Serena has managed her tennis career with strength and grace. See pics of the athlete from the beginning of her fame to now.
Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Born on September 26, 1981, the tennis superstar joined the professional circuit in 1995 when she was just 14 years old. Over the next three decades, she transformed the sport, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles — the most of any player in the Open Era — along with 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles and two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. Serena also captured four Olympic gold medals, won 73 WTA singles titles and spent 319 weeks ranked No. 1 in the world.
Much of Serena’s success came alongside her sister, Venus Williams, with whom she formed one of the most dominant doubles teams in tennis history. Together, the sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals.
Serena married tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, two months after the birth of their baby girl prompted her hiatus from tennis. The couple share two daughters. She returned to the court and won the French Open a year later. However, in August 2022, the tennis ace announced she was leaving the sport, telling Vogue she was “evolving away” from competition.
Nearly four years later, she stunned fans by announcing a return to professional tennis in 2026, accepting a wildcard entry into the doubles draw at the Queen’s Club Championships in London.
We’re looking back at everything Serena has accomplished so far in our photo gallery here.
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Serena Williams In 1997
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Serena Williams holds up her US Open trophy while in New York in 1997. Making a tourist stop, she visited the Unisphere.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 2 of 22
Serena Williams Plays In 1998
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Serena Williams plays Spain’s Virginia Ruano Pascual at the 1998 Wimbledon Tennis Championship. Her strength was on full display as she showed off her arms in a Puma exercise dress.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 3 of 22
Serena Williams With President Bill Clinton
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Truly honors! Serena Williams got to meet President Bill Clinton alongside Men’s US Open Tennis Champion Andre Agassi in 1999.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 4 of 22
Serena & Venus Williams Win The 1999 US Open
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Venus, left, and Serena Williams celebrate winning the 1999US Open. They beat Chanda Rubin, of Lafayette, Louisiana and France’s Sandrine Testud.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 5 of 22
Samuel L. Jackson & The Williams Sisters
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Samuel L. Jackson poses with Venus Williams (left) and sister Serena (right) during the 2000 Laureus Sports Awards in Monaco. It was the start of a stunning red carpet career.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM
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The Williams Gamily At The Essence Awards
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Serena Williams, left, and her sister Venus, center, take their mother Oracene to the 2001 Essence Awards at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Serena was stylish in hot pink while Venus wore sequins and mom looked classic in a red and a shawl.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 7 of 22
Serena Williams In 2004
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Serena Williams embraces monochrome fashion for Clive Davis’ 2004 Pre-Grammy party. She teamed a billowing white blouse with a black skirt that was gathered down the center. Pink heels offered a punchy touch.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 8 of 22
Serena Williams At The Beach In 2006
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Serena Williams flaunts her chiseled abs while on the beach in Malibu on Jul. 13, 2006. She showed off her athletic figure in a red bikini. The star was back to training after a six-month tennis break due to injuries.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 9 of 22
Serena Williams At The 2008 US Open
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Victory scream! Serena Williams celebrates here match point against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia at the Sony Ericsson Open in Florida on Apr. 5, 2008.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 10 of 22
Serena Williams At A Burberry Fashion Show
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Serena Williams proved she was a fashionista at heart during Burberry Prorsum’s Spring Summer 2014 fashion show at London’s Kensington Palace Gardens on Jun. 18, 2013. Her little pink dress and mini-trench were so Brit-chic.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 11 of 22
Serena Williams Launches Her HSN Line
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Serena Williams waves after presenting her Serena Williams Signature Collection by HSN collection during New York Fashion Week in Sep. 2015. Her fringed skirt revealed a pair of hot pants and she also wore a sexy wrap to with heels on foot.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 12 of 22
Serena Williams Plays In 2017
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Serena Williams looks like a champ while in action during the WTA tennis tournament in Nicholasville, Kentucky on Jan. 16, 2017. She had purple streaks in her hair and wore a cool Nike look on the court.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 13 of 22
Serena Williams At The 2017 Met Gala
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Serena Williams is glowing in green during the 2017 Met Gala, celebrating the opening of the exhibit ‘Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between’ on May 1, 2017. She showed off her budding baby bump in the Versace look, which she teamed with a Piguet watch.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 14 of 22
Serena Williams & Husband At The Premiere Of ‘Being Serena’
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutte
Her biggest fan! Serena Williams was joined by husband Alexis Ohanian during the premiere of her HBO documentary ‘Being Serena’ on Apr. 25, 2018. She was radiant in a white dress while he suite up in dark grey
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 15 of 22
Serena Williams Closes Her Fashion Show
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Serena Williams is so proud as she takes daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. out on the catwalk after her Serena by Serena Williams fashion show in Sep. 2019. She wore a sheer black top and snakeskin skirt with sneakers.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 16 of 22
Serena Williams Walks Off-White
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Serena Williams looks fierce as she struts down the catwalk of Off-White’s Paris Fashion Week show in Dec. 2020. The show was late fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s final bow.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 17 of 22
Serena Williams At Balmain
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Serena Williams is pure fashion as she arrives for Balmain’s Fall/Winter 2022-2023 RTW show on Mar. 2, 2022. She wore green velvet and blackout shades.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 18 of 22
Venus & Serena Williams At The 2022 Critics Choice Awards
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Sisters Venus and Serena Williams are chic in silver during the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards on Mar. 13, 2022. Venus opted for a leggy look with dual slits while Venus sparkled in a spaghetti strap dress with a train attached.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 19 of 22
Serena Williams At The Premiere Of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
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Serena Williams was gorgeous in pink Gucci during the London premiere of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ on Jul. 55, 2022. Her sheer pink mini came with a black velvet bow.
August 9, 2022, 9:42AM 20 of 22
Serena Williams In Canada
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Serena Williams waves at the crowd after her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, during the second round of the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament on Aug. 10, 2022. She looked touched.
August 29, 2022, 11:20AM 21 of 22
Serena Williams Opens Wall Street
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Serena Williams rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 26, 2022. Serena has been working hard on Serena Ventures, her venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C.
August 29, 2022, 11:20AM 22 of 22
Serena Williams Plays The Western & Southern Open
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Serena Williams had her game face on while playing Britain’s Emma Raducanu at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio on Aug. 16, 2022. She wore a pale pink dress with zesty lime stripes.
August 29, 2022, 11:19AM Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news. Articles Trending Now
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