Serena Williams

Serena Williams is an American tennis champion. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1981. She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles. She is one of the greatest athletes in any sport.

Early Life

Serena and her sister Venus were taught tennis by their father on public courts in Compton, California. They practiced for hours every day. Serena turned professional at age 14. She quickly became one of the best players in the world.

The handwritten signature of tennis star Serena Williams.
The handwritten signature of tennis star Serena Williams. (Serena Williams, converted to vector by 350z33 / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Serena won her first Grand Slam at the 1999 U.S. Open at age 17. She went on to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles. She also won four Olympic gold medals. She was ranked number one in the world for over 300 weeks.

Fun Facts

  • Serena and her sister Venus have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
  • She won the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant.
  • Her serve has been clocked at over 128 miles per hour.

Did You Know?

Serena and Venus Williams grew up practicing on cracked public courts in a tough neighborhood. Their father had a 78-page plan for making them tennis champions. His plan worked beyond anyone's imagination.