Venus Williams facts for kids

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Venus Williams

Venus Williams in 2001
Full name	Venus Ebony Starr Williams
Country (sports)	United States
Residence	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Born	(1980-06-17) June 17, 1980 (age 45) Lynwood, California, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Turned pro	October 1994
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
College	Indiana University East (BSBA)
Coach	Hugo Armando (2023–2024), Diego Ayala (2025-present)
Prize money	US$42,684,864 4th in all-time rankings
Singles
Career record	819–281 (74.5%)
Career titles	49
Highest ranking	No. 1 (February 25, 2002)
Current ranking	No. 145 (18 January, 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	F (2003, 2017)
French Open	F (2002)
Wimbledon	W (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008)
US Open	W (2000, 2001)
Other tournaments
Grand Slam Cup	W (1998)
Tour Finals	W (2008)
Olympic Games	W (2000)
Doubles
Career record	186–39 (82.7%)
Career titles	22
Highest ranking	No. 1 (June 7, 2010)
Current ranking	No. 145 (November 24, 2025)
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
Tour Finals	SF (2009)
Olympic Games	W (2000, 2008, 2012)
Mixed doubles
Career record	31–11 (73.8%)
Career titles	2
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	W (1998)
French Open	W (1998)
Wimbledon	F (2006)
US Open	QF (1998)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	F (2016)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	W (1999), record 21–4
Hopman Cup	RR (2013)
Spouse(s)	Andrea Preti ​ (m. 2025)​
Signature
Medal record Women's tennis Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney Singles Gold 2000 Sydney Doubles Gold 2008 Beijing Doubles Gold 2012 London Doubles Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Mixed doubles

Venus Ebony Starr Williams, born on June 17, 1980, is an amazing American professional tennis player. She has been ranked as the world's number one player in both women's singles and doubles. Venus has won many important tennis titles, including seven Grand Slam singles championships. Five of these wins were at Wimbledon and two at the US Open. She also won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in singles. In doubles, she has won 22 titles, including 14 Grand Slam championships and three Olympic gold medals, often playing with her younger sister, Serena.

Venus and Serena Williams were coached by their parents, Oracene Price and Richard Williams. Venus became a professional player in 1994. She reached her first major final at the US Open when she was just 17. In 2000 and 2001, Venus won both Wimbledon and the US Open titles. She also earned an Olympic singles gold medal in Sydney. On February 25, 2002, she became the world's number one singles player. She was the first African American woman to achieve this important ranking in the modern era of tennis.

Venus faced some challenges, including injuries and health issues. Despite these, she continued to play at a high level. She won Wimbledon again in 2007 and 2008. With her sister Serena, she won 14 women's doubles Grand Slam titles. They were a powerful team and never lost a major doubles final. Together, they also won three Olympic gold medals in women's doubles. Venus also won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, bringing her total Grand Slam titles to 23.

The Williams sisters changed women's tennis with their powerful and athletic style. Venus has earned millions of dollars in prize money throughout her career.

Early Life and Tennis Beginnings

Williams sisters at a Pam Shriver event in Baltimore, 1994

Venus Williams was born in Lynwood, California. Her parents are Richard Williams and Oracene Price.

When Venus was eleven, her family moved from Compton, California, to West Palm Beach, Florida. This move allowed Venus and her sister Serena to train at a special tennis academy. The coach, Rick Macci, noticed their talent and helped them.

Richard Williams, their father, decided to stop sending his daughters to junior tennis tournaments when Venus was eleven. He wanted them to focus on school and not rush their tennis careers. At that time, Venus had an amazing record of 63 wins and 0 losses in junior tournaments. She was ranked number one among under-12 players in Southern California. In 1995, her father took over all their coaching.

Venus's Powerful Playing Style

Venus Williams is known for her aggressive and strong tennis game. She hits the ball with great power from all over the court. This style often leads to many winning shots.

Her serves are very powerful, helping her score many aces. At her best, her first serve could reach speeds of about 199 km/h (124 mph). She also uses different types of serves to keep opponents guessing. Venus likes to move to the net to finish points quickly. Her height, at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), gives her a long reach. This helps her make difficult shots, especially at the net.

Venus is a smart player who can hit winning shots from any position. She is also very fast and covers the court well. Her excellent footwork and athleticism are key parts of her game.

Venus's Amazing Tennis Career

Becoming a Professional Player (1994–1996)

Venus Williams became a professional tennis player on October 31, 1994, when she was 14. In her very first professional tournament, she won her first match. She even led against the world No. 2 player before losing. This was her only tournament in 1994.

In 1995, Venus played a few more events. She reached the quarterfinals in Oakland, beating a top-20 player for the first time. In 1996, she played five tournaments.

First Major Final and Top 10 Ranking (1997–1998)

In 1997, Venus played 15 tournaments. She beat a top-10 player for the first time in March. Her ranking entered the top 100 in April. She made her Grand Slam debut at the French Open. At the US Open, she reached her first major final, but lost to Martina Hingis.

In 1998, Venus played her sister Serena for the first time as professionals at the Australian Open. Venus won her first singles title in Oklahoma City. She also won a big tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida. On March 30, 1998, she entered the top 10 rankings. She reached the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments that year. Venus also won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles with Justin Gimelstob. She won her first two women's doubles titles with Serena.

Winning More Titles and Reaching World No. 3 (1999)

In 1999, Venus successfully defended her titles in Oklahoma City and Key Biscayne. In Key Biscayne, she beat her sister Serena in the final. This was the first time two sisters played each other in a WTA Tour final. Venus won her first clay-court title in Hamburg. She also won the Italian Open.

At the French Open, Venus and Serena won their first Grand Slam women's doubles title together. Venus reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. She also helped the USA team win the Fed Cup. She finished the year ranked No. 3 in the world.

Olympic Gold and First Grand Slam Singles Titles (2000)

In 2000, Venus missed the first five months of the year due to wrist injuries. When she returned, she went on an amazing winning streak. She won 35 singles matches in a row and six tournaments.

She won her first major singles title at Wimbledon, beating Lindsay Davenport in the final. She also won the women's doubles title with Serena. Venus then won three more tournaments in the US.

At the US Open, Venus won her second major singles title, again defeating Lindsay Davenport. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she won the gold medal in singles. She also won a gold medal in women's doubles with her younger sister Serena. Venus finished the year ranked world No. 3 with six singles titles.

More Major Wins and Doubles Golden Slam (2001)

In 2001, Venus reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. With Serena, she won the doubles title there, completing a "Career Golden Slam" in women's doubles. This means they won all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal in doubles.

Venus won the Key Biscayne Open, saving eight championship points in the final. Her ranking rose to a career-high of No. 2. She successfully defended her Wimbledon title, beating Justine Henin in the final. She also won the San Diego and New Haven tournaments again.

Venus won the US Open singles title for the second year in a row. She played against her sister Serena in the final, which was a historic moment for the sisters. Venus became one of only six women to win both Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive years.

Reaching World No. 1 (2002)

Venus began 2002 by winning two tournaments. On February 25, she became the world No. 1 singles player for the first time. She was the first African-American woman to achieve this important ranking.

She reached the finals of the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. In all three finals, she played against her sister Serena, who won each time. Venus and Serena also won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon. Venus finished 2002 ranked No. 2, having won seven titles.

Injuries and Personal Challenges (2003–2006)

In 2003, Venus reached the final of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, losing both to Serena. This was a unique time with the sisters meeting in four consecutive Grand Slam finals. Venus and Serena also won the Australian Open doubles title.

Later in 2003, Venus faced a very difficult personal time and an abdominal injury. This kept her from playing for the rest of the year. Her ranking dropped out of the top 10.

In 2004, Venus struggled with injuries and inconsistent results. She won two clay-court titles. At Wimbledon, she had an early exit.

In 2005, Venus won her third Wimbledon singles title. She saved a match point in the final against Lindsay Davenport. This was her fifth Grand Slam singles title and her first since 2001. She finished the year ranked No. 10.

In 2006, Venus dealt with a wrist injury. She had an early loss at the Australian Open and missed the US Open. Her ranking fell to No. 46.

Fourth and Fifth Wimbledon Titles (2007–2008)

Venus missed the 2007 Australian Open due to her wrist injury. She returned to win a title in Memphis. At Wimbledon, ranked No. 31, she was seeded 23rd. She fought through tough matches to reach the final and won her fourth Wimbledon title. She became the lowest-seeded Wimbledon champion ever. Her ranking returned to the top 20. At the US Open, she reached the semifinals, moving her ranking to No. 9.

In 2008, Venus reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. At Wimbledon, she defended her title, winning her fifth Wimbledon singles title by beating Serena in the final. This was her seventh Grand Slam singles title. Venus and Serena also won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Venus and Serena won their second Olympic gold medal in women's doubles. Venus also won the year-ending WTA Tour Championships for the first time. She finished 2008 ranked No. 6.

Doubles Success and Continued Singles Play (2009–2010)

In 2009, Venus and Serena won three Grand Slam women's doubles titles: the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. This made it four consecutive major doubles titles for the sisters. Venus reached the Wimbledon singles final again, but lost to Serena. She finished the year ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 3 in doubles.

In 2010, Venus reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. She won two more singles titles. Her ranking improved to No. 2 in the world, behind only Serena. This was the fourth time the Williams sisters held the top two spots. Venus and Serena won the French Open women's doubles title, becoming world No. 1 in doubles. They became only the sixth and seventh women to be No. 1 in both singles and doubles. Venus missed the end of 2010 due to a knee injury, finishing the year ranked No. 5 in singles.

Health Challenges and Comeback (2011–2013)

In 2011, Venus faced significant health issues. She retired from a match at the Australian Open due to a hip injury. Later, she withdrew from the US Open after being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome. This is an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and muscle and joint pain. This diagnosis affected her career, and her ranking dropped to No. 102.

In 2012, Venus began her comeback. She received wildcards for several tournaments. At the Miami Open, she beat world No. 3 Petra Kvitová. At Wimbledon, she and Serena won their fifth Wimbledon doubles title. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the Williams sisters won their third Olympic gold medal in women's doubles. This made them the most decorated Olympic tennis players. Venus also won her 44th career singles title at the Luxembourg Open. She finished the year ranked No. 24.

In 2013, Venus continued to deal with a back injury. She reached the semifinals in Charleston, losing to Serena. She also helped the USA win a Fed Cup tie. She missed Wimbledon for the first time in her career due to injury.

Ending a Title Drought and Top 10 Return (2014–2015)

In 2014, Venus won her first title in four years at the Dubai Tennis Championships. At 33 years old, she became one of the oldest women to win a WTA singles title. She had a strong run at the Rogers Cup, beating her sister Serena in the semifinals. She finished the year ranked No. 19.

In 2015, Venus started strong by winning her 46th career singles title at the Auckland Open. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, her first major quarterfinal since 2010. She achieved her 700th career win at the Wuhan Open, becoming only the ninth woman in the modern era to do so. She won the Wuhan Open, her biggest title in over five years. She also won the WTA Elite Trophy. These wins helped her re-enter the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2011, finishing the year at No. 7. She received the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award.

Wimbledon Semifinal and Olympic Silver (2016)

In 2016, Venus won her 49th career title at the Taiwan Open. She returned to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years. At the French Open, she reached the fourth round for the first time since 2010.

Williams at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships

At the Wimbledon Championships, Venus reached the semifinals, her first major semifinal since 2010. She and Serena won their 14th major doubles title together and sixth at Wimbledon. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Venus won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram. This made her the only female player to win a medal in all three events (singles, doubles, and mixed). Her five Olympic medals tied the record for most Olympic medals in tennis. She finished the year ranked No. 17.

Two Major Finals and Return to Top 5 (2017)

In 2017, Venus had an incredible season. She reached the final of the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam final since 2009. She played against Serena in the final, but lost. She also reached the semifinals of the Miami Open, beating world No. 1 Angelique Kerber.

At Wimbledon, Venus reached her ninth final, but lost to Garbiñe Muguruza. She reached the semifinals of the US Open. This meant she reached the second week of all four Grand Slams in a single season for the first time since 2010. She returned to the top five in the WTA rankings for the first time since 2011. Venus also qualified for the WTA Finals and reached the final, finishing runner-up. She finished the year ranked No. 5 and earned the most prize money that year.

Continued Challenges and Injuries (2018–2020)

In 2018, Venus played her 1000th career match and earned her 20th Fed Cup singles win. She reached the semifinals at Indian Wells. However, she continued to struggle with injuries and her ranking dropped to No. 40 by the end of the season.

In 2019, Venus showed flashes of her old form. She beat world No. 3 Petra Kvitová at Indian Wells. She also reached the quarterfinals of the Birmingham Classic, returning to the top 50. At Wimbledon, she lost to 15-year-old qualifier Coco Gauff in the first round.

In 2020, Venus continued to face challenges. She lost in the first round of the Australian Open to Coco Gauff again. The season was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She finished the year with only one match win and her ranking fell to No. 78.

Later Career and Final Doubles Match (2021–2022)

The Williams sisters in 2022 during their final doubles match together

In 2021, Venus reached the second round of the Australian Open. She played her record-breaking 90th Grand Slam appearance at Wimbledon, where she also won her 90th match at the tournament.

In 2022, Venus received a wildcard for the US Open. She played doubles with Serena at the US Open, which was a historic night match. This was the final Grand Slam tournament match for the sisters as a doubles team, as Serena retired. Venus later said she also retired from playing doubles.

30th Year on Tour and Recent Play (2023–2026)

In 2023, Venus started her 30th year on the WTA Tour. She won a match at the Auckland Open. She later won her first match as a 43-year-old at the Birmingham Classic, beating a top 50 player. She continued to be affected by injuries, including a serious knee injury at Wimbledon. At the US Open, she played her 100th career match at the event. She finished the year ranked No. 412.

In 2024, Venus intended to return to play in March. She played in Indian Wells and Miami, but lost in the first round of both tournaments.

In 2025, Venus accepted a wildcard for the Washington Open, where she won her first-round match. She also reached the doubles quarterfinal there. She played in the 2025 Cincinnati Open and US Open, losing in the first round of both. However, she reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2017 in women's doubles at the US Open.

In 2026, Venus received wildcards for the Auckland Open and the Hobart International, but lost in the first round of both. She also played in the Australian Open, where she was eliminated in the first round.

Fighting for Equal Prize Money

For many years, women tennis players were not paid the same as men at some major tournaments, like the French Open and Wimbledon. In 2005, Venus Williams spoke with officials from these tournaments. She argued that female tennis players should receive the same prize money as male players.

A key moment was an essay Venus published in The Times in 2006. In it, she said Wimbledon was "on the wrong side of history." Her arguments gained support from important people, including the British Prime Minister. Later, the Women's Tennis Association and UNESCO started a campaign for gender equality in sports, with Venus leading the effort.

Because of this strong pressure, Wimbledon announced in February 2007 that it would give equal prize money to all players. The French Open followed suit a day later. Many people praised Venus for her courage and leadership in making this change happen. Venus herself became the first woman to benefit from this new rule when she won Wimbledon in 2007 and received the same prize money as the male winner, Roger Federer.

Other Fun On-Court Activities

A Friendly Match Against Karsten Braasch (1998)

In 1998, Venus and her sister Serena played a fun "Battle of the Sexes" match against a male player named Karsten Braasch. He was ranked 203rd in the world. Braasch won against both sisters in single sets, beating Serena 6–1 and Venus 6–2.

Venus's Life Off the Court

Williams for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's "National Wear Red Day"

In 2007, Venus earned her associate degree in fashion design.

In 2015, Venus received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Indiana University East. She studied online while playing tennis professionally.

Venus was raised as a Jehovah's Witness.

Business Ventures

Venus Williams is the CEO of her own interior design company, V Starr Interiors. Her company has designed sets for TV shows and homes in Florida.

In 2007, Venus launched her own fashion line called EleVen. She loves fashion and enjoys creating clothes and shoes that she wears on and off the court.

In 2009, Venus and Serena became part-owners of the Miami Dolphins football team. They were the first African-American women to own a share in an NFL team.

In 2010, Venus released her first book, Come to Win; On How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession. The book became a bestseller.

Awards and Recognition

Venus Williams is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

In 2011, Time magazine named her one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis."

In 2018, Tennis Magazine ranked Venus as the eighth-best female player of the modern era.

In 2020, both the Tennis Channel and Newsday also ranked her as the eighth-greatest female player of all time.

Equipment

When Venus was 14 in 1995, she signed a deal with Reebok for her clothes and shoes. She used a Wilson Hammer 6.2 Stretch racket.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Finals

Singles: 16 (7 titles, 9 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1997	US Open	Hard	Martina Hingis	0–6, 4–6
Win	2000	Wimbledon	Grass	Lindsay Davenport	6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Win	2000	US Open	Hard	Lindsay Davenport	6–4, 7–5
Win	2001	Wimbledon (2)	Grass	Justine Henin	6–1, 3–6, 6–0
Win	2001	US Open (2)	Hard	Serena Williams	6–2, 6–4
Loss	2002	French Open	Clay	Serena Williams	5–7, 3–6
Loss	2002	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–7(4–7), 3–6
Loss	2002	US Open	Hard	Serena Williams	4–6, 3–6
Loss	2003	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	6–7(4–7), 6–3, 4–6
Loss	2003	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Win	2005	Wimbledon (3)	Grass	Lindsay Davenport	4–6, 7–6(7–4), 9–7
Win	2007	Wimbledon (4)	Grass	Marion Bartoli	6–4, 6–1
Win	2008	Wimbledon (5)	Grass	Serena Williams	7–5, 6–4
Loss	2009	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–7(3–7), 2–6
Loss	2017	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	4–6, 4–6
Loss	2017	Wimbledon	Grass	Garbiñe Muguruza	5–7, 0–6

Doubles: 14 (14 titles)

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

Mixed doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1998	Australian Open	Hard	Justin Gimelstob	Helena Suková Cyril Suk	6–2, 6–1
Win	1998	French Open	Clay	Justin Gimelstob	Serena Williams Luis Lobo	6–4, 6–4
Loss	2006	Wimbledon	Grass	Bob Bryan	Vera Zvonareva Andy Ram	3–6, 2–6

World Team Tennis

Venus Williams played 14 seasons of World TeamTennis. She debuted in 2000 with the St. Louis Aces. She also played for the Delaware Smash and the Philadelphia Freedoms. Later, she played eight seasons with the Washington Kastles. She won five King Trophies, including four with the Kastles. She was named the 2012 WTT Final MVP.

Records and Achievements

At the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, Venus Williams set a record for the most Grand Slam tournaments played, with 90 appearances. She holds the record for the longest time between a player's first and most recent major singles finals appearances. Venus won four Olympic gold medals (one in singles and three in women's doubles with her sister) and one silver (in mixed doubles). This ties her with Kathleen McKane Godfree for the most Olympic medals won by a tennis player.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she became only the second player to win Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles at one Olympic Games. After winning silver in mixed doubles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Venus became the first tennis player to win a medal at four Olympic Games. She was also the first player in the modern era to win an Olympic medal in all three events (singles, doubles, mixed). She and Serena are the only tennis players in history with four Olympic gold medals. They are also the only ones to win Olympic gold in the same event three times. They are the only women in the modern era to win Olympic tennis gold in both singles and doubles.

• These records were achieved in the modern era of tennis.
• Records in bold mean she is the only one to achieve them.
• Records in italics are still active.

Awards

Filmography

• Venus and Serena (2012), a documentary film about the lives and careers of Venus and Serena Williams.
• King Richard (2021, executive producer), a biographical sports drama film about Venus and Serena Williams.

Television

See also

In Spanish: Venus Williams para niños