Serena Williams became an undeniable force of nature from the moment she stepped on the tennis court as a 17 year old to win her first US Open. Her powerful serve and unprecedented athletic style left fans in awe. Even when her older sister Venus Williams joined the professional tennis circuit in 1994, the two were still often compared to one another due to their similar style and powerful serves. And for those who thought Venus was too good to be true, Serena proved that lightning can strike twice by proving this athletic dynamo famliy wasn’t limited to just one talented superstar!
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Both sisters had become a powerhouse in the sport of tennis, revolutionizing the game with their unrivaled domination of the court over two decades. But off the court, Serena Williams’ accomplishments are equally impressive – building a life that has seen her transcend from world-class athlete to global icon. From record-breaking championship wins to acting roles on Hollywood screens, she appeared in guest roles on The Simpsons (1989) and My Wife and Kids (2001). There is almost no arena that she hasn’t made her mark in. Not only has Serena served aces in competitive sport, but she also has a Serena Williams building dedicated in her honour.
Her skill, poise, and athleticism were only strengthened with age. With each match that passes, Serena’s legacy continued to grow. Despite giving birth to her daughter and dealing with the difficulties of postpartum depression and breastfeeding, she still managed to rise to the top of the 2017 Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes list that same year. With such unbelievable accomplishments, it’s no wonder she earned her spot as the only female athlete on the list until recently in 2022 at the edge of her retirement, when Naomi Osaka emerged as the highest paid female athlete.
Before the end of her career, Serena had already taken her spot as the greatest female tennis player in history by the Guiness World Record after earning a staggering 25 Guinness World Records titles. Including Holding the most Grand Slam singles titles of any tennis player in the Open Era, male or female with 23 Grand Slam titles, and the second-most of all time. On top of that, she is the only tennis player in history to own a “Golden Slam” within both singles and doubles. Even when it comes to the Olympics, she is unmatched — sharing four GOLD medals with her sister Venus Williams. Furthermore, Serena holds records for most US Open matches won (108) and most tennis Grand Slam singles matches won (female): 367.
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The greatest of all time also holds the records as the most Laureus World Sports Awards won by a female athlete. Fewest games lost in a women’s singles Olympic tennis final, dropping only one game in the second set. The most Olympic tennis doubles titles won is shared with her sister. most wins of the Hopman Cup by an individual (female). The highest earnings in a tennis career (female). The highest earnings in a tennis season (female) among others.
Think of basketball and the first name that comes to mind is Michael Jordan. Boxing and Muhammad Ali come to mind. Golf and it’s natural to think of Tiger Woods. Men’s tennis and the name Roger Federer come to mind. And women’s tennis is Serena Williams.
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