

On June 9, 2017, Venus Williams was involved in a car collision in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man and injury to another person.

December 21, 2017: Authorities Determine Cause of Crash

On December 21, 2017, authorities determined that the car crash on June 9, 2017, involving Venus Williams was caused by an unidentified third driver, clearing her of fault.

2021: 2021 Season

In 2021, Venus Williams started the season at the Yarra Valley Classic, where she won against Arantxa Rus, but lost to Petra Kvitová. She also reached the second round of the Australian Open. After a five-match losing streak, her ranking dropped out of the top 100 in May. She lost in the first round of the French Open to Ekaterina Alexandrova. At Wimbledon, after receiving a wildcard entry, she won her first round match against Mihaela Buzărnescu. This marked her record breaking 90th Grand Slam appearance and her 90th match win at Wimbledon.

2023: Injury-Plagued Season in 2023

Despite an injury-plagued season, in 2023 Venus Williams announced her intention to return to action.

2023: 2023 Season Struggles

In 2023, Venus Williams received a wildcard at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships but lost in the first round. She won her first match as a 43-year-old at the Birmingham Classic, defeating Camilla Giorgi, marking her first victory over a top 50 player in almost four years. However, she lost in the second round and suffered a knee injury at Wimbledon, expressing frustration over the impact of injuries on her form.

2023: Injury and Withdrawal from Australian Open 2023

In 2023, Venus Williams received a wildcard for the Auckland Open and won her first-round match. However, she lost in the second round and later withdrew from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained in Auckland, causing her to miss the rest of the hard court swing and the clay season.

March 2024: Return to Action

In March 2024, despite injuries that forced her to miss the Australian Summer hardcourt swing, Venus Williams announced her intention to participate in the US hardcourt tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. She lost in the first round of both tournaments.