History of Venus Williams in Timeline

Venus Williams is a highly accomplished American tennis player. She has achieved the world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles, holding the top spot for 11 and 8 weeks, respectively. Williams has won 49 WTA singles titles, including seven Grand Slam titles. In doubles, she has secured 22 titles, including 16 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals. She is considered one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1975: Chris Evert ranked number 1

In 1975, Chris Evert achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1976: Evonne Goolagong ranked number 1

In 1976, Evonne Goolagong achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1978: Martina Navratilova ranked number 1

In 1978, Martina Navratilova achieved the number one 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 who has been ranked world No. 1 in both singles and doubles.

Others born on this day/year

1980: Tracy Austin ranked number 1

In 1980, Tracy Austin achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1985: Chris Evert ranked number 1

In 1985, Chris Evert continued to hold the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1987: Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf ranked number 1

In 1987, both Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1991: Monica Seles ranked number 1

In 1991, Monica Seles achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

October 31, 1994: Turned Professional

On October 31, 1994, Venus Williams turned professional at the age of 14.

1994: First Grand Slam Retirement Since 1994

At the Australian Open in 2011, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match, marking her first retirement during a match in a Grand Slam tournament since 1994.

1994: Turning Professional

In 1994, Venus Williams turned professional, marking the beginning of her professional tennis career.

1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario ranked number 1

In 1995, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1995: Coaching Change

In 1995, Richard Williams pulled his daughters out of Rick Macci's academy and took over all coaching responsibilities.

1995: First Professional Win

In 1995, Venus 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, defeating No. 18 Amy Frazier in the second round for her first win over a top-20 ranked player, before losing to Magdalena Maleeva.

1996: Monica Seles ranked number 1

In 1996, Monica Seles continued to hold the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1996: Reaching Third Round in Los Angeles

In 1996, Venus Williams played five events, reaching the third round in Los Angeles before losing to Steffi Graf.

April 14, 1997: Breaks into Top 100

On April 14, 1997, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 100, marking a significant milestone in her career.

1997: Exited Wimbledon Prior to Quarterfinals

In 1997, Venus Williams exited Wimbledon prior to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1997, losing in a controversial second-round match to Karolina Šprem after an umpire error.

1997: Lowest Finish Since Playing Full-Time on WTA Tour

In 1997, Venus Williams finished the season as No. 46, her lowest finish since she began to play on the WTA Tour full-time in 1997, and it was the second consecutive year she finished higher than her sister Serena, who finished the year at No. 95.

1997: Open era record for the longest span between grand slam singles final appearances

In 1997, Venus Williams reached a 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 the US Open

In 1997, Venus Williams reached her first major final at the US Open, signaling her emergence as a top player.

1997: US Open Final

In 1997, Venus Williams reached the US Open final, where she lost to Martina Hingis.

1997: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis ranked number 1

In 1997, both Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1997: First Year-End Finish Outside Top 50 Since 1997

In 2011, Venus Williams ended the year ranked No. 102, marking her first year-end finish ranked outside of the top 50 since 1997.

1997: Unseeded at Wimbledon

In 2012, Venus Williams was unseeded at Wimbledon for the first time since 1997.

March 30, 1998: Breaks into Top 10

On March 30, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking broke into the top 10 for the first time, reaching world No. 10.

July 27, 1998: Ranking Rises to World No. 5

On July 27, 1998, Venus Williams' ranking rose to world No. 5, marking a new high in her career.

1998: Lindsay Davenport ranked number 1

In 1998, Lindsay Davenport achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

1998: Finishes Year Ranked No. 5

In 1998, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 5, a testament to her successful season.

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: "Williams Family 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. Her sister Serena Williams won the other two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles that year, completing a "Williams Family Mixed Doubles Grand Slam".

August 30, 1999: World Ranking Reaches Third

On August 30, 1999, Venus Williams' world ranking reached third for the first time in her career.

1999: Successful Title Defense

In 1999, Venus Williams successfully defended her titles in both Oklahoma City and Key Biscayne, marking a successful period in her career.

2000: Wimbledon, US Open titles and Olympic Gold

In 2000, Venus Williams claimed the Wimbledon and US Open titles and also won Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympics, a remarkable year for her.

2000: Missed First Five Months of the Year

In 2000, Venus Williams missed the first five months of the year due to tendinitis in both wrists.

2000: Stanford Classic Final

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

2000: Sydney Olympics Gold Medal

In 2000, Venus Williams secured an Olympic gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, marking a significant achievement in her career.

2000: US Open Victory and Olympic Gold

In 2000, Venus Williams won the US Open and also secured a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Sydney.

2001: Returned to Indian Wells after 15 years

In 2001, Venus Williams returned to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years after boycotting the tournament, but lost in the second round.

2001: Australian Open Doubles Title

In 2001, Venus Williams teamed with her sister to win the doubles title at the Australian Open, completing a Career Golden Slam in women's doubles for the pair.

2001: Season Prize Money Leader

In 2001, Venus Williams was the season prize money leader, highlighting her success that year.

2001: Wimbledon and US Open Titles

In 2001, Venus Williams won both the Wimbledon and US Open titles.

2001: Won US Open singles title

In 2001, Venus Williams won the US Open singles title for the second consecutive year without dropping a set. She beat Clijsters, Capriati, and her sister Serena in the final, marking the first Grand Slam singles final contested by two sisters during the open era. This victory made her the sixth woman in history to win Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.

2001: Won Wimbledon Championships

In 2001, Venus Williams won the Wimbledon Championships. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Pierce, followed by Sharapova in the semifinals, reaching the Wimbledon final for the fifth time in six years. In the final, she defeated Davenport after saving a match point, securing her third Wimbledon singles title, her fifth Grand Slam singles title overall, and her first since 2001. This 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: First win at Indian Wells since 2001

In 2001, Williams won her first match at Indian Wells, since 2001.

2001: Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati ranked number 1

In 2001, both Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2001: Venus defeated Serena

In 2001, it was the first time since 2001 that Venus had defeated her in a Grand Slam final.

2001: Finished year ranked higher than Serena

In 2001, it was the first year since 2001 that she had finished a year ranked higher than her sister Serena Williams.

2001: Defeated Serena in Miami Open

In March 2001, at the Miami Open, Venus Williams defeated sister Serena in the quarterfinals, the first time she had defeated her since 2001, before losing in the semifinals to Sharapova. In May, she won her first title in over a year at the clay-courts at the İstanbul Cup, defeating Nicole Vaidišová in the final.

February 2002: Singles World No. 1 Ranking

In February 2002, Venus Williams first reached the singles world No. 1 ranking, making her the first African American woman to achieve this in the Open era.

2002: Reached US Open Final

In 2002, Venus Williams reached the US Open final after winning the titles in San Diego and New Haven for the third consecutive year. At the US Open, she defeated Seles and Mauresmo to make the final, eventually losing to her sister Serena.

2002: Venus Williams and Serena Williams ranked number 1

In 2002, both Venus Williams and Serena Williams achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2002: Leading Head-to-Head Career Matches

In 2009, Venus Williams's win against her sister Serena Williams in Dubai marked the first time since 2002 that Venus led the head-to-head record in career matches against her sister.

2002: Year-End Ranking Since 2002

In 2010, Venus Williams ended the year ranked fifth in singles, the first time she ended a year in the top five since 2002.

2002: Assumed world No. 1 position

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 to ever hold the ranking, however she only held it for three weeks.

May 2003: Williams Sisters Occupy Top Two Spots

In May 2009, Venus Williams's ranking improved to No. 2, behind Serena. This was the fourth time that the Williams sisters occupied the top two spots, and the first time since May 2003.

2003: First season since 2003 that Williams reached two slam finals

2003 marked the first season since 2003 that Williams reached two slam finals, in 2017.

2003: First time in Grand Slam final since 2003

In 2003, This was the first time since 2003 that Venus and Serena Williams had played each other in a Grand Slam final.

2003: Lost to Serena in Australian Open Final and Won Doubles Title

In 2003, Venus Williams lost to her sister Serena in the Australian Open final, marking the first time in the open era that the same two players had met in four consecutive Grand Slam finals. However, Venus and Serena teamed up to win the women's doubles title at the event, their sixth Grand Slam title in women's doubles.

2003: First major semifinal

In 2003, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open, losing to Henin.

2003: Quarterfinals of the Australian Open

In 2003, Williams reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.

2003: Best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003

In 2003, Williams was playing some of her best tennis since dominating the circuit in 2003

2003: First time Williams won a quarterfinal match in Melbourne

In 2003, Williams won a quarterfinal match in Melbourne after defeating Daniela Hantuchová. She defeated 24th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for her 50th win at the Australian Open in 2017.

2003: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin ranked number 1

In 2003, both Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2003: Return to Top Five Ranking

In 2009, Winning the Dubai Tennis Championships, Venus Williams was ranked in the top five for the first time since 2003.

2003: Absence From 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.

2003: Major Finals streak ends

Venus Williams reached four consecutive major finals between 2002 and 2003, but lost each time to Serena.

2004: US Open victory

At the 2018 US Open, Williams defeated 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and Camila Giorgi en route to a third round encounter, where she was handed her most-lopsided loss against her in five years against Serena.

2004: First Retirement Since 2004

At the Australian Open in 2011, Venus Williams retired in the second game of her third round match, marking her first retirement from a match since the LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles in 2004.

2004: Amélie Mauresmo ranked number 1

In 2004, Amélie Mauresmo achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2004: Inconsistent Results and Australian Open

In 2004, Venus Williams experienced inconsistent results after returning to the tour. As the third seed due to a protected ranking, she reached the third round of the Australian Open, where she lost to Lisa Raymond, and then lost in the quarterfinals of her next three tournaments.

2004: Athens Olympics and US Open

In 2004, as the defending champion at the Athens Olympics, Venus Williams lost in the third round to Mary Pierce. She then lost in the fourth round of the 2004 US Open to Davenport, marking the first time she had lost at the US Open prior to the semifinals. Venus completed the year by losing in the quarterfinals of three indoor tournaments, including a defeat to Maria Sharapova at the Zurich Open.

2005: Maria Sharapova ranked number 1

In 2005, Maria Sharapova achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2005: Loss to Clijsters at Stanford and US Open

In 2005, Venus Williams reached her fourth final of the year in Stanford, where she lost to Clijsters. At the 2005 US Open, she won against sister Serena in the fourth round but lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Kim Clijsters. She finished the year ranked No. 10.

2005: Australian Open and Antwerp Final

In 2005, Venus Williams started the year by losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open to Alicia Molik. She then reached the final in Antwerp, defeating Clijsters and Myskina en route, but eventually lost to Mauresmo after being up a set and a service break.

2005: Last singles title prior

In 2005, Venus Williams won Wimbledon. This was the singles title she won prior to the 2007 Cellular South Cup in Memphis.

2005: Venus met Serena Williams

In 2005, Venus met sister Serena for the first time since 2005 with Serena Williams winning despite Venus Williams holding a match point in the third set tie break.

2005: Lowest-Seeded Wimbledon Champion

In 2005, Williams also became the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion in history.

2005: First Clay Title Since 2005

In 2009, Venus Williams won the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco defeating Flavia Pennetta in the final. This was her first title on clay since 2005.

2006: Injury struggles continue

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

2006: Lindsay Davenport ranked number 1

In 2006, Lindsay Davenport continued to hold the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2006: Early Loss at Australian Open and Wrist Injury

In 2006, Venus Williams experienced an upset in the first round of the Australian Open by Tsvetana Pironkova, marking her earliest loss at that tournament. Following the loss, she was sidelined for three months due to a wrist injury, returning in late April on clay in Warsaw.

2006: French Open Third Round Appearance

In 2010, at the French Open, Venus Williams advanced past the third round for the first time since 2006 before losing to Nadia Petrova in the round of 16.

2006: First Grand Slam Loss Since 2006

In 2012, Venus Williams lost in the first round at Wimbledon in straight sets. This was the first time she lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.

2007: Wimbledon Straight Sets Streak

By advancing to her eighth Wimbledon final in 2009, Venus Williams had won 34 straight sets, a streak held since Wimbledon 2007.

2007: Korea Open Title and Anemia Problems

In 2007, Venus Williams reached her first major semifinal outside of Wimbledon since 2003 at the US Open, losing to Henin. She then won the Korea Open in Seoul, defeating Kirilenko in the final, before losing in the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo to Razzano. She withdrew from the WTA Championships due to anemia.

2007: Fastest serve on WTA Tour

In 2007, Venus Williams recorded the fastest serve on the WTA Tour at the US Open, at 208 km/h (129 mph).

2007: Victory at Cellular South Cup

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, securing her first singles title since her victory at Wimbledon in 2005.

2007: Return to Form

Starting in 2007, Venus Williams returned to form, demonstrated by winning Wimbledon that year.

2008: Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković ranked number 1

In 2008, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Janković each achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2008: Beijing Olympics and US Open Quarterfinals

In 2008, Venus Williams lost in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympics to Li Na but earned a gold medal in women's doubles with her sister Serena, their second as a team. At the 2008 US Open, she was defeated by Serena in a close quarterfinal match.

2008: Australian Open Quarterfinals and Bangalore Open Semifinals

In 2008, Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003, losing to Ivanovic. She also made her first semifinal of the year at the Bangalore Open in India, where she met Serena for the first time since 2005.

2008: Olympic Gold in Doubles

In 2008, Venus Williams won an Olympic gold medal in women's doubles, adding to her list of achievements.

2008: WTA Tour Championships Win

In 2008, Venus defeated Dinara Safina at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, reached the Zurich Open final and secured a spot at the WTA Tour Championships. At the Championships, she defeated multiple top-ranked players, including Serena Williams and Jelena Janković, and won the tournament by defeating Vera Zvonareva, ending the year ranked No. 6.

2008: Straight Sets Victory against Serena since 2008

In 2018 at the Indian Wells Open, Venus Williams defeated Serena Williams for the 12th time in her career – her first straight sets victory against her since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final almost a decade earlier.

2009: US Open Doubles Title

At the 2009 US Open, Venus Williams and Serena Williams won the doubles title, claiming their third major doubles title in 2009.

2009: Defeated Dinara Safina at Wimbledon Championships

At the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams defeated Dinara Safina 6–1, 6–0 in the semifinals.

2009: First Wimbledon Semifinal Since 2009

At the Wimbledon Championships in 2009, Venus Williams reached the semifinals for the first time since 2009, losing to Angelique Kerber.

2009: Year-End Ranking

At the end of 2009, Venus Williams finished the year ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Serena Williams.

2009: Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković ranked number 1

In 2009, Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković each achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2009: First Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009

In 2009, Venus Williams advanced to her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon. She reached the Australian Open final since 2003 in 2017.

2009: Lost to Serena at WTA Tour Championships

In 2009, Venus Williams lost to her sister Serena in two sets in the semifinals of Charleston, marking their first meeting since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships.

2009: Tour Championships Final Appearance

In 2009, Venus Williams, the defending champion, advanced to the semi-final in the Tour Championships. After defeating Jelena Janković, she reached the final, losing to her sister Serena Williams.

2009: Australian Open Doubles Title and Dubai Championships Win

In 2009, Venus and Serena Williams won the Australian Open doubles title. Venus also won the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Serena Williams in the semi-finals and Virginie Razzano in the final, marking her 40th professional singles title and placing her in the top five rankings for the first time since 2003. She followed this with a win at the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco, her first title on clay since 2005.

2009: First Top-3 Victory Since 2009

In 2012, Venus Williams defeated No. 3 Petra Kvitová at the Miami tournament, marking her first top-3 victory since beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009.

2009: Runner-up at the year-end championships since 2009

Venus Williams advanced to her first final at the year-end championships since 2009, where she finished runner-up to sister Serena Williams in 2017.

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, partnering with her sister Serena, after completing a non-calendar-year Grand Slam at the French Open.

2010: First Time Since Reached Fourth Round

At the French Open in 2010, Venus Williams won her first two rounds in straight sets to set up a third-round clash with Alizé Cornet, whom she defeated in three sets to reach the fourth round for the first time since 2010.

2010: First Major Semifinal Since 2010

At the Wimbledon Championships in 2010, Venus Williams reached the semifinals for the first time since the 2010 US Open, losing to Angelique Kerber.

2010: Year-End Ranking and Injury

Due to a left knee injury, Venus Williams missed the rest of 2010. 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: Caroline Wozniacki ranked number 1

In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2010: Made it to the third round of the US Open

In 2010, Venus Williams made it to the third round of the US Open for the first time since 2010.

2010: US Open Semifinal and Consistent Grand Slam Performance

In 2010, Venus Williams reached the US Open semifinal. Venus became one of only two women to reach at least the fourth round at all four Grand Slam singles tournaments in 2010.

2010: Return to World No. 2

In 2010, Venus Williams returned to the world No. 2 position in singles, showcasing her continued competitiveness.

2010: Seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments

In 2010, Venus Williams was seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments. She repeated the same feat in 2016.

2010: Madrid Open Title

In 2010, Venus Williams won her biggest title since the Madrid Open. At 33 years and 8 months of age, Venus became the seventh-oldest woman to win a WTA singles title.

2010: First semifinal in Miami since 2010

In 2010, Williams reached the Miami Open Semifinals since 2010 in 2017.

2010: Second week of all majors in a single season

In 2010, Williams reached 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, the longest streak among WTA players at that time, in 2017.

2010: Fifth Wimbledon Doubles Title

In 2012, Venus Williams and Serena Williams claimed their fifth Wimbledon doubles title after defeating Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká.

2010: WTA Finals Qualification

On September 26, 2017, Venus Williams qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010.

2010: Last Quarterfinal Appearance Since US Open

The Australian Open in 2010 marked the first time Venus Williams made it to the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam championship since the 2010 US Open.

2010: Finished Year Ranked No. 19

Venus Williams ended the year 2010 ranked No. 19 in singles, the first finish since 2010 inside the top 20.

January 2011: Return to top 5 WTA Rankings

In January 2011, 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, during the 2017 US Open.

2011: Last Reached Second Week of Grand Slam

At the Australian Open in 2011, Venus Williams reached the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.

2011: Wimbledon warmup event

For the first time since 2011, Venus Williams played a Wimbledon warmup event after accepting a wildcard into the Birmingham Classic in 2019. She lost to Ashleigh Barty in the quarterfinals. At Wimbledon, she lost to Coco Gauff in the first round.

2011: Kim Clijsters ranked number 1

In 2011, Kim Clijsters continued to hold the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2011: Matched by Nadal and Djokovic

In 2011, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic matched the record of Venus and Serena Williams to meet in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.

2011: Wimbledon Championships Appearance

In 2011, Venus Williams was seeded 23rd at the Wimbledon Championships. She defeated Kimiko Date-Krumm and María José Martínez Sánchez, but was defeated by Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round.

2011: Diagnosis of Sjögren Syndrome

In 2011, Venus Williams withdrew from the US Open after being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome, an autoimmune disease. As a result, her ranking dropped to one-hundred and five.

2011: Highest ranking since Sjögren's syndrome diagnosis

In 2011, after her result at the Stanford Classic, Venus Williams ascended to No. 6 in the rankings, her highest position since being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome.

2011: Miami and Charleston Tournaments Participation

In 2012, after being granted wildcards, Venus Williams participated in the Miami and Charleston tournaments after her absence from the 2011 US Open due to being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome.

2011: Last tournament as a top-10 player

The Auckland Open in 2011 was also Venus Williams's first tournament since the 2011 Australian Open as a top-10 player.

2011: Re-entered top ten for the first time since 2011

With her results throughout the 2011 season, Venus Williams re-entered the top ten for the first time since 2011 and ended the year at No. 7 in the WTA rankings

2012: Third Olympic Gold Medal in Doubles

At the 2012 London Olympics, Venus Williams and Serena Williams won their third gold medal in doubles. This win resulted in the Williams sisters having the most Olympic gold medals of any other tennis player, male or female.

2012: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka ranked number 1

In 2012, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka each achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2012: Matched by Nadal and Djokovic

In 2012, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic matched the record of Venus and Serena Williams to meet in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.

2012: Won 14th Major Title Together

In 2012, Venus and Serena Williams won their 14th major title together and sixth at Wimbledon.

2012: First quarterfinal in Rome since 2012

Venus Williams reached her first quarterfinal in Rome since 2012 at the Italian Open in 2017, losing to Garbiñe Muguruza. During this match, Williams hit a reactionary lob off an attacking forehand that was voted WTA shot of the month.

2012: Earliest Wimbledon exit since 2012

Williams's loss to Coco Gauff at Wimbledon 2019 matched 2012 as her earliest Wimbledon exit.

2013: 2013 Season Performances

In 2013, Venus Williams participated in several tournaments, including the Roger's Cup, Western and Southern Open, US Open, Pan Pacific Open, China Open, and Kremlin Cup, with varying results, ultimately ending her season early due to injury.

2013: Hopman Cup Participation

In 2013, Venus Williams participated in the Hopman Cup, playing for the USA with John Isner. They beat South Africa and France.

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: Victoria Azarenka ranked number 1

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka continued to hold the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2013: Failed to finish season inside top 20 since 2013

In 2018, Williams finished the season ranked No. 40, the first time since 2013 she failed to finish the season inside the top 20.

2014: Won first Grand Slam doubles match

At the French Open in 2014, Venus Williams also won her first Grand Slam doubles match with sister Serena Williams since the 2014 US Open.

2014: Victories and Loss at Rogers Cup

In 2014, Venus Williams had a notable run at the Rogers Cup, including defeating her sister Serena Williams, but ultimately lost in the championship match to Agnieszka Radwańska.

2014: Performance at Bell Challenge and Wuhan Open

In 2014, Venus Williams reached the final of the Bell Challenge in Quebec and participated in the Wuhan Open where she lost in the first round.

2014: Return to Form

Starting in 2014, Venus Williams gradually returned to form after suffering from injuries.

2015: US Open Series and US Open Performance

In 2015, Venus Williams participated in the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati Open, later reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open where she lost to her sister Serena Williams.

2015: Won 46th Career Singles Title

In 2015, Venus Williams won her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open, defeating Caroline Wozniacki.

2015: First top-ten win since 2015

In 2015, Williams scored her first top-ten win since 2015, against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of the Miami Open in 2017.

September 2016: Confirmation of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)

In September 2016, Venus Williams confirmed the usage of banned substances classified by WADA as Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), stating that her applications required a strict approval process due to serious medical conditions.

2016: US Open

At the 2016 US Open, Venus Williams surpassed Amy Frazier's record with the most major appearances at 71. She was seeded in the top ten at all four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time since 2010. After winning her first three matches, she lost in the fourth round to Karolína Plíšková.

2016: Angelique Kerber ranked number 1

In 2016, Angelique Kerber achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2016: Rio Summer Olympics

In 2016, Venus Williams failed to medal in both singles and doubles events at the Rio Summer Olympics, with first-round exits in both. However, she won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram, making her the only female player besides Kathleen McKane Godfree to win a medal in all three events, sharing the record for most Olympic medals won in tennis with Godfree.

2016: Mixed Doubles Silver

In 2016, Venus Williams won a silver medal in mixed doubles, adding to her Olympic medal count.

2016: Won 49th career title at Taiwan Open

In 2016, Venus Williams won her 49th career title at the Taiwan Open, defeating Misaki Doi in the final.

2017: Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep ranked number 1

In 2017, Serena Williams, Karolína Plíšková, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep each achieved the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2017: Major Final Appearances

In 2017, Venus Williams had two major final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, marking a resurgence in her career.

2017: Wimbledon and WTA Ranking

In 2017, Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Garbiñe Muguruza, and achieved the No. 9 ranking. Also in 2017, she reached two slam finals for the first time since 2003.

2017: 2017 Season Highlights

In 2017, Venus Williams started the season in Auckland, withdrew due to a right arm pain. Reached Australian Open final for the first time since 2003, losing to Serena. She won her first match at Indian Wells since 2001. She also scored her first top-ten win since 2015, against Svetlana Kuznetsova, and reached the Miami Open Semifinals since 2010.

2017: Season Prize Money Leader

In 2017, Venus Williams was again the season prize money leader, showcasing her continued earnings.

2017: 2017 US Open Series and US Open

In 2017, during the US Open Series, Venus Williams lost to Elina Svitolina at the Canadian Open and Ashleigh Barty at Cincinnati. At the US Open, she reached the semifinals, losing to Sloane Stephens, and returned to the top five in the WTA rankings.

2017: First Top Five Win since 2017 WTA Finals

In 2019 at Indian Wells, Venus Williams secured her first top five win since the 2017 WTA Finals, defeating Petra Kvitová in the second round. She lost to Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals.

2018: Parting ways with coach

At the end of the 2018 season, Williams parted ways with her long-time coach David Witt.

2018: Caroline Wozniacki ranked number 1

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki continued to hold the number one ranking in women's tennis.

2018: 2018 Season Start and Australian Open

In 2018, Venus Williams started the season at the Sydney International, losing to Angelique Kerber. At the Australian Open, she lost to Belinda Bencic in the first round, ending her streak of seven consecutive appearances in the second week of the Grand Slams.

2018: 2018 US Open and Season Conclusion

In 2018, at the US Open, Venus Williams lost to Serena in the third round. She withdrew from the Wuhan Open and China Open and finished the season ranked No. 40.

2019: Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty ranked number 1

In 2019, Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty each achieved the number one 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. At the Australian Open, she lost to Simona Halep in the third round.

August 2020: Return to Tournament Play and Rankings

In August 2020, Venus Williams returned to tournament play at the Top Seed Open, where she lost to Serena in the second round. Following the Western & Southern Open, Williams dropped to No. 67 in the WTA rankings.

2020: Withdrawals from Brisbane and Adelaide International

Williams was scheduled to start her 2020 season at the Brisbane International but withdrew before the tournament began. She also had to withdraw from the Adelaide International.