
Serena Williams facts for kids
![]() Williams at the 2013 US Open
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Full name | Serena Jameka Williams | ||||||||||||||||||
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Country | ![]() |
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Residence | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States | ||||||||||||||||||
Born | September 26, 1981 Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. |
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Height | 5 ft 9 in | ||||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | October 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | ||||||||||||||||||
Prize money |
US$88,233,301 (as of September 10, 2018)
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Singles | |||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 801–136 (85.49%) | ||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 72 WTA (5th in overall rankings), 0 ITF | ||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 1 (July 8, 2002) | ||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | No. 16 (September 10, 2018) | ||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam Singles results | |||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | W (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017) | ||||||||||||||||||
French Open | W (2002, 2013, 2015) | ||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | W (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) | ||||||||||||||||||
US Open | W (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
Championships | W (2001, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014) | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubles | |||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 187–33 (85%) | ||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 23 WTA, 0 ITF | ||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 1 (June 21, 2010) | ||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | No. 181 (July 2, 2018) | ||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam Doubles results | |||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | W (2001, 2003, 2009, 2010) | ||||||||||||||||||
French Open | W (1999, 2010) | ||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | W (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016) | ||||||||||||||||||
US Open | W (1999, 2009) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other Doubles tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
Championships | SF (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||
Mixed Doubles | |||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 27–4 (87.1%) | ||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | F (1999) | ||||||||||||||||||
French Open | F (1998) | ||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | W (1998) | ||||||||||||||||||
US Open | W (1998) | ||||||||||||||||||
Team Competitions | |||||||||||||||||||
Fed Cup | W (1999), record 16–1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hopman Cup | W (2003, 2008) | ||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated on: September 10, 2018. |
Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American professional tennis player. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight separate occasions between 2002 and 2017. She reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time on July 8, 2002. On her sixth occasion, she held the ranking for 186 consecutive weeks, tying the record set by Steffi Graf for the most consecutive weeks as No. 1 by a female tennis player. In total, she has been No. 1 for 319 weeks, which ranks third in the "Open Era" among female players behind Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.
Williams holds the most Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined among active players. Her 39 major titles puts her joint-third on the all-time list and second in the Open Era: 23 in singles, 14 in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. She is the most recent female player to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (2002–03 and 2014–15) and the third player to achieve this twice after Rod Laver and Steffi Graf. She is also the most recent player to have won a Grand Slam title on each surface (hard, clay and grass) in one calendar year. She is also, together with her sister Venus, the most recent player to have held all four Grand Slam women's doubles titles simultaneously (2009–10).
Her total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles marks the record for the most Grand Slam wins by a tennis player in the Open Era, and is second on the all-time list behind Margaret Court (24). She is also the only tennis player to have won ten Grand Slam singles titles in two separate decades. She has won an all-time record of 13 Grand Slam singles titles on hard court. Williams holds the Open Era record for most titles won at the Australian Open (7) and shares the Open Era record for most titles won at the US Open with Chris Evert (6). She also holds the all-time record for the most women's singles matches won at majors with 331 matches.
Williams has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all with her sister Venus, and the pair are unbeaten in Grand Slam doubles finals. As a team, she and Venus have the third most women's doubles Grand Slam titles, behind the 18 titles of Natasha Zvereva (14 with Gigi Fernández) and the record 20 titles won by Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver. Williams is also a five-time winner of the WTA Tour Championships in the singles division. She has also won four Olympic gold medals, one in women's singles and three in women's doubles—an all-time record shared with her sister, Venus. The arrival of the Williams sisters has been credited with ushering in a new era of power and athleticism on the women's professional tennis tour. Earning almost $29 million in prize money and endorsements, Williams was the highest paid female athlete in 2016. She repeated this feat in 2017 when she was the only woman on Forbes' list of the 100 highest paid athletes with $27 million in prize money and endorsements. She has won the 'Laureus Sportswoman of the Year' award four times (2003, 2010, 2016, 2018), and in December 2015, she was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine.
Contents
Personal life
The Williams sisters grew up in Los Angeles and currently live together in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States. Both are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Career statistics
Grand Slam tournament performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | NH |
Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | SR | W–L |
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Australian Open | 2R | 3R | 4R | QF | A | W | A | W | 3R | W | QF | W | W | A | 4R | QF | 4R | W | F | W | A | 7 / 17 | 81–10 |
French Open | 4R | 3R | A | QF | W | SF | QF | A | A | QF | 3R | QF | QF | A | 1R | W | 2R | W | F | A | 4R | 3 / 16 | 63–12 |
Wimbledon | 3R | A | SF | QF | W | W | F | 3R | A | QF | F | W | W | 4R | W | 4R | 3R | W | W | A | F | 7 / 18 | 92–11 |
US Open | 3R | W | QF | F | W | A | QF | 4R | 4R | QF | W | SF | A | F | W | W | W | SF | SF | A | F | 6 / 18 | 95–12 |
Win–Loss | 8–4 | 11–2 | 12–3 | 18–4 | 21–0 | 19–1 | 14–3 | 12–2 | 5–2 | 19–3 | 19–3 | 23–2 | 18–1 | 9–2 | 17–2 | 21–2 | 13–3 | 26–1 | 24–3 | 7–0 | 15–2 | 23 / 69 | 331–45 |
Grand Slam tournament finals
Singles: 31 (23 titles, 8 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponents | Score |
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Win | 1999 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–4) |
Loss | 2001 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 2002 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
Win | 2002 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–3 |
Win | 2002 | US Open (2) | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 2003 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 3–6, 6–4 |
Win | 2003 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
Loss | 2004 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
1–6, 4–6 |
Win | 2005 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
Win | 2007 | Australian Open (3) | Hard | ![]() |
6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 2008 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
5–7, 4–6 |
Win | 2008 | US Open (3) | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Win | 2009 | Australian Open (4) | Hard | ![]() |
6–0, 6–3 |
Win | 2009 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | ![]() |
7–6(7–3), 6–2 |
Win | 2010 | Australian Open (5) | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
Win | 2010 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 2011 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 3–6 |
Win | 2012 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 5–7, 6–2 |
Win | 2012 | US Open (4) | Hard | ![]() |
6–2, 2–6, 7–5 |
Win | 2013 | French Open (2) | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 2013 | US Open (5) | Hard | ![]() |
7–5, 6–7(6–8), 6–1 |
Win | 2014 | US Open (6) | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 2015 | Australian Open (6) | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–5) |
Win | 2015 | French Open (3) | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 6–7(2–7), 6–2 |
Win | 2015 | Wimbledon (6) | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 2016 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
Loss | 2016 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
5–7, 4–6 |
Win | 2016 | Wimbledon (7) | Grass | ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
Win | 2017 | Australian Open (7) | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 2018 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2018 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Women's doubles: 14 (14–0)
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Win | 1999 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–7(2–7), 8–6 |
Win | 1999 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Win | 2000 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 2001 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
Win | 2002 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 7–5 |
Win | 2003 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 2008 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 2009 | Australian Open (3) | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 2009 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
Win | 2009 | US Open (2) | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 2010 | Australian Open (4) | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 2010 | French Open (2) | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 2012 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 6–4 |
Win | 2016 | Wimbledon (6) | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Mixed doubles: 4 (2–2)
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Loss | 1998 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1998 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 1998 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Loss | 1999 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–7(5–7) |
Records and achievements
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
- Records in italics are currently active streaks.
Time span | Selected Grand Slam tournament records | Players matched |
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1999 US Open — 2003 Australian Open |
Career Grand Slam in singles | Doris Hart Maureen Connolly Shirley Fry Margaret Court Billie Jean King Chris Evert Martina Navratilova Steffi Graf Maria Sharapova |
2012 Wimbledon — 2015 Australian Open |
Career Grand Slam in singles after age 30 | Stands alone |
2012 Wimbledon — 2017 Australian Open |
Double Career Grand Slam in singles after age 30 | Stands alone |
1999 US Open — 2012 Olympics |
Career Golden Slam in singles | Steffi Graf |
2012 Wimbledon — 2015 Australian Open |
Career Golden Slam in singles after age 30 | Stands alone |
1999 French Open — 2003 Australian Open |
Career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles | Doris Hart Shirley Fry Margaret Court Martina Navratilova |
1999 French Open — 2012 Olympics |
Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles | Stands alone |
2012 Wimbledon — 2017 Australian Open |
Ten Grand Slam singles titles after age 30 | Stands alone |
1999 US Open — 2017 Australian Open |
23 Grand Slam singles titles | Stands alone |
2002 Wimbledon — 2017 Australian Open |
6 titles won without losing a set | Martina Navratilova |
2002 Wimbledon — 2017 Australian Open |
3 different Grand Slam titles won without losing a set | Chris Evert Steffi Graf Lindsay Davenport |
1999 US Open — 2017 Australian Open |
Thirteen hardcourt Grand Slam singles titles | Stands alone |
2012 Olympics — 2015 Wimbledon |
Simultaneous holder of Olympic singles gold and all four Grand Slams in singles | Steffi Graf |
2008 Olympics — 2010 French Open |
Simultaneous holder of Olympic doubles gold and all four Grand Slams in doubles (with Venus Williams) | Venus Williams |
1999 French Open — 2012 Olympics |
Double Career Golden Slam (2+ titles at all four Grand Slams & Olympic golds) in doubles (with Venus Williams) | Venus Williams |
2002 French Open — 2002 US Open |
100% (21–0) match winning percentage in 1 season | Helen Wills Maureen Connolly Shirley Fry Margaret Court Billie Jean King Chris Evert Steffi Graf Monica Seles |
2002 French Open — 2003 Australian Open |
Winner of non-calendar year Grand Slam | Maureen Connolly Margaret Court Martina Navratilova Steffi Graf |
2002 French Open — 2015 Wimbledon |
Winner of two non-calendar year Grand Slams | Steffi Graf |
2002 French Open — 2016 Wimbledon |
Winner of 10 Grand Slam singles titles in two separate decades (10 from 2000 to 2009 and 12 from 2010 to 2017) | Stands alone |
2002 French Open — 2013 French Open |
Winner of all four Grand Slam singles titles in two separate decades | Margaret Court Steffi Graf |
1999 US Open — 2013 French Open |
Winner of Grand Slam singles titles in three decades | Blanche Bingley Martina Navratilova |
1999 French Open — 2016 Wimbledon |
First 14 Grand Slam doubles finals won (with Venus Williams) | Venus Williams |
1999 US Open — 2015 French Open |
Triple Career Grand Slam (3+ titles at all four Grand Slams) in singles | Margaret Court Steffi Graf |
1999 US Open — 2013 French Open |
Double Career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles | Margaret Court Martina Navratilova |
1999 US Open — 2015 Wimbledon |
6+ titles at three different Grand Slams (Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) | Stands alone |
2002 Wimbledon — 2017 Australian Open |
7 titles at two different Grand Slams (Australian Open and Wimbledon) | Stands alone |
1998 Australian Open — 2016 French Open |
60+ wins at all four Grand Slams | Stands alone |
2012 Australian Open— 2017 Australian Open |
3 finals at each of the four Grand Slams since turning 30 | Stands alone |
Grand Slam tournaments | Time span | Records at each Grand Slam tournament | Players matched |
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Australian Open | 2007 | Unseeded winner of singles title | Chris O'Neil |
Australian Open | 2003–2017 | 7 women's singles titles (Open Era record) | Stands alone |
Australian Open | 2003–2017 | 8 finals overall | Stands alone |
French Open | 2002–2015 | 13 years between first and last title | Stands alone |
French Open | 2002–2016 | 14 years between first and last final | Stands alone |
French Open—Wimbledon | 2002, 2015 | Accomplished a "Channel Slam": Winning both tournaments in the same year | Margaret Court Billie Jean King Chris Evert Martina Navratilova Steffi Graf |
Wimbledon | 2012–2016 | 3 women's singles titles after age 30 | Stands alone |
US Open | 1999–2012 | Winner of singles titles in three decades | Stands alone |
US Open | 1999–2014 | 6 women's singles titles (Open Era record) | Chris Evert |
US Open | 1999–2014 | 15 years between first and last title | Stands alone |
US Open | 2011, 2013–2014 | Won as US Open Series Champion multiple times | Stands alone |
US Open | 2012–2014 | 3 women's singles titles after age 30 | Stands alone |
Time span | Other selected records | Players matched |
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1999–2016 | 23 Tier I / Premier Mandatory & Premier 5 singles titles overall | Stands alone |
1999–2016 | 32 Tier I / Premier Mandatory & Premier 5 singles finals overall | Stands alone |
1999–2015 | 16 Hard court Tier I / Premier Mandatory & Premier 5 singles titles overall | Stands alone |
2001 | Won WTA Tour Championships on debut | Maria Sharapova Petra Kvitová Dominika Cibulková |
2010 | Ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles simultaneously | Martina Navratilova Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Martina Hingis Lindsay Davenport Kim Clijsters |
2013–2016 | 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1 | Steffi Graf |
2003–2008 | 2 Hopman Cup titles | Dominik Hrbatý Tommy Robredo James Blake Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
2002–2015 | 8 Miami Masters singles titles overall | Stands alone |
2000–2012 | 4 Olympic Gold Medals overall | Venus Williams |
2000–2012 | 3 Olympic Gold Medals in Doubles (with Venus Williams) | Venus Williams |
2000–2016 | 93.75% (15–1) Olympic match winning record in doubles (with Venus Williams) | Venus Williams |
2001, 2012 | Two Year-End Championships won without losing a set | Martina Navratilova |
2001–2015 | Winning percentage of 82.86% at Year-End Championships | Stands alone |
1995–2017 | $84,463,131 prize money overall | Stands alone |
Images for kids
