Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born July 17, 1980) is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 37 in singles as of January 17, 2014. She is an Olympic gold medalist who has won 7 Grand Slam titles.  She was ranked World No. 24 as of October 22, 2012 in singles.

Williams is the older sister of fellow former World No. 1 tennis player Serena Williams. The Williams sisters are noted for their power games. Venus holds the record for the fastest serve by a female player in a main draw match (128.8 mph).

Like her sister Serena Williams she is a Jehovah's Witness.

Awards

1995
 Sports Image Foundation Award for conducting tennis clinics in low-income areas
1997
 WTA Newcomer of the Year
 September's Olympic Committee Female Athlete
1998
 Tennis Magazine's Most Improved Player
2000
 WTA Player of the Year
 WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Serena Williams)
 Sports Illustrated for Women's Sportswoman of the Year
 Teen Choice Awards – Extraordinary Achievement Award
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.62)
 Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year for team sports (with Serena Williams)
2001
 Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award
 EMMA Best Sport Personality Award
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.57)
2002
 Best Female Athlete ESPY Award
 Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.60)
2003
 34th NAACP Image Awards' President's Award
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.65)
2004
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.1)
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.77)
2005
 Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year Award
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.81)
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)

2006
 Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award
 BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.1)
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.90)
2007
 Gitanjali Diamond Award
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)
2008
 Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year Award
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.3)
2009
 Anti-Defamation League Americanism Award
 Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year Award
 ITF Women's Doubles World Champion (with Serena Williams)
 WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Serena Williams)
 WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Serena Williams)
 Doha 21st Century Leaders Awards – Outstanding Leadership
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.77)
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.2)
2010
 Caesars Tennis Classic Achievement Award
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.83)
 YWCA GLA Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award
 WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Serena Williams)
 Forbes 30 Utterly Inspiring Role Models
 Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World (No.60)
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.2)
2011
 Forbes The Celebrity 100 (No.86)
 TIME Magazine 30 Legends of Women's Tennis
 Forbes Most Powerful Black Women In The U.S. (No.10)
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No.2)
2012
 World TeamTennis Finals Most Valuable Player

References

1980 births
Living people
African-American tennis players
American female tennis players
American Olympic gold medalists
American Protestants
Australian Open champions
Competitors at the 2016 Summer Olympics
French Open champions
Jehovah's Witnesses people
Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Olympic silver medalists
Sportspeople from Los Angeles
US Open (tennis) champions
Wimbledon champions
World No. 1 tennis players