Since she burst onto the tennis scene winning her first US Open at age 17, Serena Williams has been an athletic force of nature.
She and her sister, Venus, have continued to dominate and reshape the sport for basically two decades. And in between her incredible championship wins and continuous athletic growth, she’s carved out a life that’s just as fascinating off the court.
In 2017, she earned a spot as the only female on Forbes’ Highest Paid Athletes list. Now, at 36-years-old with a net worth of $27 million, her list of personal and professional accomplishments continues to grow at a profound rate and shows no signs of slowing down.
Studying her fascinating life up to this point is a lesson in discipline, resilience, and sheer creativity.
She Started Young
Serena Williams embraces her father Richard Williams, as her sister Venus looks on, after she defeated Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland to win the women’s final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in 2012. Alastair Grant / AP Photo
Serena began playing tennis at only 3 years old. Her older sister, Venus, also began training early under the coaching of their father, Richard Williams.
The family would eventually move from Compton, Calif., to West Palm Beach, Fla., in order for both Williams sisters to train with Rick Macci.
Though they did learn a lot at Macci’s training academy, some tension between the coach and their father — especially concerning keeping balance in his daughter’s lives — meant that their dad would eventually take over their full-time coaching again when Serena was 10.
Her Sister Went Pro Before Her
Venus Williams, left, and sister Serena raise their arms after their center court match at the Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne, Australia, January 1998. Venus won the match 7-6, 6-1. Rick Stevens / AP Photo
Venus Williams began on the professional tennis circuit in 1994, causing quite a stir early on with her powerful serve and unprecedented athletic style.
Though her parents asked Serena to wait until she was 16-years-old, the younger sister attempted to begin her professional career in 1995 when she was only 14 as well. But, she was denied her first entry into the tournament because of age eligibility restrictions.
She would eventually enter a tournament later in the year using a “wild card entry” to avoid that issue, but lost in the first round to Annie Miller, who would go on to have a short but impressive career.
The Serena Slam Is a Tennis Term Inspired by Her
Serena Williams reacts after winning a point against Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, during the second round of the U.S. Open in 2015, in New York. Charles Krupa / AP Photo
The “Serena Slam” is a tennis term used when a tennis player wins all four of the big tournaments in a row, holding the official champion title to all the “Majors” (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open).
The title first came about after 2015, when Serena dominated the tournaments in a row after winning the U.S. Open.
Though she wasn’t the first female tennis player to accomplish the feat, she was the one popular enough to have the world coin it for her.
