| Full Name | Serena Jameka Williams |
| Profession | Professional Tennis Player (Retired) |
| Date of Birth | September 26, 1981 |
| Birthplace | Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Years Active | 1995–2022 |
| Known For | 23 Grand Slam singles titles, four Olympic gold medals |
Serena Williams’s career achievements place her among the most successful athletes, male or female, in the history of tennis: 23 Grand Slam singles titles, a career Grand Slam, and four Olympic gold medals across singles and doubles.
Early Life
Serena Jameka Williams was born September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. She is the youngest of five sisters, including fellow professional Venus Williams. The family later moved to Compton, California, where Williams’s father coached both daughters on public tennis courts.
Career Beginnings
Williams turned professional in 1995 at age 14. She won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1999 US Open at age 17, and in 2002–2003 completed her first “Serena Slam,” holding all four major titles simultaneously.
Major Achievements
Williams completed the career Grand Slam in 2003. She reached the world No. 1 ranking multiple times over her career, first in 2002, and went on to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles — more than any other woman in the Open era. She has also won four Olympic gold medals: three in doubles alongside her sister Venus, and one in singles.
| Full Name | Serena Jameka Williams |
| Born | September 26, 1981 – Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. |
| Profession | Professional Tennis Player (Retired) |
| Years Active | 1995–2022 |
| Known For | 23 Grand Slam singles titles, career Grand Slam |
| Notable Awards | 4 Olympic gold medals |
Career Achievements
| 1999 | First Grand Slam singles title – US Open |
| 2002–2003 | Holds all four Grand Slam titles at once (“Serena Slam”) |
| 2003 | Completes the career Grand Slam |
| 2017 | Wins 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, while pregnant |
| 2022 | Competes at the US Open in her final tournament |
Personal Life
Williams married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017; the couple have two daughters. She has continued to be involved in business ventures through her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, following her retirement from professional competition.
Legacy
Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players, and by many assessments one of the greatest athletes, of all time, having reshaped the women’s game with her power-based style of play over more than two decades at the top of the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Grand Slam titles has Serena Williams won?
23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most of any player in the Open era.
How many Olympic medals does Serena Williams have?
Four Olympic gold medals — three in doubles with her sister Venus Williams, and one in singles.
When did Serena Williams retire from professional tennis?
She played her final tournament at the 2022 US Open.
