Serena Williams, born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, is widely regarded as the greatest women's tennis player of all time. Over her illustrious career, she has not only dominated the sport but also left an indelible mark on its history. Williams, the youngest of five daughters born to Richard Williams and Oracene Price, grew up in Compton, California, where her parents, especially her father Richard, coached her and her sister Venus on public tennis courts. Richard, a former sharecropper, was determined to see his daughters succeed in tennis, a sport he and Oracene taught themselves from books and videos.
Her journey to tennis stardom began when the family moved to Palm Beach, Florida, to train with coach Rick Macci. In 1995, at the age of 14, she made her professional debut, and by the end of 1997, she had risen to number 99 in the world rankings. The following year, she signed a $12 million endorsement deal with Puma after winning her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. Her rise continued as she and Venus became formidable forces, ushering in the power era of women's tennis with their athleticism and dominating play.
The year 2002 marked a significant milestone for her as she achieved the number one world ranking and completed a career Grand Slam. Her dominance, however, faced challenges in 2003 when she underwent knee surgery and tragically lost her older sister, Yetunde Price, to murder. Despite these setbacks, her resilience shone through as she recovered from injuries and personal losses to win multiple Grand Slam titles.
In 2017, she made history by winning the Australian Open while pregnant, eventually giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., and marrying Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Her postpartum journey was marked by health complications, including a blood clot, shedding light on the challenges faced by black women in maternal healthcare.
Her return to tennis in 2018, initially ranked 549th, prompted the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to implement new rules allowing players to use their pre-absence rankings for tournament entries after childbirth or injury. Beyond the tennis court, she delved into fashion with her "S by Serena" clothing line, jewelry ventures, and philanthropy. She serves as a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador, has opened schools in Kenya, and advocates for equal prize money for female tennis players.
Named the AP Female Athlete of the Decade for her dominance in the 2010s, Williams continues to inspire with her pursuit of excellence on and off the court. As her career evolves, she remains a symbol of strength, resilience, and a trailblazer who transcends the boundaries of sports.