Examine individual changes

'{{for|this tennis players detailed statistics, records, and other achievements|Serena Williams career statistics}} {{Infobox Tennis biography |playername= Serena Williams |image= [[Image:Serena Williams July 2008.jpg|240 px]] <br />Williams playing [[World Team Tennis]] in 2008 |country= United States |residence= [[Palm Beach Gardens, Florida]], U.S.<ref name="WTA profile"/> |datebirth= {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1981|9|26}} |placebirth= [[Saginaw, Michigan]], U.S. |height= {{convert|5|ft|9|in|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}<ref name="WTA profile"/> |weight = {{convert|150|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="WTA profile"/> |turnedpro= 1995 |plays= Right; Two-handed backhand |careerprizemoney= US$24,000,029<ref name=prize>{{Cite web | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id=3870020 | title =Serena sets career prize money mark |publisher = ESPN| accessdate =April 22, 2009| date=January 30, 2009}}</ref>| |singlesrecord= 420–88 (82.7%) |singlestitles= 33 |highestsinglesranking= No.&nbsp;1 (8 July 2002) |AustralianOpenresult= '''W''' ([[2003 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2003]], [[2005 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2005]], [[2007 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2007]], [[2009 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2009]]) |FrenchOpenresult= '''W''' ([[2002 French Open - Women's Singles|2002]]) |Wimbledonresult= '''W''' ([[2002 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2002]], [[2003 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2003]]) |USOpenresult= '''W''' ([[1999 US Open - Women's Singles|1999]], [[2002 US Open - Women's Singles|2002]], [[2008 U.S. Open - Women's Singles|2008]]) |Othertournaments = Yes |WTAChampionshipsresult= '''W''' ([[2001 WTA Tour Championships|2001]]) |Olympicsresult= |doublesrecord= 117–17 (87.3%) |doublestitles= 14 |highestdoublesranking= No.&nbsp;5 (October 1, 1999) |grandslamsdoublesresults = 8 |AustralianOpenDoublesresult = '''W''' (2001, 2003, [[2009 Australian Open - Women's Doubles|2009]]) |FrenchOpenDoublesresult = '''W''' (1999) |WimbledonDoublesresult = '''W''' (2000, 2002, [[2008 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Doubles|2008]]) |USOpenDoublesresult ='''W''' (1999) |OthertournamentsDoubles =yes |OlympicsDoublesresult = [[Image:Gold medal.svg|20px]] Gold medal ([[Tennis at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's Doubles|2000]], [[Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Doubles|2008]]) |updated= April 6, 2009 }} {{MedalTop}} {{MedalSport | Women's [[Tennis at the Summer Olympics|Tennis]]}} {{MedalGold | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Tennis at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's doubles|Doubles]]}} {{MedalGold | [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's doubles|Doubles]]}} {{MedalBottom}} '''Serena Jameka Williams''' (born September 26, 1981) is an American professional tennis player. She has been ranked [[List of WTA number 1 ranked players|World No.&nbsp;1]] by the [[Women's Tennis Association]] on four separate occasions; as of April 20, 2009 she is ranked World No.&nbsp;2. She is the reigning [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] and [[Australian Open]] singles champion and has won twenty [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] titles: ten in singles, eight in doubles, and two in mixed doubles. She has won two [[Olympic gold medal]]s in women's doubles.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/tennis/news/story?id=3539310 |title = Williams sisters net gold in doubles, beating Spaniards in final| accessdate = April 22, 2009 | publisher = ESPN | date=August 17, 2008}}</ref> She is the most recent player, male or female, to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously. Williams has won more career prize money than any other female athlete.<ref name=prize/> In 2005, ''[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis Magazine]]'' ranked her as the 17th-best player in 40 years.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/40greatest.aspx?id=700 |title = 40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era (17-20) | accessdate = April 22, 2009 | work = [[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis Magazine]] | date = May 17, 2006}}</ref> She is the younger sister of former World No.&nbsp;1 professional female tennis player [[Venus Williams]]; the sisters have had a noted professional rivalry since 1998, with matches played between them tied at 10–10 as of 2009. They are the only women during the [[open era]] to have played each other in four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals. Williams' off-court interests include fashion, acting, and charity. ==Early life== Serena was born in [[Saginaw, Michigan]] to [[Richard Williams (tennis)|Richard Williams]] and [[Oracene Price]]. Williams is the youngest of five sisters: Lyndrea, Isha, Yetunde (died September 14, 2003), and [[Venus Williams|Venus]].<ref name="WTA profile"/> Oracene raised their children as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], which has contributed to their tight familiy relationship.<ref>Edmonson, 2005, ''Venus and Serena Williams'', p. 19.</ref> When their children were young, the family moved to the Los Angeles suburb of [[Compton, California|Compton]], where Serena started playing tennis at the age of four.<ref name="Serenabio">{{cite web|url=http://www.serenawilliams.com/bio.php|title=Bio - Serena Williams|publisher=serenawilliams.com|accessdate=April 29, 2009}}</ref> Richard, who home-schooled his children, hoped that involvement in sports would give them an opportunity for a better life and dreamed of making at least one of his daughters a tennis superstar.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://sharebradenton.homestead.com/Famous.html |title = Successful & Famous People that were Homeschooled|accessdate=April 22, 2009|publisher=sharebradenton.homestead.com}}<!--this source is a personal website. Is there a more [[WP:RS]] out there? --></ref> To this end, Serena was and remains coached by both her parents.<ref name="WTA profile">{{Cite web | url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerBio2.asp?PlayerID=230234|title = Serena Williams (USA) | publisher = WTA Tour, Inc.| accessdate = April 22, 2009}}</ref> The Williams family moved from Compton to [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] when Serena was nine,<ref name="Serenabio"/> to attend the tennis academy of Rick Macci, who would provide additional coaching. Macci spotted the exceptional talents of the sisters, and although he did not always agree with Richard's unorthodox approches, he respected him for allowing his daugthers to grow up like regular kids.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/Tennis_35/Venus_Serena_Reflect_As_They_Prepare_For_Fed_Cup_3202.shtml|title = Venus, Serena reflect as they prepare for Fed Cup| publisher = blackathlete.net | accessdate = April 22, 2009|first=Michelle |last=Kaufman |date = April 22, 2007}}</ref> Richard stopped sending his daughters to national junior tennis tournaments when Serena was 10, since he wanted them to take it slow and focus on school work. Another motivation was racial, as he had heard parents of white players talk about the Williams sisters in a derogatory manner during tournaments.<ref name="Newsweek1998">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/122703/page/1|title=Venus And Serena Against The World|first=Marc|last=Peyser|first2= Allison|last2= Samuels| date=August 24, 1998|work=[[Newsweek]]|publisher=Newsweek, Inc.|accessdate=April 19, 2009}}</ref> At that time, Serena had a 46–3 record on the [[United States Tennis Association]] junior tour and was ranked No. 1 among under 10 players in Florida.<ref name="EdmonsonsEarly">Edmonson, 2005, ''Venus and Serena Williams'', p. 46–47.</ref> In 1995, Richard pulled his daughters out of Macci's academy, and from then on took over all coaching at their home. When asked in 2000 whether having followed the normal path of playing regularly on the junior circuit would have been beneficial, Serena responded: "Everyone does different things. I think for Venus and I, we just tried a different road, and it worked for us."<ref name="EdmonsonsEarly"/> ==Playing style== {{BLP sources|section|date=February 2009}} Williams is primarily a baseline player. Her game is built around taking immediate control of rallies with a powerful and consistent serve (considered by some to be the best in the women's game),<ref>{{cite web| url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus08/news/story?id=3207822 |title=Gimpy Jankovic swats away defending champion Williams|publisher= ESPN.com| last= Ford|first= Bonnie D.|date=January 22, 2008|accessdate= April 29, 2009|}}</ref> return of serve, and forceful [[groundstroke]]s from both her [[forehand]] and [[backhand]] swings. Her serve is technically very sound and has been hit as hard as 127 mph (203 kph), third fastest all-time.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2806 |title=Harder, Better, Faster... Top servers |date= November 28, 2008 |publisher= WTA Tour, Inc.}}</ref> Williams' solid [[volley (tennis)|volleys]]—especially her drive volleys and powerful overheads give her advantages over the net. She produces good [[drop shot|drop volleys]], a shot that not many players use.<!--someone please check my change; can this stub para be merged above or below?--> Although Williams' forehand is among the most powerful shots in the women's game, her backhand is considered to be one of the best,{{Weasel-inline|date=April 2009}} if not the best, on the [[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA) tour.<!--don't like the "although", and is this repetitive?--> Williams can hit a winning backhand shot in any position or place on the court down the line or cross court, even when on the defensive or otherwise under pressure. Williams strikes her backhand groundstroke using an open stance, and uses the same open stance for her forehand. Williams' aggressive style of play results in a relatively high number of unforced errors. This 'high risk' style is balanced in part by her serve, which is generally more consistently explosive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/29/sports/plus-tennis-serena-williams-and-capriati-in-final.html|title= Serena Williams And Capriati in Final|date= March 29, 2003| accessdate= April 29, 2009| last= Nobles| first= Charlie|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company}}</ref><!--Obviously some of this is still unsourced; needed to reword it just to clean it up.--> Although many think of Williams as only an offensive player, she also plays a strong defensive game.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Wertheim |first= L. Jon |title= Not So Fast, Kiddo |journal= [[Sports Illustrated]] |date= September 15, 2008 |url= http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1145172/2/index.htm |accessdate= May 20, 2009}}</ref> She is quick around the court, and her core strength enables her to hit the ball efficiently from difficult positions.<!--This last point was covered above, yes?--> Williams has more variety in her game than the typical offensive baseline player.<!--This big-picture point would be better earlier--> Although she normally dictates play from the baseline with heavy strokes, she occasionally slices her backhand or hits heavy [[topspin]] groundstrokes or [[drop shot]]s to change the pace of the ball.{{Fact|date=April 2009}} ==Professional career== ===1995–98: Professional debut=== Williams started playing professional tennis in September 1995. Being only 14, she was initially prohibited from playing in events sanctioned by the WTA. Her first professional event was the [[Bell Challenge]] in [[Quebec City]], where she was defeated in less than an hour of play and earned only US$240 in prize money. Williams's biggest achievement of 1997 was at the [[Ameritech Cup Chicago]]. Ranked World No.&nbsp;304, she upset both [[Monica Seles]] and [[Mary Pierce]], recording her first career wins over Top&nbsp;10 players and becoming the lowest-ranked player in the [[open era]] to defeat two Top&nbsp;10 opponents in one tournament.<ref name="WTA profile"/> She finished 1997 ranked World No.&nbsp;99. Williams finished ranked in the WTA top 20 for the first time in 1998. She began the year at the [[Medibank International Sydney]] as a qualifier, ranked World No.&nbsp;96, and defeated World No.&nbsp;3 [[Lindsay Davenport]] in the quarterfinals. Williams lost in the second round of the [[1998 Australian Open|Australian Open]] to sister [[Venus Williams|Venus]] in their first professional match.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/playerheadtoheaddetail.asp?PlayerID=230234&Player1ID=230220 | title = Head to Head - Serena Williams vs Venus Williams | publisher = WTA Tour, Inc. | accessdate=April 22, 2009}}</ref> Williams reached six other quarterfinals during the year. She won the mixed doubles titles at [[1998 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] and the [[1998 US Open|US Open]] with [[Max Mirnyi]], completing the Williams family's sweep of the 1998 mixed doubles Grand Slams. Williams won her first professional title in doubles in Oklahoma City<!--title needed instead of city--> with Venus, becoming the third pair of sisters to win such a WTA title.<ref name="WTA profile"/> ===1999–2001: Early success=== In 1999, Williams set a series of professional and historic records. In February she defeated [[Amélie Mauresmo]] in the final of the [[Open Gaz de France]] for her first professional title<!--she already won her first professional title in Oklahoma in 1998. what does this one make?-->; in addition, the same day Venus won the IGA Superthrift Classic, and they became the first sisters to win professional tournaments in the same week.<!--Ambiguous: should it be: "and in the same week they became the first sisters to have both won professional tournaments"--><ref>{{Cite web | title = Continents Apart, Williams Sisters Make History |url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902EFDC133CF932A35750C0A96F958260|work = The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company | accessdate = April 22, 2009 | date = March 1, 1999 | first = Sal A.|last= Zanca}}</ref> A month later, Serena Williams won the [[Pacific Life Open]], her first [[Tier I]] title. Williams defeated Davenport, Pierce and [[Steffi Graf]], the World Nos.&nbsp;2, 8 and 7 respectively, on her title run. At the following tournament, the [[Sony Ericsson Open]] in Miami, Serena lost to Venus in the first all-sister singles final in WTA history.<ref name="WTA profile"/> In April, Serena made her World top 10 debut ranked ninth. Serena and Venus won the women's doubles title at the French Open, but Serena was knocked out early in singles. She missed Wimbledon because of injury but started the summer hard court season with a victory over World No.&nbsp;1 Hingis at the [[JPMorgan Chase Open]]. Williams was the seventh-seeded player at the [[1999 US Open]], where she defeated World Nos.&nbsp;4, 2 and 1 (Seles, Devenport and Hingis respectively) to win the singles title, and won the doubles title with her sister. Serena became the second African-American woman (after [[Althea Gibson]] in 1958) to win a [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles tournament.<ref name="WTA profile"/> Serena's third tournament victory of the season was at the [[Grand Slam Cup]] in Munich, where she beat Venus in the final. Serena ended the year at ranked No.&nbsp;4 in just her second full year on the main tour. Serena also won her singles match during the tie between the United States and Russia in the final of the [[1999 Fed Cup]]; the Williams sisters triumphed in the doubles against [[Elena Dementieva]] and [[Elena Makarova]]. Her best Grand Slam showings were a semifinal result at the [[2000 Wimbledon Championships]] and a final at the [[2001 US Open]], both times losing to Venus, the eventual champion. The sisters partnered to win gold in the women's doubles at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], the 2000 Wimbledon Championships and the [[2001 Australian Open]]. The doubles victory at the Australian Open completed a career Grand Slam: Serena and Venus were the fifth women's doubles team to win all four Grand Slam doubles titles.<ref name="WTA profile"/> Williams finished the year as World No.&nbsp;6. At the [[Pacific Life Open|2001 Tennis Masters Series]], Venus Williams withdrew an hour before the anticipated start of a semifinal match with Serena, claiming an injury. Serena defeated [[Kim Clijsters]] in the final. The withdrawal allegedly triggered [[2001 Indian Wells controversy|racial hostilities]] which resulted in a boycott by the Williams sisters since 2001.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/ten_experts/post/Indian-Wells-boycott-hurts-Williamses-more-than-;_ylt=Ag28GdIMVj.WIy422nR1Hfs4v7YF?urn=ten,149332|title = Indian Wells boycott hurts Williamses more than it helps| publisher = Yahoo | accessdate = April 22, 2009 | date = March 19, 2009}}</ref> In addition to the Tier I victory at Indian Wells in 2001, Williams won the [[Canada Masters|Rogers Cup]] in Toronto, defeating World No.&nbsp;3 and top-seeded [[Jennifer Capriati]] in the final. Serena ended 2001 with a tournament victory at the [[WTA Tour Championships|Sanex Championships]], ranked World No.&nbsp;6. ===2002&ndash;03: The Serena Slam=== Williams was forced to withdraw from the [[2002 Australian Open]] due to injury, but won her first event of the year in Scottsdale, defeating World No.&nbsp;1 Jennifer Capriati in the final. She then won the Tier I Sony Ericsson Open in Florida, defeating the top three players in the world en route. At the [[Internazionali BNL d'Italia]] in Rome, Serena captured her first career title on clay, defeating [[Justine Henin]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2002/may/20/tennis1 | title = Hingis may be out to end of year | work = [[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited | accessdate = April 23, 2009 | date = May 20, 2002 | first = Eleanor|last= Preston}}</ref> Williams, as the third seed at the [[2002 French Open]], dropped just two sets en route to the final, where she defeated sister Venus Williams in straight sets. At the [[2002 Wimbledon Championships]], Williams won the title without dropping a set, again defeating Venus in the final. This victory earned Williams the World No.&nbsp;1 ranking (dethroning her sister and succeeding her as the second African-American woman to hold the top ranking on the WTA).<ref name="WTA profile"/> The Williams sisters also won the doubles title. Williams captured her third straight Grand Slam singles title at the [[2002 US Open]], again without dropping a set and defeating Venus in the final. Williams won back-to-back titles in Leipzig and Tokyo during the fall and reached the final at the year-ending [[WTA Tour Championships|Home Depot Championships]] but lost to 19-year-old [[Kim Clijsters]] in straight sets. Williams finished 2002 with a 56–5 record, eight singles titles, and the World No.&nbsp;1 ranking.<ref name="WTA profile"/> At the [[2003 Australian Open]], Williams dropped only two sets while reaching the semifinals. She faced her sister Venus for the fourth consecutive Grand Slam final and won in three sets, to become the fifth woman to hold all Grand Slam titles simultaneously, joining [[Maureen Connolly]], [[Margaret Court]], [[Steffi Graf]] and [[Martina Navratilova]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.tennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=5055 | title =Grand Slam for Serena Williams? |first=John| last=Leicester|work= Associated Press | publisher = Tennis Channel | accessdate = April 22, 2009| date = February 11, 2009}}</ref> As the titles were not held within a single calendar year, they are not considered as a "Grand Slam". Instead, the winning streak became known as the "Serena Slam".<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=80028| title = French Open women’s preview: Henin & who else?| publisher = TENNIS.com | accessdate = April 22, 2009| date = May 21, 2007|first = William |last=Johnson}}</ref> The Williams sisters won the doubles titles, their sixth Grand Slam doubles title together. Williams captured titles at the [[Open Gaz de France]] in Paris and the Sony Ericsson Open in Florida, and went into the [[2003 French Open]] trying to capture her fifth consecutive Grand Slam singles title. She lost the semifinal to eventual champion Justine Henin, in a match raising some controversy as Williams questioned Henin's sportsmanship and because spectators applauded Williams' errors.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/french_open_2003/2967190.stm | title = Williams 'hurt' by jeers | work = BBC Sports| publisher=BBC | accessdate = May 4, 2009 | date = June 6, 2003}}</ref> One month later though, Williams won her sixth Grand Slam singles title at the [[2003 Wimbledon Championships]], defeating Henin in the semifinals and Venus in the final. A subsequent knee injury forced her to withdraw from all other events, including the US Open.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/02/sports/tennis-surgery-will-keep-serena-williams-out-of-us-open.html|title=Tennis; Surgery Will Keep Serena Williams Out of U.S. Open| first=Tom|last=Coffey |work=The New York Times|publisher= The New York Times Company |date= August 2, 2003|accessdate=May 4, 2009 }}</ref> She therefore lost her World No.&nbsp;1 ranking to Clijsters in August, having held it for 57 consecutive weeks. Williams finished the year ranked World No.&nbsp;3, despite having played only seven tournaments. ===2004&ndash;06: Injuries and loss=== [[Image:Serena Volley.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Williams hitting a return at the US Open in 2006]] Due to the extended rehabilitation required for her left knee, Williams did not play a tournament in 2004 until March, when she won the [[Sony Ericsson Open]], defeating Elena Dementieva in the final. She lost in the French Open quarterfinals to Jennifer Capriati – Williams' earliest loss at a Grand Slam since the [[2001 Wimbledon Championships]]. She reached the final of [[2004 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] to be upset by the 17-year old [[Maria Sharapova]]. During 2004, Williams did not advance past the quarterfinals of any [[US Open Series]] tournaments; at the [[2004 U.S. Open (tennis)|2004 US Open]] she lost a quarterfinal match with Capriati in which there were disputes over umpiring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/tennis/specials/us_open/2004/09/07/capriati.serena.ap/index.html|title=High drama. Serena falls to Capriati amid controversy; Roddick continues to roll|work=Associated Press|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=September 7, 2004|accessdate=May 4, 2009 }}</ref> Her second tournament of the year came at the [[China Open (tennis)|China Open]], in which she defeated recent US Open champion [[Svetlana Kuznetsova]] in the final. Williams qualified for the [[2004 WTA Tour Championships]], but again lost to Sharapova in the final.<ref>{{Cite web | work=Associated Press | date =November 16, 2004 | accessdate = April 23, 2009| url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6474040 |title = Sharapova tops injured Serena for WTA title| publisher=NBC Sports}}</ref> Williams finished 2004 ranked No.&nbsp;7, and had not won a Grand Slam for the first year since 2001. In 2005, an otherwise injury-plagued season saw Williams fall out of the top ten for the first time since 1998. She triumphed over three of the tournament's top four seeds (#2 Amélie Mauresmo, #4 Maria Sharapova, and #1 Lindsay Davenport) and made the [[2005 Australian Open]] her seventh Grand Slam singles title. The win moved Williams back to World No.&nbsp;2, and she stated she was now targeting the number one spot.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4217997.stm |title = Williams eyes return to top spot| date = January 29, 2005| work = BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=May 4, 2009}}</ref> However, Williams failed to reach the final at any of her following five tournaments, which included a loss to sister Venus in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in March {{ndash}} her first loss to Venus since 2001. At the [[2005 Wimbledon Championships]], Serena was defeated in the third round by fellow American [[Jill Craybas]] (ranked World No.&nbsp;85) and at the [[2005 U.S. Open (tennis)|2005 US Open]], she lost to Venus in the fourth round. Serena played just one more match the remainder of the year, a loss to [[Sun Tiantian]] at the China Open, and failed to qualify for the year-end championship for the first time since 1998. The following year, as defending champion at the [[2006 Australian Open]], Williams fell to [[Daniela Hantuchová]] in the third round.<ref name="2006activity">{{Cite web | url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp| title = Serena Williams Playing Activity (2006 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the drop-down menu)| publisher = Women's Tennis Association| accessdate = August 19, 2008}}.</ref> She withdrew from her next four tournaments and her ranking fell out of the top 100 for the first time in nearly nine years.<ref name="injury">{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4971008.stm |title = Serena targets late-summer return| date = May 3, 2006| work =BBC Sport |publisher=BBC|accessdate = April 23, 2009}}</ref> She missed both the French Open and Wimbledon because of what had become a chronic knee injury,<ref name="injury"/> but returned to the tour earlier than expected, accepting [[Wild card (sports)|wildcard]]s to the [[Cincinnati Masters]] and the [[JPMorgan Chase Open]]. In the first round at Cincinnati, Williams upset second seed [[Anastasia Myskina]], but lost in the semifinals to the eventual champion, [[Vera Zvonareva]];<ref name="2006activity"/> in Los Angeles, Williams again lost in the semifinals to [[Jelena Janković]].<ref name="2006activity"/> At the [[2006 U.S. Open (tennis)|2006 US Open]], Williams was unseeded in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 1998. She lost to top seed Amélie Mauresmo in the fourth round<ref name="2006activity"/> and did not play again in 2006, ending the year ranked World No.&nbsp;95, her lowest year-end ranking since 1997. ===2007&ndash;09: Return to form=== Williams began 2007 with renewed confidence, stating her intention to return to the top of the rankings.<ref name=targets#1>{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6236551.stm | title = Serena targets number one ranking | date = March 17, 2006| work = BBC Sport| publisher=BBC|accessdate = April 23, 2009}}</ref> She was not considered a favorite at the [[Australian Open]], unseeded because of her World No.&nbsp;81 ranking and widely regarded as "out of shape"<ref name="shape">{{Cite web | first=Kamakshi|last= Tandon |date=January 14, 2007| url = http://www.tennis.com/tournaments/2008/australianopen/australianopen.aspx?id=110906 |title =New Mindset: Serena Playing for Herself |publisher=TENNIS.com|accessdate=August 19, 2008}}</ref> but nevertheless advanced to the final (defeating two seeded players en route); she defeated top-seeded Maria Sharapova in straight sets, winning her third Australian Open singles title and her eighth Grand Slam singles title.<ref name="2007activity">{{Cite web | url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp |title = Serena Williams Playing Activity (2007 results can be accessed by selecting the year from the drop-down menu) | publisher = WTA Tour, Inc.|accessdate=August 19, 2008}}</ref><ref name="ausopen07">{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6299369.stm | title = Superb Williams wins Aussie title| work = BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate = August 19, 2008}}</ref> Her performance in the final was described as "one of the best performances of her career"<ref name="shape"/> and as "arguably the most powerful display ever seen in women's tennis".<ref>{{Cite web |first=Piers |last=Newbery | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6669051.stm|title = Resurgent Serena targets Paris| work = BBC Sport publisher=BBC|date=May 22, 2007 |accessdate= August 19, 2008}}</ref> Williams dedicated the victory to her deceased sister, Yetunde,<ref name="ausopen07"/> whom she credited as inspiration for her win.<ref name="Aussie Open day 13 quotes">{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6304713.stm |title = Aussie Open day 13 quotes|date =January 27, 2007|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=May 4, 2009}}</ref> Her ranking rose to World No.&nbsp;14.<ref>{{Cite web | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6283845.stm |title =Champion Serena soars up rankings | date = January 29, 2007|work= BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=May 4, 2009}}</ref> Williams next played at the Sony Ericsson Open where she defeated World No.&nbsp;1 Justine Henin in the final.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6514957.stm | title = Serena takes title in epic final| date =March 31, 2007|work = BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate= August 19, 2008}}</ref> Williams did not win a tournament during the 2008 clay season; her best result was at the French Open, where she lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Henin.<ref name="2007activity"/> Williams was one of the favorites for the [[2007 Wimbledon Championships]] title,<ref>{{Cite web | first=Ronald|last= Atkin |date=June 24, 2007|url =http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/serena-ready-to-reclaim-top-billing-454447.html |title =Serena ready to reclaim top billing|work =The Independent|accessdate = August 19, 2008}}</ref> but again lost in the quarterfinals to Henin. Due to a thumb injury, the next tournament Williams played was the [[2007 U.S. Open (tennis)|2007 US Open]],<ref name="2007activity"/> where she lost her third consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal to Henin. In the fall, despite only two quarterfinal results,<ref name="2007activity"/> Williams' ranking rose to World No.&nbsp;5, and qualified her for the [[2007 WTA Tour Championships]]. Her participation there was short: citing an injury, she retired from her first round robin match with [[Anna Chakvetadze]] and withdrew from the tournament.<ref name="Justine Reaches Semis; Injury Forces Serena Out">{{cite web| url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1887 |publisher= WTA Tour, Inc. | title = Justine Reaches Semis; Injury Forces Serena Out | date = November 7, 2001| accessdate = November 7, 2001| publisher = WTA Tour, Inc. }}</ref> Serena finished 2007 as World No.&nbsp;7 and the top-ranked American for the first time since 2003.<ref name="2007activity"/> Partnering with [[Mardy Fish]], Williams began 2008 by winning [[Hopman Cup]] exhibition tournament,<ref>{{cite web| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7170304.stm |title=USA beat Serbia to take Hopman Cup |work= BBC News |publisher=BBC|date= January 4, 2008 |accessdate= August 19, 2008}}</ref> but as the defending champion at the Australian Open lost in the quarterfinals to Jelena Janković.<ref name="2008activity">{{cite web| url=http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerActivity.asp |title= Serena Williams Playing Activity |publisher= WTA Tour Inc. |accessdate= August 19, 2008}}</ref> After taking February off,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7279958.stm |title=Serena returns to action with win |work= BBC News |publisher=BBC|date=March 5, 2008 |accessdate= August 19, 2008}}</ref> she returned to the tour clinching three consecutive titles. At the [[Bangalore Open]] Serena defeated Venus in the semifinals in the first match played between the sisters since the [[2005 US Open]] and defeated [[Patty Schnyder]] in the final.<ref name="2008activity"/> Williams won her fifth career Sony Ericsson Open, tying Steffi Graf, and followed with a win at the Family Circle Cup, her tenth career Tier I title and first clay court title since the 2002 French Open.<ref name="2008activity"/> Serena's 17-match winning streak was ended by [[Dinara Safina]] in the quarterfinals of the [[Qatar Telecom German Open]]. As the only former winner in the tournament, Williams lost in the third round of the [[2008 French Open]] to [[Katarina Srebotnik]].<ref name="2008activity"/> On grass, Serena reached the final of Wimbledon for the first time in four years but lost to Venus in straight sets.<ref name="2008activity"/> The Williamses teamed up to win the women's doubles title, defeating [[Lisa Raymond]] and [[Samantha Stosur]] in the final. [[Image:SerenaStretchWimbledon.jpg|thumb|left|Williams stretching for a ball at Wimbledon 2008]] At the [[Bank of the West Classic]], Williams retired during her semifinal match because of a left knee injury. She did not play again until the [[Beijing Olympics]], when she lost in the singles tournament to eventual gold-medalist Elena Dementieva but won the gold medal in doubles, partnering with Venus to defeat Spaniards [[Anabel Medina Garrigues]] and [[Virginia Ruano Pascual]] in the final.<ref name="2008activity"/> At the US Open, Williams defeated Jelena Janković in the final; the victory, her ninth career Grand Slam, also returned her to the top of the WTA rankings.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://usopen.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/match-tracking-jelena-jankovic-vs-serena-williams/?hp |first=Thomas|last= Lin |title= Serena Williams Wins to Regain No.&nbsp;1 Ranking |work= New York Times |date=September 7, 2008|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=May 4, 2009}} </ref> Despite losing early in both the [[Porsche Tennis Grand Prix]] and the year-ending [[Sony Ericsson Championships]], Serena ended the year ranked World No.&nbsp;2. Williams started 2009 by withdrawing from the [[2009 Hopman Cup|Hopman Cup]] due to a harmstring injury. Her first tournament was the [[2009 Medibank International Sydney|Medibank International Sydney]] where she lost to [[Elena Dementieva]] in the semifinal. She reached a series of milestones at the [[2009 Australian Open|Australian Open]] where she defeated [[Dinara Safina]] in the final to win her tenth Grand Slam singles title, ranking her seventh on the list of most Grand Slam singles titles among female players; the win also moved her to the top of both the rankings and the list of career prize money leaders in women's sports. Partnering with Venus, Serena also captured the doubles title for the third time, defeating Daniela Hantuchová and [[Ai Sugiyama]] in the final. Williams' next tournament was the [[2009 Open GDF Suez|Open GDF SUEZ]] in Paris where she withdrew from her semifinal match against Elena Dementieva due to a leg injury. She lost in the semifinals of the [[2009 Dubai Tennis Championships]] to her sister Venus. Hampered by a left thigh strain Williams lost consecutive matches, in the final of the [[2009 Sony Ericsson Open|Sony Ericsson Open]] to [[Victoria Azarenka]] and the first round of the [[2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience|Andalucia Tennis Experience]] to [[Klára Zakopalová]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2009-04-04-ericsson-open_N.htm |title= Azarenka routs Serena Williams to win Sony Ericsson title |work= USA Today |publisher=Associated Press |date= April 5, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4047351 | title = Williams upset in first round | publisher = ESPN | accessdate = April 26, 2009 | date = April 8, 2009}}</ref> She withdrew from [[2009 Family Circle Cup|Family Circle Cup]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] due to the same injury and as a result lost her No.&nbsp;1 ranking to Dinara Safina. Williams lost her first match of the [[2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia - Women's Singles|Internazionali BNL d'Italia]] in [[Rome]] to [[Patty Schnyder]]. She then competed at the [[2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open|Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open]], but retired in her first-round match against [[Francesca Schiavone]] due to a right-knee injury. Williams said that her decision to play in Madrid despite her injury was affected by the WTA Tour policy of heavily fining top players who skip certain tournaments. She said: "I don't know about anyone else but $75,000 is a lot of money to me."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8044588.stm|title=Angry Williams quits Madrid Open |date=May 11, 2009|accessdate=May 11, 2009|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC}}</ref> It was the first time in her career where she had lost four consecutive matches.<ref>{{cite web| last= Tandon |first= Kamakshi |title= Serena's protests lack teeth |publisher= ESPN |date= May 13, 2009 |url= http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/columns/story?columnist=tandon_kamakshi&id=4161689 |accessdate= May 19, 2009}}</ref>. ==Rivalry with Venus Williams== {{main|Williams Sisters rivalry}} Serena has played her sister [[Venus Williams|Venus]] many times in [[Grand slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles tournaments and a few times in other tournaments. Their head-to-head series is tied at 10–10. They are the only women during the [[open era]] to have played each other in four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals. ==Off-court activities== ===Personal life=== From 2004 to 2005, Williams dated [[Brett Ratner]]. She was linked in 2007 to Miami Heat Forward [[Udonis Haslem]] and actor [[Jackie Long]] and in 2008 Williams to rapper [[Common (entertainer)|Common]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/serena-meets-her-match_b_169992.html |title=Q and A with Serena Williams – Serena Meets Her Match|first=Erica|last= Boeke|date= February 25, 2009|work=The Huffington Post| publisher=HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.|accessdate=April 24, 2009}}</ref> She resides at [[Ballen Isles]] in [[Palm Beach Gardens, Florida]].<ref name="WTA profile"/> ===Fashion=== Williams is known for her unusual and colorful outfits on court. In 2002, there was much talk when she wore a black lycra [[catsuit]] at the US Open.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/02/sports/tennis-sunny-outlook-keeps-serena-williams-winning.html|title=Tennis; Sunny Outlook Keeps Serena Williams Winning|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=September 2, 2002|accessdate=April 24, 2009|work=The New York Times|publisher=NYT Company}}</ref> At the 2004 US Open, Williams wore denim skirts and knee-high boots&mdash;tournament officials, however, did not allow her to wear the boots during matches.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,130781,00.html|title=Serena Dresses in Denim, Boots at U.S. Open|date=August 31, 2004|work=Associated Press| publisher= FOX News Network, LLC|accessdate=April 25, 2008}}</ref> At Wimbledon in 2008, the white [[trench coat]] she wore during warm-up for her opening match was the subject of much discussion since it was worn despite the sunny weather.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article4201164.ece|title = Serena Williams's Wimbledon raincoat stops talk about play|first=Nicola | last= Copping |date= June 24, 2008|work=TimesOnline|publisher=Times Newspapers Ltd. |accessdate=April 25, 2009}}</ref> Off-court, Williams has also presented new designs. In November 2004, at the London premiere of ''[[After the Sunset]]'' she wore a red gown that had a near-topless effect.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,138502,00.html| title=Serena Williams Keen on Fashion Career|work=Associated Press| publisher= FOX News Network, LLC |date= November 14, 2004| accessdate=April 25, 2009 }}</ref> Williams formerly had a special line with [[Puma AG|Puma]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com//Courting_tennis__glamour/articleshow/1501836.cms? |title= Courting both tennis and glamour| work= The Times of India| publisher=Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.|first=Ruhi|last= Batra|date= January 28, 2007| accessdate= April 25, 2009}}</ref> and currently has a line with [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]. The deal with Nike is worth US$40 million and was signed in April 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/minority-owned-businesses/767050-1.html |title= Serena Williams aces Nike deal worth approximately $40 million | first= Carolyn M. | last= Brown |date= April 1, 2004 |work=Black Enterprise|publisher=Allbusiness.com|accessdate=April 24, 2009}}</ref> Since 2004, she has also been running her own line of designer apparel called "Aneres"—her first name spelled backward. In 2009 she launched a signature collection of handbags and jewellery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/358/story/974347.html|title=Serena Williams has a passion for fashion|first= Madeleine|last= Marr|date=March 3, 2009|work=The Miami Herald|publisher=Miami Herald Media Co.|accessdate=April 25, 2009}}</ref> ===Entertainment=== Williams has appeared on television and also provided voice work on animated shows: in a 2001 episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' Serena joined the animation along with sister Venus, [[Pete Sampras]] and [[Andre Agassi]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701223/|title="The Simpsons" Tennis the Menace (2001)| work= IMDb.com |publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|accessdate=April 26, 2009}}</ref> She has also provided guest voice work in a 2005 episode of Playhouse Disney's animated kids show ''[[Higglytown Heroes]]'' and a 2007 episode of the [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] cartoon ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/the-day-of-black-sun-1-the-invasion/episode/1121066/summary.html|title=Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Day of Black Sun (1): The Invasion|publisher=TV.com|accessdate=April 24, 2009}}</ref> which she has described as her "favorite show".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://women.webmd.com/features/serena-williams-gets-back-game |title=Serena Williams Gets Back in the Game |first=Lauren Paige|last= Kennedy | work= WebMD the Magazine |publisher=WebMD, LLC.|accessdate=April 24, 2009}}</ref> Williams has posed for the 2003 and 2004 editions of the ''[[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thurmond|first=Sarah|title=Golovin, Hantuchova, Kirilenko in SI swimsuit issue|work=[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis Magazine]]|date=February 11, 2009|url=http://www.tennis.com/backcourt/general/backcourt.aspx?id=164656|accessdate=May 9, 2009}}</ref> In April 2005, [[MTV]] announced plans to broadcast a [[reality show]] around the lives of Serena and Venus, which was eventually aired on [[ABC Family]]. Williams has appeared twice on MTV's ''[[Punk'd]]'' and in 2007, appeared in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] reality television series ''[[Fast Cars and Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race]]''. In 2002, she played ''Miss Johnson'' in the season 3 episode "Crouching Mother, Hidden Father" of ''[[My Wife and Kids]]'';<ref>{{cite web|title=On stage or on court, Serena plays the lead|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=January 13, 2003|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/12/1041990178788.html|accessdate=May 10, 2009}}</ref> she has also guest-starred during episodes of ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'' and ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Serena to voice queen with 'devious plans' for planet|publisher=ESPN. Associated Press|date=January 30, 2007|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2748802|accessdate=May 11, 2009}}</ref> In 2007 Williams appeared in the music video of "I Want You" by the American rapper Common, alongside performers [[Alicia Keys]] and [[Kanye West]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapdirt.com/common-i-want-you-video/16687/|title=Common ‘I Want You’ Video|work=rapdirt.com|date= October 23, 2007| accessdate=April 26, 2009}}</ref> ===Charity work=== In 2008 Williams helped to fund the construction of the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90783/91323/6534327.html |title=Serena Williams in Kenya on charity tour|publisher= People's Daily |date=November 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=53717 |title=Serena Williams to Visit Kenya on Charity cause |author= Claire Wanja |date=November 10, 2008 |publisher=Kenya Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=April 24, 2009}}</ref> She received a Celebrity Role Model Award from Avon Foundation in 2003 for work in breast cancer.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.avoncompany.com/women/news/press20031015.html | work= Avon|publisher=Avon Products, Inc.|accessdate = April 26, 2009 | date = October 15, 2003| title = Jewel and Serena Williams Help the Avon Foundation Raise Millions for the Fight Against Breast Cancer}}</ref> Williams has also been involved in a number of clinics at schools and community centers, particularly those which have programs focusing on at-risk youth.<ref name="WTA profile"/> She has also won the "Young Heroes Award" from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. and Inland (2003) and the "Family Circle and Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference Award" (2004).<ref name="WTA profile"/> ==Career statistics and awards== {{main|Serena Williams career statistics}} {{seealso|WTA Awards}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;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 {{col-2}} ;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 Best Female Athlete of the Year ;2005 * BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year ;2007 * Laureus World Comeback of the Year * Harris Poll Most Favorite Female Sports Star ;2008 * WTA Player of the Year {{col-end}} ==See also== * [[List of Grand Slam Women's Singles champions]] * [[List of Grand Slam Women's Doubles champions]] * [[List of Grand Slam Mixed Doubles champions]] * [[Williams Sisters rivalry]] * [[Serena Slam]] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== * {{Cite book| last= Edmondson|first= Jacqueline|title =Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography|publisher= Greenwood Publishing Group|date= 2005|isbn=0-313-33165-0}} ==External links== {{commonscat|Serena Williams}} * [http://www.serenawilliams.com/ Official web site of Serena Williams] * [http://videos.rollingout.com/rollingoutvideoinner.aspx?Section=12&ArticleId=4066&VideoId=23765109001 Exclusive cover shoot and interview with Serena Williams.] * [http://www.hossli.com/articles/2008/01/04/serena-williams-im-a-thinker/ Interview with Serena Williams on Hossli.com] * {{wta|id=230234|name=Serena Williams}} * {{imdb name|id=1102987|name=Serena Williams}} {{start box}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box | | before = [[Venus Williams]] <br /> [[Ana Ivanović]] <br /> [[Jelena Janković]] | after = [[Kim Clijsters]] <br /> Jelena Janković <br /> [[Dinara Safina]] | title = [[List of WTA number 1 ranked players|World No.&nbsp;1]] | years = July 8, 2002 &ndash; August 10, 2003 <br /> September 8, 2008 &ndash; October 6, 2008 <br /> February 2, 2009 &ndash; April 19, 2009 |}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | | before = Venus Williams | after = Kim Clijsters | title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Newcomer of the Year]] | years = 1998 |}} {{succession box | | before = [[Patty Schnyder]] | after = [[Elena Dementieva]] | title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Most Improved Player]] | years = 1999 |}} {{succession box | | before = [[Martina Hingis]] &<br />[[Anna Kournikova]] | after = [[Lisa Raymond]] &<br />[[Rennae Stubbs]] | title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Doubles Team of the Year]]<br />(with Venus Williams) | years = 2000 |}} {{succession box | | before = [[Jennifer Capriati]]<br />Justine Henin | after = [[Justine Henin]]<br />Incumbent | title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Player of The Year]] | years = 2002<br />2008 |}} {{succession box | | before = Jennifer Capriati | after = Justine Henin | title = [[International Tennis Federation#Women's singles|ITF World Champion]] | years = 2002 |}} {{succession box | | before = Jennifer Capriati | after = [[Annika Sörenstam]] | title = [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year]] | years = 2002 |}} {{succession box | | before = Jennifer Capriati | after = Annika Sörenstam | title = [[Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year|World Sportswoman of the Year]] | years = 2002 |}} {{succession box | | before = [[Amélie Mauresmo]] | after = Kim Clijsters | title = [[WTA Awards|WTA Comeback Player of the Year]] | years = 2004 |}} {{succession box | | before = Venus Williams | after = [[Maria Sharapova]] | title = [[Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award]] | years = 2003–2004 |}} {{succession box | | before = Venus Williams | after = [[Diana Taurasi]] | title = [[Best Female Athlete ESPY Award]] | years = 2003 |}} {{end box}} {{Top ten tennis players|wtasingles=y|wtadoubles=y}} {{Top ten American female tennis players}} {{Tennis World Number Ones (women)}} {{Australian Open women's singles champions}} {{French Open women's singles champions}} {{Wimbledon women's singles champions}} {{US Open women's singles champions}} {{Footer Olympic Champions Tennis Women's Doubles}} {{WTA Tour singles champions}} {{Tennis women grand slam three and more}} {{Tennis Career Grand Slam Champions}} {{Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME = Williams, Serena Jameka Ross Evelyn |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |SHORT DESCRIPTION = American tennis player |DATE OF BIRTH = September 26, 1981 |PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Saginaw, Michigan]], United States |DATE OF DEATH = |PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Serena}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American tennis players]] [[Category:Australian Open champions]] [[Category:French Open champions]] [[Category:US Open champions]] [[Category:Wimbledon champions]] [[Category:Olympic tennis players of the United States]] [[Category:Tennis players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Tennis players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States]] [[Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners]] [[Category:African American tennis players]] [[Category:People from Saginaw, Michigan]] [[Category:People from Compton, California]] [[Category:World No. 1 tennis players]] [[Category:American Jehovah's Witnesses]] [[ar:سيرينا ويليامز]] [[bn:সেরিনা উইলিয়ামস]] [[bg:Серина Уилямс]] [[cs:Serena Williamsová]] [[cy:Serena Williams]] [[da:Serena Williams]] [[de:Serena Williams]] [[et:Serena Williams]] [[el:Σερένα Γουίλιαμς]] [[es:Serena Williams]] [[fa:سرنا ویلیامز]] [[fr:Serena Williams]] [[ko:세레나 윌리엄스]] [[hi:सेरेना विलियम्स]] [[hr:Serena Williams]] [[id:Serena Williams]] [[it:Serena Williams]] [[he:סרינה ויליאמס]] [[ka:სერენა უილიამსი]] [[lv:Serena Viljamsa]] [[hu:Serena Williams]] [[ml:സെറീന വില്യംസ്]] [[mr:सेरेना विल्यम्स]] [[mn:Серена Виллиамс]] [[nl:Serena Williams]] [[ja:セリーナ・ウィリアムズ]] [[no:Serena Williams]] [[pl:Serena Williams]] [[pt:Serena Williams]] [[ro:Serena Williams]] [[ru:Уильямс, Серена]] [[simple:Serena Williams]] [[sk:Serena Williamsová]] [[sr:Серена Вилијамс]] [[sh:Serena Williams]] [[fi:Serena Williams]] [[sv:Serena Williams]] [[tl:Serena Williams]] [[ta:செரீனா வில்லியம்ஸ்]] [[th:เซเรนา วิลเลียมส์]] [[tr:Serena Williams]] [[uk:Серена Вільямс]] [[vi:Serena Williams]] [[wa:Serena Williams]] [[zh-yue:沙蓮娜威廉絲]] [[zh:塞雷娜·威廉姆斯]]'