Serena Williams

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Serena Williams is an American former professional tennis player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, she grew up in Compton, California, and turned pro in 1995. Serena reached world No. 1 in singles for 319 weeks and finished as year-end No. 1 five times.

She won 73 WTA singles titles, including 23 major titles—the most in the Open Era and the second-most of all time. Her Grand Slam tally includes seven Australian Open titles, three French Open titles, seven Wimbledon titles, and six US Open titles. She completed a career Golden Slam in singles by winning Olympic gold in 2012 and all four majors. In doubles, she achieved 23 major titles, all with her sister Venus, and four Olympic gold medals. The Williams sisters also completed a non-calendar-year Grand Slam in doubles (2009–2010).

Serena’s impact goes beyond her on-court success. She became a powerful symbol of athletic excellence and a champion for equality, earning numerous awards and becoming one of the highest-earning athletes in history thanks to prize money and endorsements. She helped push the sport toward greater athleticism and diversity, inspiring countless players around the world.

She retired from professional tennis in 2022 to focus on her family and her ventures. Off the court, she runs Serena Ventures, a fund investing in women- and minority-led startups, and was a co-owner of Angel City FC, a National Women’s Soccer League team. She is married to Alexis Ohanian, and they have two daughters, Olympia and Adira.