History of Venus Williams in Timeline
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.
2 days ago : Venus Williams and Roland Garros 2025: Watch live on TNT, truTV & Max.
Venus Williams is participating in Roland Garros 2025. TNT Sports will provide comprehensive live coverage of the French Open on TNT, truTV, and Max starting May 25th.
1975: Chris Evert
In 1975, Chris Evert held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
1976: Evonne Goolagong
In 1976, Evonne Goolagong held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis for 2 weeks.
1978: Martina Navratilova
In 1978, Martina Navratilova held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
June 17, 1980: Venus Williams Birth
On June 17, 1980, Venus Ebony Starr Williams was born. She is an American inactive tennis player.
1980: Tracy Austin
In 1980, Tracy Austin held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis for 22 weeks.
1985: Chris Evert
In 1985, Chris Evert held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
1987: Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf
In 1987, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
1991: Monica Seles
In 1991, Monica Seles held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
October 31, 1994: Turned Professional
On October 31, 1994, Venus Williams turned professional at the age of 14. In the first round of her first professional tournament, the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland, Venus defeated former NCAA singles champion Shaun Stafford.
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.
1994: Turned Professional
In 1994, Venus Williams turned professional in tennis.
1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
In 1995, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis for 12 weeks.
1995: Pulled out of Macci's academy
In 1995, Richard pulled his daughters out of Macci's academy and took over all coaching.
1995: Wildcard entries
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, when she was 14, Venus Williams signed an endorsement deal with Reebok, wearing their apparel and shoes, and used a Wilson Hammer 6.2 Stretch racket.
1996: Monica Seles
In 1996, Monica Seles held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
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, before losing to No. 1 Steffi Graf.
April 14, 1997: Top 100 ranking
On April 14, 1997, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 100.
1997: Unseeded at Wimbledon
At Wimbledon 2012, Venus Williams was unseeded for the first time since 1997.
1997: US Open Final Loss and Controversy
During her debut at the 1997 US Open, Venus Williams lost the final to Martina Hingis, after defeating Irina Spîrlea in a semifinal in which Spîrlea and Williams collided during a changeover. Her father claimed the incident was racially motivated.
1997: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis
In 1997, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
1997: Venus Williams lowest ranking
In 1997, Venus Williams began to play on the WTA Tour full-time, leading to a 2006 season where she finished with her lowest ranking since turning pro.
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.
1997: Longest Span Between Grand Slam Final Appearances
In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the US Open. In 2017, she set the Open era record for the longest span (20 years) between grand slam singles final appearances.
1997: First Major Final at US Open
In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first major final at the US Open.
1997: First Year-End Finish Outside Top 50 Since 1997
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: 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: Ranking rose to world No. 5
On July 27, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking rose to world No. 5.
1998: Lindsay Davenport
In 1998, Lindsay Davenport held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
1998: "Battle of the Sexes" at the Australian Open
In 1998, Venus Williams and her sister Serena competed in a "Battle of the Sexes" against Karsten Braasch at the Australian Open. Braasch defeated Venus 6–2 in a single set.
1998: Reached quarterfinals of all majors
In 1998, Venus Williams reached at least the quarterfinals of all majors.
1998: Mixed Doubles Grand Slam & Women's Doubles Titles
In 1998, Venus Williams, with Justin Gimelstob, won the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and the French Open, contributing to a "Williams Family Mixed Doubles Grand Slam." She also won her first two women's doubles titles with her sister Serena.
1998: Finished year ranked No. 5
Venus Williams finished the year 1998 ranked No. 5, despite withdrawing from the WTA Tour Championships due to tendonitis in her knee.
August 30, 1999: World ranking reached third
On August 30, 1999, Venus Williams' world ranking reached third for the first time. She teamed with Serena Williams to win their second Grand Slam women's doubles title at the US Open.
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 and Olympic Gold
In 2000, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon title and Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Venus Williams Sydney Olympic gold medal
In 2000, Venus Williams had won together at the Sydney Olympics. At the 2008 Olympics she again won gold with her sister Serena.
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: Olympic Gold Medal at Sydney Olympics
In 2000, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in singles. She also won a gold medal in women's doubles with her sister Serena.
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.
2000: US Open Victory and Olympic Gold Medals
In 2000, at the US Open, Venus Williams defeated No. 1 Hingis and No. 2 Davenport to win the title. She also won gold medals in singles and women's doubles at the Sydney Olympics. She finished the year ranked world No. 3.
2001: Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati
In 2001, Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2001: First Win at Indian Wells Since 2001
In 2001, Venus Williams had her last win at Indian Wells. 2017 marked her first win since that date.
2001: Venus Williams ranked higher than Serena.
In 2001, Venus Williams ranked higher than her sister Serena Williams.
2001: Australian Open Semifinal and Doubles Title
In 2001, Venus Williams reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time, losing to No. 1 Hingis. However, she teamed with her sister to win the doubles title at the event, completing a Career Golden Slam in women's doubles for the pair.
2001: Most Powerful Women in America
In 2001, Venus Williams was named among the 30 most powerful women in America by the Ladies Home Journal.
2001: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2001, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader.
2001: Venus Williams wins 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 contested by two sisters during the open era. Venus also became only the sixth woman in history to win the singles titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.
2001: Venus Williams wins Wimbledon after saving match point
In 2001, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon Championships, defeating defending champion Maria Sharapova in the semifinals and top-seeded Davenport in the final. Venus saved a match point with a backhand winner. 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: Venus Williams wins at Wimbledon after Grand Slam final
In 2001, Venus defeated Serena in a Grand Slam final in 2008. This was the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final.
2001: Venus Williams defeats Serena Williams and wins title at İstanbul Cup
In March 2001, at the Miami Open, Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena in the quarterfinals, marking her first victory against Serena since 2001. In May, she won the İstanbul Cup, defeating Nicole Vaidišová in the final, but lost in the third round of the French Open to Sesil Karatantcheva.
2001: Returned to Indian Wells
Venus returned to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years after boycotting the tournament in 2001.
February 2002: First African American Woman to reach World 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: Venus Williams's performance at the US Open and Tour Championships
In 2002, Venus Williams defeated Seles and Mauresmo to reach the US Open final, where she lost to her sister Serena. She also reached the semifinals at the year-ending Tour Championships after defeating Seles, but retired against Clijsters due to injury. Venus finished the year ranked No. 2 with seven titles, a career best in both respects.
2002: Venus and Serena Williams
In 2002, Venus Williams held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis for 11 weeks and Serena Williams also held the same ranking.
2002: Leading Head-to-Head Against Serena
In 2009, Venus Williams led the head-to-head in career matches with her sister Serena for the first time since 2002.
2002: Finishing 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 becomes World No. 1
On February 25, 2002, Venus Williams assumed the world No. 1 position for the first time, dislodging Capriati. Venus was the first African-American woman ever to hold the ranking. She held it for just three weeks before surrendering it back to Capriati.
May 2003: Williams Sisters Top Two Ranking
In May 2003, the Williams sisters occupied the top two spots in rankings for the first time since May 2003.
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: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin
In 2003, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2003: Ranked in Top Three
In 2003, Reaching the semifinals in Rome meant Venus Williams was ranked in the top three for the first time since 2003.
2003: Australian Open Quarterfinal Win
In 2003, Venus Williams defeated Daniela Hantuchová in Melbourne. It would be 2017 before she won another quarterfinal match at the Australian Open.
2003: Venus Williams reaches Australian Open Final and wins doubles title
In 2003, Venus Williams defeated Justine Henin to reach the final of the Australian Open for the first time, where she lost to her sister Serena. Venus and Serena Williams teamed up to win the women's doubles title at the event, their sixth Grand Slam title in women's doubles.
2003: Venus Williams reaches her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open
In 2003, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open.
2003: Venus Williams in the Australian Open in 2008
In 2003, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2008 for the first time since 2003.
2003: Venus Williams dominating the circuit
In 2003, Venus Williams was playing some of her best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003, However, she was defeated in two tiebreaks by Serena Williams (the eventual tournament winner) in a close quarterfinal match, after Williams had led 5–3 in both sets.
2003: Venus Williams plays against Serena in Grand Slam final
In 2003, Venus and Serena Williams played each other in a Grand Slam final in 2008
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.
2003: Two Slam Finals
In 2003, it was the last season until 2017 that Venus Williams reached two slam finals.
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: Svetlana Kuznetsova encounter
At the 2018 US Open, Venus Williams defeated 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
2004: Amélie Mauresmo
In 2004, Amélie Mauresmo held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
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: Maria Sharapova
In 2005, Maria Sharapova held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2005: Tennis Magazine Ranking
In 2005, Tennis Magazine ranked Venus Williams as the 25th-best player of the past 40 years.
2005: Venus Williams in Bangalore Open
In 2005, Venus Williams made her first semifinal of the year at the Bangalore Open in India in 2008, where she met sister Serena for the first time since 2005.
2005: Advocating for Equal Pay
In 2005, Venus Williams met with officials from the French Open and Wimbledon, arguing that female tennis players should be paid as much as male tennis players, addressing the disparity in prize money.
2005: Season with Delaware Smash
In 2005, Venus Williams played a season with the Delaware Smash in World TeamTennis.
2005: Venus Williams loses US Open Quarterfinals
In 2005, Venus Williams reached her fourth final of the year in Stanford, where she lost to Clijsters. At the 2005 US Open, Venus achieved her second consecutive win over her sister Serena in the fourth round, but then lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Kim Clijsters. Venus did not qualify for the year-ending Tour Championships because of an injury sustained during the China Open. She finished the year ranked No. 10.
2005: Venus Williams sets low record
In 2005, Venus Williams set a record as the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history, which she broke herself in 2007.
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: Advancing Past the Third Round at the French Open
At the French Open, Venus Williams, seeded second in singles, advanced past the third round for the first time since 2006 before losing to Nadia Petrova in the round of 16.
2006: Injuries
Between 2003 and 2006, Venus Williams suffered from injuries, winning just one major title.
2006: Lindsay Davenport
In 2006, Lindsay Davenport held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2006: First King Trophy
In 2006, Venus Williams claimed her first King Trophy with the Philadelphia Freedoms.
2006: Essay in The Times
In 2006, Venus Williams published an essay in The Times accusing Wimbledon of being on the "wrong side of history" regarding equal pay. This led to public endorsement from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and members of Parliament.
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.
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's advocacy and a campaign with the Women's Tennis Association and UNESCO. The French Open followed suit a day later.
2007: Wimbledon Win and Equal Prize Money
In 2007, Venus Williams became the first woman to benefit from the equalization of prize money at Wimbledon, winning the tournament and being awarded the same amount as the male winner, Roger Federer.
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.
2007: Associate Degree in Fashion Design
In 2007, Venus Williams received her associate degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
2007: Wimbledon Win
In 2007, Venus Williams returned to form, winning Wimbledon.
2007: Launch of EleVen Fashion Line
In 2007, Venus Williams teamed with retailer Steve & Barry's to launch her own fashion line, EleVen, expressing her passion for fashion and design.
2007: Venus Williams wins Cellular South Cup in Memphis
In 2007, Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open due to her recurring wrist injury. She returned in February at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, defeating Shahar Pe'er in the final to win her first singles title since her Wimbledon victory in 2005.
2007: Venus Williams wins Wimbledon as lowest-seeded champion
In 2007, Venus Williams, seeded 23rd, won her sixth Wimbledon final by defeating Marion Bartoli in straight sets. Venus became only the fourth woman in the open era to win Wimbledon at least four times and the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history, breaking the record she set in 2005.
2007: Fastest Serve at US Open
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).
2007: Wimbledon Straight Sets Streak
Venus Williams held a 34 straight sets streak at Wimbledon which started in 2007.
2008: Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković
In 2008, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2008: Philadelphia Freedoms Season End
In 2008, Venus Williams concluded her three seasons with the Philadelphia Freedoms.
2008: Winning the Year-Ending Tournament
In 2008, Venus Williams had a remarkable run, starting with defeating Dinara Safina at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in October to reach the semifinals. She then won the Zurich Open, securing a spot at the WTA Tour Championships in Doha. At the Championships, she defeated top-ranked players and ultimately won the tournament by defeating Vera Zvonareva in the final. She finished the year ranked No. 6 with three titles.
2008: Venus Williams wins gold medal in doubles at Beijing Olympics and loses at US Open
In 2008, Venus Williams lost in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympics to Li Na. However, she earned a gold medal along with her sister Serena in women's doubles, their second gold medal as a team. At the 2008 US Open, Venus was defeated in the quarterfinals by Serena Williams.
2008: Venus Williams at the Australian Open and Bangalore Open
In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003, where she lost to Ana Ivanovic. She also made her first semifinal of the year at the Bangalore Open in India, 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: Venus Williams wins Wimbledon singles and doubles titles
In 2008, Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles title and seventh Grand Slam singles title overall by defeating her sister Serena in the final, marking their first Grand Slam final since 2003. Venus and Serena Williams then teamed to win the women's doubles title, their first Grand Slam doubles title together since 2003.
2008: Straight Sets Victory Against Serena
In 2018, after receiving a first round bye at the Indian Wells Open, Venus Williams defeated Serena Williams for the 12th time in her career. It was her first straight sets victory against her since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final almost a decade earlier.
June 2009: Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities
In June 2009, Venus Williams was named 77th in the Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities list compiled by Forbes magazine.
August 2009: Minority Ownership 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: Jelena Janković and Dinara Safina
In 2009, Jelena Janković and Dinara Safina held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2009: First Grand Slam Final Since Wimbledon
In 2009, Venus Williams competed in the Wimbledon final. It would be 2017 before she advanced to her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009.
2009: Year-End Championships Since 2009
In 2009, Venus Williams participated in the year-end championships. The WTA Finals in 2017 marked her first final at the year-end championships since 2009, where she finished runner-up to sister Serena Williams.
2009: First Meeting Since 2009 WTA Tour Championships
In 2009, Venus Williams reached the semifinals in Charleston, losing to her sister Serena in two sets, marking their first meeting since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships.
2009: Winning Australian Open Doubles Title and Singles Success
In 2009, Venus Williams, partnered with her sister Serena, won the Australian Open women's doubles title, marking their eighth Grand Slam doubles title together. In February, she won the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating top players including her sister Serena, and then won the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco, marking her first clay title since 2005. This success put her in the top five rankings for the first time since 2003 and marked her 40th professional singles title.
2009: Defeated Dinara Safina at Wimbledon 2009
In 2009, Venus defeated Dinara Safina at Wimbledon. It was also the first time since 2009 that Williams had beaten her younger sister Serena.
2009: Wimbledon Semifinal Since 2009
Venus had her first Wimbledon semifinal since 2009, where she lost to fourth seed Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
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", co-written with Kelly E. Carter, embarking on a nationwide tour to promote it. The book reached the top five on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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: Top 20 Finish in 2010
In 2010 Venus ended the year ranked No. 19 in singles, the first finish since 2010 inside the top 20.
2010: Caroline Wozniacki
In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2010: Reached Fourth Round since 2010 at the French Open
In 2010, Venus Williams defeated Alizé Cornet in three sets to reach the fourth round of the French Open for the first time since 2010.
2010: US Open Semifinal Since 2010
In 2010, Venus Williams had her previous US Open Semifinal. In 2017, she lost in three sets to Sloane Stephens in her first US Open semifinal since 2010.
2010: Joins Washington Kastles
In 2010, Venus Williams joined the Washington Kastles in World TeamTennis.
2010: Reaching Fourth Round at All Grand Slam Singles Tournaments
In 2010, Venus Williams reached at least the fourth round at all four Grand Slam singles tournaments. At the US Open, she won three matches to move into the fourth round and eventually reached the semifinals, losing to Kim Clijsters in three sets.
2010: 2010 US Open
In 2010, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam championship for the first time since the 2010 US Open.
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.
2010: Last Time Seeded in Top Ten
In 2010, Venus Williams was last seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments until she repeated the feat in 2016.
2010: Madrid Open Title in 2010
In 2010, Venus Williams won her biggest title since the Madrid Open.
2010: Doubles Competition With Serena at Wimbledon
In 2012, Venus Williams returned to doubles competition alongside her sister Serena at Wimbledon for the first time since 2010 Wimbledon, leading to their fifth Wimbledon doubles title.
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 and final, ultimately finishing runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki. She finished the year ranked No. 5 and topped the prize money list.
2010: First Major Semifinal Since 2010 US Open
Venus played in her first major semifinal since the 2010 US Open, where she lost to fourth seed Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
January 2011: WTA Rankings
In January 2011, Venus Williams last secured her place in the top five of the WTA rankings. In 2017, during the US Open, she secured her return to the top five in the WTA rankings.
June 2011: "30 Legends of Women's Tennis"
In June 2011, Venus Williams was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time.
2011: Kim Clijsters
In 2011, Kim Clijsters held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2011: Historical context for consecutive Grand Slam finals.
In 2011, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic matched Venus and Serena Williams' record by meeting in four consecutive Grand Slam finals, starting from Wimbledon 2011 through the French Open 2012.
2011: 2011 Australian Open as a Top-10 Player
In 2011, The Auckland Open was also Williams's first tournament since the 2011 Australian Open as a top-10 player.
2011: Participating in the Wimbledon Championships
In 2011, Venus Williams participated in the Wimbledon Championships as the 23rd seed. She won her second round match against Kimiko Date-Krumm in three sets but was defeated by Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round.
2011: Wimbledon warmup event
In 2011, Venus Williams played her last Wimbledon warmup event. In 2019, for the first time since 2011 and fourth time in her career, Williams played a Wimbledon warmup event after accepting a wildcard into the Birmingham Classic.
2011: 2011 Wimbledon Championships
In 2011, Venus Williams reached the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2011 Wimbledon Championships
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: First Time Re-entered Top Ten Since 2011
In 2011, Venus re-entered the top ten for the first time since 2011 and ended the year at No. 7 in the WTA rankings.
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.
2012: Earliest Wimbledon Exit
At Wimbledon in 2019, Venus Williams faced Coco Gauff, losing in a tight two-set match. The loss matched 2012 as her earliest Wimbledon exit.
2012: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka
In 2012, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2012: Historical context for consecutive Grand Slam finals.
In 2012, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic matched Venus and Serena Williams' record by meeting in four consecutive Grand Slam finals, starting from Wimbledon 2011 through the French Open 2012.
2012: Olympic Bid Project
In 2012, V Starr Interiors, Venus Williams's interior design firm, designed the Olympic athletes' apartments as part of New York City's failed bid to host the Summer Olympics.
2012: First Quarterfinal in Rome Since 2012
In 2012, Venus Williams last played in the Quarterfinal in Rome. In 2017, she reached her first quarterfinal since 2012 at the Italian Open, where she lost to Garbiñe Muguruza.
2012: Met Elio Pis
In 2012, Venus Williams met Cuban model Elio Pis, who was hired as an underwear model for her clothing line. They dated until 2015.
2012: Winning 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. This victory made the Williams sisters the most decorated Olympic tennis players.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles
In 2012, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles.
2012: EleVen Debut at New York Fashion Week
In 2012, Venus Williams's fashion line, EleVen, debuted during New York Fashion Week, featuring athletes as models.
2012: Won Major Title with Serena Since 2012
In the doubles tournament, Venus and Serena Williams won their 14th major title together and sixth at Wimbledon since 2012.
July 2, 2013: Venus Vs. Documentary Premiere
On July 2, 2013, the documentary "Nine for IX, Venus Vs." premiered, documenting Venus Williams's fight for equality.
2013: Competing at the Hopman Cup
In 2013, Venus Williams competed at the Hopman Cup representing the USA with John Isner. She achieved victories in both singles and mixed doubles against South Africa and France.
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.
2013: Victoria Azarenka
In 2013, Victoria Azarenka held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2013: Season Ranking
In 2018, Venus Williams finished the season ranked No. 40, the first time since 2013 she failed to finish the season inside the top 20.
2014: 2014 US Open Series Performance
In 2014, Venus Williams had a successful run at the Rogers Cup, defeating her sister Serena in the semifinals and losing to Agnieszka Radwańska in the final. At the US Open, she reached the third round.
2014: 2014 Season Results
In 2014, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals at the Bell Challenge and lost in the final. She ended the year ranked No. 19 in singles and joined the Bangalore Raptors team in the Champions Tennis League India.
2014: King Trophies with Kastles
In 2014, Venus Williams won King Trophies with the Kastles
2014: Returned to Form
Starting in 2014, Venus Williams gradually returned to form.
2014: End of Fastest Serve Record
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).
2014: Won First Grand Slam Doubles Match with Serena Since 2014
Venus also won her first Grand Slam doubles match with sister Serena Williams since the 2014 US Open.
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. This marked the end of the sisters' long absence from the tournament due to the 2001 controversy.
2015: 2015 US Open Series and US Open Performance
In 2015, Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Rogers Cup and withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to a virus. She reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, losing to her sister Serena.
2015: Won 46th Career Singles Title in 2015
In 2015, Venus Williams won her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
2015: Fifth King Trophy with Kastles
In 2015, Venus Williams won her fifth King Trophy with the Washington Kastles.
2015: End of Relationship with Elio Pis
Venus Williams' relationship with Elio Pis, which started in 2012, ended in 2015.
September 2016: WADA Database Leak Response
In September 2016, Venus Williams confirmed the usage of banned substances classified by WADA as Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), stating that she adhered to a strict approval process for TUEs under the Tennis Anti-Doping program when serious medical conditions occurred.
2016: Olympic Medal Record
After winning silver in mixed doubles 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 Major Appearances Record
At the 2016 US Open, Venus Williams broke the record for the most major appearances, surpassing Amy Frazier's record of 71. She was seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time since 2010. She reached the fourth round before losing to Karolína Plíšková.
2016: Angelique Kerber
In 2016, Angelique Kerber held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2016: Olympic Silver Medal in Mixed Doubles
In 2016, Venus Williams won a mixed doubles silver medal.
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.
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.
2017: Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep
In 2017, Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2017: 2017 Season
In 2017, Venus Williams began her season at Auckland, winning her opening match before withdrawing due to a right arm pain. She reached the Australian Open final, losing to her sister Serena. She also competed in the St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy, the Indian Wells Open where she won for the first time since 2001, and the Miami Open, marking a strong start to the year.
2017: Major Final Appearances
In 2017, Venus Williams had two major final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
2017: US Open Series and US Open Performance
In 2017, Venus Williams participated in the Canadian Open and Cincinnati events before competing in the US Open, where she reached the semifinals, guaranteeing her return to the top five in the WTA rankings for the first time since January 2011.
2017: First Top Five Win Since WTA Finals
In 2017, Venus Williams participated in the WTA Finals. In 2019, at Indian Wells, Venus Williams started with a win over Andrea Petkovic, before coming back from a set and a double break down to beat the third seed Petra Kvitová in the second round. This was Williams's first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals.
2017: Wimbledon Quarterfinals and Final
In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 13th time, defeating Jeļena Ostapenko, and advanced to her ninth Wimbledon final, losing to Garbiñe Muguruza. She reached the top 10 in rankings and marked her 100th career match at Wimbledon.
2017: Returns to Washington Kastles
In 2017, Venus Williams returned to the Washington Kastles for World TeamTennis.
2017: Season Prize Money Leader
In 2017, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader.
2017: Longest Time Between Major Singles 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: 2018 US Open
At the 2018 US Open, Venus Williams was handed her most-lopsided loss against Serena in five years. She withdrew from the Wuhan Open and China Open, citing she was not physically ready to compete, and pulled out of the Luxembourg Open due to a knee injury.
2018: Caroline Wozniacki
In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2018: Tennis Magazine Ranking
In 2018, Tennis Magazine ranked Venus Williams as the eighth-best female player of the Open Era.
2018: 2018 Season Start and Australian Open
In 2018, Venus Williams began her season at the Sydney International, losing to Angelique Kerber. As a defending finalist at the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to Belinda Bencic, ending her streak of consecutive appearances in the second week of the Grand Slams and dropping in the rankings.
2018: Parting ways with David Witt
In 2018, Venus Williams parted ways with her long-time coach David Witt.
2019: Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty
In 2019, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2019: 2019 Season Start
In 2019, Venus Williams began her season with an exhibition match against Serena at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which she won. She then played in the ASB Classic in Auckland, losing in the quarterfinals to Bianca Andreescu.
2019: End of Relationship with Nicholas Hammond
In 2019, Venus Williams ended her two-year relationship with publishing heir Nicholas Hammond.
2019: Final Season with Kastles
In 2019, Venus Williams played her final season with the Washington Kastles.
2019: Record Surpassed by Serena Williams
The record for the longest time between a player's first and most recent major singles finals appearances was later surpassed by her sister Serena at the 2019 US Open.
May 2020: All-Time Ranking
In May 2020, both the Tennis Channel and Newsday ranked Venus Williams as the eighth-greatest female player of all time.
August 2020: Top Seed Open
In August 2020, Venus William's first official tournament back was the Top Seed Open, where she defeated Victoria Azarenka in the first round, then took on sister Serena for the 31st time in the second round, losing to her in a tight three-set match. Following the tournament, Williams dropped to No. 67 in the WTA 31 August 2020 rankings.
2020: 2020 Season Withdrawal
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 for the WTT season.
2021: All-Time Grand Slam Leader
At the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams extended her record as the all-time leader in Grand Slam tournaments played, with 90.
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.
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
In 2022, Ashleigh Barty and Iga Świątek held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2022: 2022 US Open
In 2022, Venus Williams received a wildcard for the US Open but lost in the first round. She played doubles with Serena, marking the final Grand Slam tournament for the 14-time major doubles champions. Venus later stated that she retired from playing doubles after Serena retired.
2023: End of 2023 Season Ranking
At the end of the 2023 season, Venus Williams was ranked No. 412 in the world.
2023: Injury-Plagued Season in 2023
Despite an injury-plagued season, in 2023 Venus Williams announced her intention to return to action.
2023: Aryna Sabalenka
In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
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.
2023: Current Through 2023 US Open
The information is current through the 2023 US Open.
2024: Iga Świątek
In 2024, Iga Świątek held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2025: Aryna Sabalenka
In 2025, Aryna Sabalenka held the world No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.
2025: Indian Wells Wildcard
In 2025, Venus Williams received a main-draw wildcard for Indian Wells, but she turned it down.
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