Serena Williams

Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked World No. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her World No. 1 on five separate occasions. She regained this ranking for the fifth time on November 2, 2009. She became the World No. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002.



Williams is the reigning champion in both singles and women's doubles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon and in women's doubles at the US Open. She has won 25 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 11 in women's doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman in history to do so. Her 12 Grand Slam singles titles ties her with Billie Jean King for sixth on the all-time list. Williams ranks fourth in Grand Slam women's singles titles won during the open era, behind Steffi Graf with 22 titles and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with 18 titles each. She has won more Grand Slam titles in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles than any other active female player.




Williams has won two Olympic gold medals in women's doubles.
Williams has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history.



Williams is the younger sister of former World No. 1 Venus Williams. They have played each other in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of these matches as of October 2009. As of July 2009, they have met in eight Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning six times. Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open, they met in all four Grand Slam singles finals, the first time in the open era that the same two players had contested four consecutive Grand Slam finals. The pair have won 11 Grand Slam doubles titles together.






statics
Country : United States United States
Residence : Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Date of birth : September 26, 1981 (1981-09-26)
Place of birth: Saginaw, Michigan
Height : 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight : 68 kilograms (150 lb)
Turned pro : 1995
Plays : Right; Two-handed backhand
Career prize money : US$30,578,960
(1st all-time among women athletes and 4th all-time among tennis athletes)

Singles
Career record : 463–100 (82.2%)
Career titles : 36 WTA
Highest ranking : No. 1 (July 8, 2002)
Current ranking : No. 1 (April 5, 2010)

Grand Slam results
Australian Open : W (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010)
French Open : W (2002)
Wimbledon : W (2002, 2003, 2009)
US Open : W (1999, 2002, 2008)

Major tournaments
WTA Championships : W (2001, 2009)
Olympic Games : QF (2008)

Doubles
Career record : 145–19 (88.4%)
Career titles : 19
Highest ranking : No. 2 (May 17, 2010)

Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open : W (2001, 2003, 2009, 2010)
French Open : W (1999)
Wimbledon : W (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009)
US Open : W (1999, 2009)

Major doubles tournaments
Olympic Games : Gold medal.svg Gold medal (2000, 2008)

Mixed Doubles
Career record : 27–3 (90%)
Career titles : 4

Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian Open : F (1999)
French Open : F (1998)
Wimbledon : W (1998)
US Open : W (1998)

Awards
1998
* WTA Newcomer of the Year
* Tennis Magazine/Rolex Rookie of the Year

1999
* WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
* Tennis Magazine Player of the Year

2000
* WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Venus Williams)

2002
* WTA Player of the Year
* ITF Women's Singles World Champion
* Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year

2003
* 34th NAACP Image Awards President's Award
* ESPY Award Best Female Athlete
* ESPY Award Best Female Tennis Player
* Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
* Avon Foundation Celebrity Role Model Award
* BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year

2004
* WTA Comeback Player of the Year
* Family Circle/Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference Award
* ESPY Award Best Female Tennis Player
* BET's Female Athlete of the Year

2005
* BET's Female Athlete of the Year

2007
* BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
* Laureus World Comeback of the Year
* Harris Poll Most Favorite Female Sports Star

2008
* WTA Player of the Year

2009
* BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
* Harris Poll Most Favorite Female Sports Star
* ESPY Award Best Female Tennis Player
* Glamour Magazine Women Of The Year Award
* SI.com Best Female Athlete of the Decade
* AP Female Athlete of The Year Award
* ITF Women's Singles World Champion
* ITF Women's Doubles World Champion (with Venus Williams)
* Named Second Best Tennis Player of the Decade by ESPN (with Roger Federer at Number 1)
* WTA Player of the Year
* WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Venus Williams)
* WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Venus Williams)
* Doha 21st Century Leaders Awards - Outstanding Leadership

2010
* Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
* TIME Magazine The World's 100 Most Influential People