Venus Williams

Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17, 1980) is an American professional tennis player. William is a former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, Williams is often said to be one of the all-time greats of the sport of tennis. She is also an Olympic gold medalist who has won 7 Grand Slam titles.  She was ranked World No. 24 as of October 22, 2012 in singles. In January 2026, she competed in the Australian Open at age 45. This made her the oldest player to ever appear in a women's singles match at the Australian Open. 

Williams is the older sister of Serena Williams. Serena has also been ranked as number one in the world. The Williams sisters' are well known for their power games. Venus holds the record for the fastest serve by a female player in a main draw match (128.8 mph).

Personal life
In 2003, the sister and personal assistant to Venus Williams, Yetunde Price, was shot dead in Compton, California near the courts on which the sisters once practiced. Shortly after her death, the Williams' family stated their personal distress and grief over the event; declaring her an invaluable "confidante".

On December 13, 2007, Williams got her associate degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

In 2011, Williams was forced to stop playing in the US Open before her second-round match after she learned she had Sjögren's syndrome. After she learned this, Williams started following a vegan diet and lowered the amount of calories and sugars in her diet.

In 2015, Williams got a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Indiana University East. She began studying for the degree in 2011 through an agreement between the university and the Women's Tennis Association. The agreement lets athletes play tennis professionally while studying online. Williams has said that she wants to earn a MBA (masters) as well.

Williams is a Jehovah's Witness.

 Relationships 
Williams has dated golfer Hank Kuehne. They were seen together from 2007 until 2010. In 2012, she met Cuban model Elio Pis. They dated until 2015. She dated publishing heir Nicholas Hammond for two years until 2019.

2017 car accident
On June 9, 2017, Williams was in an accident in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. A car collided with her SUV as she was driving through an intersection. The accident caused the death of a 78-year-old man and injured another person in the other vehicle. When the accident happened, Police said that Williams was "at fault". After they reviewed the surveillance video, they said that she had not caused it.

On December 21, 2017, authorities said that the accident had occurred after Williams' vehicle was unlawfully cut off by an unidentified driver of a third vehicle. A nearby surveillance camera showed that this was not true. Authorities said the accident was caused by the unidentified third driver, not by Williams.
Records and achievements
 Records in italics are currently active streaks.

Championship  Years  Record accomplished Player tied1997 French Open – 2021 Wimbledon1997–2021Most appearances (90) in Grand Slam singles drawStands alone1999 French Open – 2016 Wimbledon1999–2016First 14 Grand Slam doubles finals won (with Serena Williams)Serena Williams2002 French Open – 2003 Australian Open2002–2003Four consecutive runner-up finishesStands alone2002 French Open – 2003 Australian Open2002–2003Four consecutive runner-up finishes to the same player (Serena Williams)Stands alone2003 Australian Open – 2017 Australian Open2003–201714 years between first and last finalChris EvertSerena Williams2000 Wimbledon – 2017 Wimbledon2000–201717 years between first and last finalSerena WilliamsWimbledon2005Longest women's singles finalLindsay DavenportWimbledon2007Lowest-ranked champion (31st)Stands aloneWimbledon2007Lowest-seeded champion (23rd)Stands aloneWimbledon2008Fastest serve by a woman (129 mph)Stands aloneUS Open2007Fastest serve by a woman (129 mph)Stands aloneSummer Olympics2000–20124 Olympic gold medalsSerena WilliamsSummer Olympics2000–20165 Olympic finalsStands aloneSummer Olympics2000–20123 doubles Olympic gold medals (with Serena Williams)Serena WilliamsSummer Olympics2000–2016Most Olympic medals won by a male or female player (5)Kathleen McKane GodfreeSummer Olympics2000–2016Has won an Olympic medal in all three events (singles, doubles & mixed)Kathleen McKane GodfreeSummer Olympics2000–2016Has won an Olympic medal at four Olympic GamesStands aloneMiami Open1998–200222 consecutive singles matches won at this tournamentSteffi GrafDubai Tennis Championships2009–201516 consecutive singles matches won at this tournamentStands aloneDubai Tennis Championships2010–20142 consecutive singles titles without dropping a setJustine HeninDubai Tennis Championships2014Only unseeded player to have won in singles and as a wildcardStands aloneConnecticut Open1999–20024 consecutive singles titles Caroline WozniackiConnecticut Open1999–20002 consecutive singles titles without dropping a setStands aloneU.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships1998–2007Most singles titles won at this tournament (3)Stands aloneSouthern California Open1999–20024 consecutive singles finals Tracy AustinMexican Open2009–20102 consecutive singles titlesSara ErraniLesia Tsurenko Year-end championships1998-2008–2015Won all three title Grand Slam Cup, WTA Finals and WTA Elite Trophy in singles

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 (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
 The President's Award of the 34th NAACP Image Awards
 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)
 Vogue Magazine Top 10 Best Dressed List for 2007
2008
 Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year Award
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No. 3)
 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 (with Serena Williams)
 WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year (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)

2009
WTA doubles team of the year (with Serena Williams)
 WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)
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 (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)
 Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service in Professional Sports
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
 WTA Player Service Award
 WTA Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year (with Serena Williams)
2013
 BET Black Girls Rock! Star Power Award
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No. 3)
 WTA Player Service Award
2014
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No. 3)
 WTA Fan Favorite Dress (2014 Wimbledon)
 Tennis Magazine Top 10 Matches of 2014 No. 3 (2014 Wimbledon 3rd Round)
 ESPN Tennis Top 10 Women's Matches of 2014 No. 3 (2014 Wimbledon 3rd Round)
2015
 US Open Sportsmanship Award
 WTA February Best Dressed Player
 WTA French Open Best Dressed Player
 WTA October Best Dressed Player
 Harris Poll Top 10 Favorite Female Sports Star (No. 3)
 Harris Poll Top 10 Greatest Tennis Player (No. 5)
 WTA Comeback Player of the Year
 WTA Social Fan Favorite – #TBT of the Year
2016
 Sports Illustrated Fashionable 50 Athletes
 Nielsen Most Marketable Athletes in the U.S. (No. 6)
2017
 ESPN WTA Player of the Year
 Nielsen Most Marketable Athletes in the U.S. (No. 2)
2019
 Sports Illustrated Fashionable 50 Athletes

References

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