Serena Williams

Serena Jameka Williams is an American former professional tennis player born September 26, 1981. Coached by her parents Oracene Price and Richard Williams alongside her elder sister Venus, she turned professional in 1995 and won her first major at the 1999 US Open. From 2002–2003, she dominated majors, winning all four consecutively over Venus in each final to achieve a non-calendar year Grand Slam (nicknamed the "Serena Slam"). After injuries and decline, she returned to form starting in 2007, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. Beginning with the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, she claimed eight of thirteen majors, including four in a row from 2014–2015 for a second "Serena Slam," and in 2017 won her 23rd major, surpassing Steffi Graf's Open Era record. She completed a career Golden Slam in singles at the 2012 Olympics and won 23 WTA doubles titles with Venus, including 14 major doubles championships—the pair undefeated in major doubles finals. The sisters achieved a non-calendar year doubles Grand Slam between 2009 Wimbledon and 2010 French Open, and Williams won four Olympic gold medals. She was the world's highest-paid woman athlete in 2016 and 2017, and is the highest-earning woman athlete of all time. As a Libra (born September 26), she embodies the sign's competitive drive and partnership mastery, evident in her record-breaking singles dominance and undefeated doubles partnership. She won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year four times (2003, 2010, 2016, 2018), Comeback of the Year once (2007), and was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated in December 2015. In 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked her the greatest women's tennis player of all time, and she received the Princess of Asturias Award for Sport in 2025. After becoming pregnant, she took a break from professional tennis but reached four major finals upon returning; in August 2022, she announced her impending "evolution" away from the sport and played her final match at the 2022 US Open.