kids encyclopedia robot

Serena Williams facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Serena Williams
Serena-Smiling-2020.png
Williams at the 2020 U.S. Open
Full name Serena Jameka Williams
Country (sports)  United States
Residence Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Born (1981-09-26) September 26, 1981 (age 42)
Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Turned pro October 1995
Retired September 2022 (inactive)
Prize money US$94,816,730
Signature
SerenaWilliamsSignature.png

Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is a retired American professional tennis player. She is listed among the greatest tennis players of all time. She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time.

Early life

Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Oracene Price and Richard Williams. She has three half-sisters and one full older sister, Venus. She also has at least seven half-siblings on her father's side.

When the children were young, the family moved to Compton, California. Serena began playing tennis when she was four and was coached by her parents.

Venus and Serena 1993
Williams sisters at a Pam Shriver event in Baltimore, 1993

When Serena was nine, her family moved from Compton to West Palm Beach, Florida, so she could attend the tennis academy of Rick Macci. In 1995, when Williams was in the ninth grade, her father pulled his daughters out of Macci's academy and took over all coaching at their home.

Career

Serena turned professional in 1995 and won her first major singles title at the 1999 U.S. Open. Since then, she has won many more tournaments and four Olympic gold medals. Three of her gold medals are in women's doubles—an all-time joint record shared with her sister Venus.

Serena holds the most combined major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles among active players, with 39: 23 in singles, 14 in women's doubles (all with her sister, Venus), and two in mixed doubles. She became the first tennis player to earn a career Golden Slam (winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and a gold medal) in both singles and doubles.

Williams S. RG18 (17) (41168711240)
Williams at the 2018 French Open, her first grand slam since returning to the tour

On September 1, 2017, Williams gave birth to a daughter named Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. She is commonly called "Olympia."

On December 30, 2017, Williams played her first match since giving birth. She has not won as many games since returning to tennis after her daughter was born. She began doing better in 2018, but in one match, Williams was warned for illegal coaching, penalized a point for breaking her racket, and then penalized a game for verbal abuse of the chair umpire.

Serena improved in 2019, and in 2020, she won her first first singles title as a mother. 2021 brought more injuries and more withdrawals from tournaments.

Retirement

In August 2022, Williams wrote an article for Vogue, in which she announced her plans to 'evolve away' from tennis after the U.S. Open. She said her reasons were her growing family and her other ways of making money. After her announcement, many fellow players including Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff praised Williams and said they would not be playing tennis if it weren’t for her.

Earnings

Serena is the highest-earning woman athlete of all time. She was the world's highest-paid woman athlete in 2016, earning almost $29 million, and again in 2017, earning $27 million. In 2021, she was ranked 28th on Forbes' World's Highest-Paid Athletes list.

Playing style

Serena's serve is considered the greatest in the history of women's tennis. It is known for its speed and accuracy. Her ball toss allows her to serve to any position on the court without giving a clue with the toss of the ball before the serve.

Williams is also known for her forceful groundstrokes, which are considered two of the most powerful shots in the history of women's tennis.

Even though Williams plays aggressively, she is also an excellent defender who can move quickly across the court. She has been praised for her mental strength and competitive spirit on the court.

Legacy

Williams is considered one of the best female tennis players of all time. Along with her sister Venus, Williams has been said to help increase diversity within the sport of tennis.

For their first match of March 2019, the women of the United States women's national soccer team each wore a jersey with the name of a woman they were honoring on the back; Crystal Dunn chose the name of Serena Williams.

In December 2019, The Associated Press named Williams Female Athlete of the Decade for the 2010s.

In September 2022, Twitter said that Williams was the most tweeted-about female athlete ever.

Personal life

Web Summit 2018 - Centre Stage, Day 1 -November 6 SD5 6360 (44835575425)
Williams's husband Alexis Ohanian in 2018

Williams is married to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. He proposed to her on December 10, 2016, in Rome. On December 30, 2016, Williams announced their engagement in a Reddit post. They married on November 16, 2017, in New Orleans.

In September 2017, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, who is often referred to as "Olympia." She posts many pictures of her and her daughter on the tennis court with rackets. Serena announced that she is pregnant for the second time in May 2023.

Williams was raised a Jehovah's Witness, but states she has "never really practiced it."

Off-court activities

Equipment and endorsements

Serena has had endorsement deals (a deal in which a company pays an athlete to wear their product or use their business) with many companies. They include: Puma, Nike, Wilson, Gatorade, Delta Air Lines, Audemars Piguet, Aston Martin, Pepsi, Beats by Dre headphones, Mission Athletecare, Berlei bras, OPI Products, OnePiece, IBM, Mini, Intel, Tempur, Aston Martin, and Chase Bank.

Fashion

Williams has been noted for her unusual and colorful outfits on court. She had special clothing lines with Puma and Nike. Since 2004, she has run her own line of designer apparel called "Aneres" - her first name spelled backward. In 2009, she began selling a collection of handbags and jewelry called Signature Statement. In February 2019, Serena Williams was appointed to the board of directors of the online fashion marketplace Poshmark. In the fall of 2019, Williams launched the first collection of her sustainable clothing line, "S by Serena."

Activism

Williams has become more involved in social change, using social media to share her opinions. In 2016 she posted her support of Black Lives Matter on her Facebook page.

In 2014, she founded the equity company "Serena Ventures."

Despite being the highest-paid woman athlete of all time, in 2016, Serena Williams wrote an open letter in Porter Magazine's "Incredible Women of 2016." In it, she spoke about gender equality and her struggles as a woman in tennis.

Entertainment

Williams has appeared in guest-starring roles and cameos on television and also provided voice work on animated shows. She has posed for the 2003 and 2004 editions of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2021, Williams signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios.

Language fluency

In addition to English as her native language, Williams also speaks conversational French and knows some Spanish and Italian. At the 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018 French Open she gave her on-court interviews in French, delighting the crowd.

Miami Dolphins venture

In August 2009, Williams and her sister Venus became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins after purchasing a small stake in the team. They live near each other in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which is about an hour's drive from the Dolphins' stadium. They are the first black women to hold any amount of ownership in an NFL franchise.

Charity work

In 2004 and 2005, Serena and her sister, Venus, visited hospitals and played several tennis matches to raise money for the local Ronald McDonald House charities. They chose cities in which most of the citizens are black people. Williams has also been involved in clinics at schools and community centers, particularly those that have programs focusing on at-risk youth. She is a supporter and contributor of First Serve Miami, a foundation for youth who want to learn tennis but cannot afford formal lessons.

Serena began the Serena Williams Foundation that built schools in Matooni, Kenya and Trelawny Parish, Jamaica. It also provides college scholarships for underprivileged students in the United States.

In 2016, in their childhood home of Compton, California, Serena and Venus teamed up to found the Yetunde Price Resource Center, in honor of their late sister.

Writing

The Williams sisters, with author Hilary Beard, wrote a book titled Venus & Serena: Serving From The Hip: 10 Rules For Living, Loving and Winning, which was published in 2005. Williams released her first solo autobiography, entitled On the Line, after the 2009 U.S. Open.

Soccer

On July 21, 2020, Williams was announced as part of a nearly all-women investors' group that was awarded a new franchise in the National Women's Soccer League. Serena's husband Alexis is the only male in the ownership group. The team, Angel City Football Club, began playing in 2022.

Serena Williams quotes

  • "Everyone's dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard."
  • "I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are."
  • "I’ve thought it would be cool to have a baby young. There’s always something you have to give up for success. Everything comes at a cost. Just what are you willing to pay for it?"
  • "I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks."

Interesting facts about Serena Williams

  • Serena Williams won the U.S. Open at the age of 17.
  • She studied fashion at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale from 2000-2003.
  • Serena Williams holds the most combined major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
  • She also won four Olympic gold medals: 3 in doubles tennis with her sister Venus and one in singles tennis.
  • Serena Williams was the highest-paid female athlete in the world in the years 2016 and 2017.
  • Serena has played 60 Grand Slam Tournaments in her entire career.
  • She is the oldest female tennis player to reach the No.1 ranking. She accomplished this at age 35 and 124 days.
  • Serena retired from tennis in September 2022.

Career statistics

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through the 2022 U.S. Open.

Tournament 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 SR W–L Win %
Australian Open 2R 3R 4R QF A W A W 3R W QF W W A 4R QF 4R W F W A QF 3R SF A 7 / 20 92–13 88%
French Open 4R 3R A QF W SF QF A A QF 3R QF QF A 1R W 2R W F A 4R 3R 2R 4R A 3 / 19 69–14 83%
Wimbledon 3R A SF QF W W F 3R A QF F W W 4R W 4R 3R W W A F F NH 1R 1R 7 / 21 98–14 88%
US Open 3R W QF F W A QF 4R 4R QF W SF A F W W W SF SF A F F SF A 3R 6 / 21 108–15 88%
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 18–4 8–2 8–3 2–2 23 / 81 367–56 87%

Note: Williams withdrew from the 2018 French Open before her fourth round match and the 2020 French Open before her second round match, both of which do not officially count as losses.

Grand Slam tournament finals

Singles: 33 (23–10)

Result Year Tournament Surface Opponents Score
Win 1999 US Open Hard Switzerland Martina Hingis 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
Loss 2001 US Open Hard United States Venus Williams 2–6, 4–6
Win 2002 French Open Clay United States Venus Williams 7–5, 6–3
Win 2002 Wimbledon Grass United States Venus Williams 7–6(7–4), 6–3
Win 2002 US Open (2) Hard United States Venus Williams 6–4, 6–3
Win 2003 Australian Open Hard United States Venus Williams 7–6(7–4), 3–6, 6–4
Win 2003 Wimbledon (2) Grass United States Venus Williams 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Loss 2004 Wimbledon Grass Russia Maria Sharapova 1–6, 4–6
Win 2005 Australian Open (2) Hard United States Lindsay Davenport 2–6, 6–3, 6–0
Win 2007 Australian Open (3) Hard Russia Maria Sharapova 6–1, 6–2
Loss 2008 Wimbledon Grass United States Venus Williams 5–7, 4–6
Win 2008 US Open (3) Hard Serbia Jelena Janković 6–4, 7–5
Win 2009 Australian Open (4) Hard Russia Dinara Safina 6–0, 6–3
Win 2009 Wimbledon (3) Grass United States Venus Williams 7–6(7–3), 6–2
Win 2010 Australian Open (5) Hard Belgium Justine Henin 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Win 2010 Wimbledon (4) Grass Russia Vera Zvonareva 6–3, 6–2
Loss 2011 US Open Hard Australia Samantha Stosur 2–6, 3–6
Win 2012 Wimbledon (5) Grass Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 6–1, 5–7, 6–2
Win 2012 US Open (4) Hard Belarus Victoria Azarenka 6–2, 2–6, 7–5
Win 2013 French Open (2) Clay Russia Maria Sharapova 6–4, 6–4
Win 2013 US Open (5) Hard Belarus Victoria Azarenka 7–5, 6–7(6–8), 6–1
Win 2014 US Open (6) Hard Denmark Caroline Wozniacki 6–3, 6–3
Win 2015 Australian Open (6) Hard Russia Maria Sharapova 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Win 2015 French Open (3) Clay Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová 6–3, 6–7(2–7), 6–2
Win 2015 Wimbledon (6) Grass Spain Garbiñe Muguruza 6–4, 6–4
Loss 2016 Australian Open Hard Germany Angelique Kerber 4–6, 6–3, 4–6
Loss 2016 French Open Clay Spain Garbiñe Muguruza 5–7, 4–6
Win 2016 Wimbledon (7) Grass Germany Angelique Kerber 7–5, 6–3
Win 2017 Australian Open (7) Hard United States Venus Williams 6–4, 6–4
Loss 2018 Wimbledon Grass Germany Angelique Kerber 3–6, 3–6
Loss 2018 US Open Hard Japan Naomi Osaka 2–6, 4–6
Loss 2019 Wimbledon Grass Romania Simona Halep 2–6, 2–6
Loss 2019 US Open Hard Canada Bianca Andreescu 3–6, 5–7

Women's doubles: 14 (14–0)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1999 French Open Clay United States Venus Williams Switzerland Martina Hingis
Russia Anna Kournikova
6–3, 6–7(2–7), 8–6
Win 1999 US Open Hard United States Venus Williams United States Chanda Rubin
France Sandrine Testud
4–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win 2000 Wimbledon Grass United States Venus Williams France Julie Halard-Decugis
Japan Ai Sugiyama
6–3, 6–2
Win 2001 Australian Open Hard United States Venus Williams United States Lindsay Davenport
United States Corina Morariu
6–2, 2–6, 6–4
Win 2002 Wimbledon (2) Grass United States Venus Williams Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
Argentina Paola Suárez
6–2, 7–5
Win 2003 Australian Open (2) Hard United States Venus Williams Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
Argentina Paola Suárez
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 2008 Wimbledon (3) Grass United States Venus Williams United States Lisa Raymond
Australia Samantha Stosur
6–2, 6–2
Win 2009 Australian Open (3) Hard United States Venus Williams Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová
Japan Ai Sugiyama
6–3, 6–3
Win 2009 Wimbledon (4) Grass United States Venus Williams Australia Samantha Stosur
Australia Rennae Stubbs
7–6(7–4), 6–4
Win 2009 US Open (2) Hard United States Venus Williams Zimbabwe Cara Black
United States Liezel Huber
6–2, 6–2
Win 2010 Australian Open (4) Hard United States Venus Williams Zimbabwe Cara Black
United States Liezel Huber
6–4, 6–3
Win 2010 French Open (2) Clay United States Venus Williams Czech Republic Květa Peschke
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
6–2, 6–3
Win 2012 Wimbledon (5) Grass United States Venus Williams Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
7–5, 6–4
Win 2016 Wimbledon (6) Grass United States Venus Williams Hungary Tímea Babos
Kazakhstan Yaroslava Shvedova
6–3, 6–4

Mixed doubles: 4 (2–2)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1998 French Open Clay Argentina Luis Lobo United States Justin Gimelstob
United States Venus Williams
4–6, 4–6
Win 1998 Wimbledon Grass Belarus Max Mirnyi India Mahesh Bhupathi
Croatia Mirjana Lučić
6–4, 6–4
Win 1998 US Open Hard Belarus Max Mirnyi United States Patrick Galbraith
United States Lisa Raymond
6–2, 6–2
Loss 1999 Australian Open Hard Belarus Max Mirnyi South Africa David Adams
South Africa Mariaan de Swardt
4–6, 6–4, 6–7(5–7)
  • Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
  • Records in italics are currently active streaks.
Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2001 The Simpsons Herself (voice) Episode: "Tennis the Menace"
2002 My Wife and Kids Miss Wiggins Episode: "Crouching Mother, Hidden Father"
2003 Street Time Meeka Hayes Episode: "Fly Girl"
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Chloe Spiers Episode: "Brotherhood"
2004 The Division Jennifer Davis Episode: "Lost and Found"
2004 Hair Show Agent Ross
2005 Higglytown Heroes Snowplow Driver Hero (voice) Episode: "Higgly Hoedown/Eubie's Turbo Sled"
2005 ER Alice Watson Episode: "Two Ships "
2005 All of Us Herself Episode: "Not So Wonderful News"
2005 America's Next Top Model Herself Episode: "The Girl with the Worst Photo in History"
2005–2007 Punk'd Herself 3 episodes
2007 Loonatics Unleashed Queen Athena (voice) Episode: "Apocalypso"
2007 Avatar: The Last Airbender Ming (voice) Episode: "The Day of Black Sun: Part 1 – The Invasion"
2006 The Bernie Mac Show Herself Episode: "Spinning Wheels"
2008 The Game Herself Episode: "The List Episode"
2008 MADtv Herself / Black Racket Episode: "Episode 7"
2011 Keeping Up with the Kardashians Herself Episode: "Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event – Part 2"
2012 Drop Dead Diva Kelly Stevens Episode: "Rigged"
2012 Venus and Serena Herself
2013 The Legend of Korra Female Sage (voice) Episode: "Beginnings, Part 1"
2015 7 Days in Hell Herself
2015 Pixels Herself Cameo Appearance
2016 Lemonade music video Herself Cameo Appearance in "Sorry"
2016 Serena: The Other Side of Greatness Herself Documentary
2018 Ocean's 8 Herself Cameo Appearance
2018 Being Serena Herself Documentary

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Serena Williams para niños

  • WTA Tour records
  • Grand Slam (tennis)
  • List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players
  • List of WTA number 1 ranked doubles tennis players
  • List of highest ranked tennis players per country
  • List of female tennis players
  • List of tennis tournaments
  • List of tennis rivalries
  • Tennis records of the Open Era – Women's singles
  • All-time tennis records – women's singles
  • Williams sisters rivalry
  • List of Grand Slam women's singles champions
  • List of Grand Slam women's doubles champions
  • List of Grand Slam mixed doubles champions
  • Women's sports
kids search engine
Serena Williams Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.