Serena Williams is one of the most dominating tennis players in the history of the game. She is also one half of the most dominant sports sibling duos in the world. While much of her life has been public, there is still much to learn about Serena. But don’t fret, we’re about to “serve” you some of the most fascinating facts about the tennis legend, Ms. Serena Williams.
Child Prodigy
More important than her natural talent was Serena’s determination to play and get better. Serena started playing tennis at age five in Compton, California. While she was playing there would routinely be gunfire from gangs going off in the area.
Child Prodigy
Youngest Sibling
Some people say that being the youngest sibling can come with its own set of obstacles. Younger siblings tend to look for reasons to rebel and end up needing to stop smoking. Serena is the youngest of five children, all of whom were girls. You obviously already know of Venus but her other sisters are Lyndrea, Yetunde, and Isha.
Serena Venus Lyndrea Yetunde And Isha
Truly Dominant
If you add up all of the weeks that Serena has spent on top of the rankings at #1 she will have been there for 253 weeks! Serena’s prolific run on top has made her a professional darling as she now has fashion designers begging her to try out their products.
Truly Dominant
Near Death Experience
One look at Serena will verify that she’s the opposite of someone with anorexia — she is robust and healthy. Still, Serena had to be treated for a blood clot in her lungs back in 2011. The surgery was sudden and done in an emergency fashion, thus saving her life.
Near Death Experience
John McEnroe Approved
Serena has a great many fans in her backlog but none more vocal than former tennis great, John McEnroe. When Serena won her fifth Wimbledon title, in singles competition, McEnroe proudly declared her the greatest female tennis player of all time.
John Mcenroe Approved
The Simpsons
Serena and Venus sure know how to make money quick! At the height of their fame both Serena and Venus were invited to lend their voices to The Simpsons — one of the most successful shows of all time. The episode that Serena appeared in was named, of course, ‘Tennis the Menace’.
The Simpsons
Laid Back
Serena may be an intense athlete on the court but she likes to kick back and relax during her free time. Serena’s favorite hobbies include reading, watching football, and honing her acting skills. Do we sense a career in Hollywood in the future?
Laid Back
Family Tragedy
Despite the success of Venus and Serena, tragedy would still find a way to follow their family. Yetunde Price, Serena’s oldest sister, was murdered in Los Angeles back in 2003. Price was killed in a drive by shooting but her boyfriend, who was driving, had been the intended target.
Family Tragedy
Championship Company
Serena Williams stands alongside Chris Evert as being the only other female tennis players to score six U.S. open singles titles. These six titles are the most in the entire Open Era. Chris Evert is another legendary tennis player. Not bad company, indeed.
Championship Company
Grand Slam Dominance
If you are going to go down as an All Time great in professional tennis then you had better get your record right in the Grand Slam Finals. Serena has, of course, become one of the most dominant players in Grand Slam history. Serena is 20 – 4 in Grand Slam Finals matches. The only person to beat her twice is her sister, Venus.
Grand Slam Dominance
Dual Rankings
Serena is the rare competitor who can dominate in both singles and doubles competition. At one point in her career Serena was ranked #1 in both singles and doubles. How often has that happened? We’re not sure but it really sounds impressive.
Dual Rankings
Major Earner
If you look at what Serena earned in just 2013 then you will see that she out earned the entire Top 10 field back in 1995. Yeah, anytime you out earn 10 other professionals in your sport — well, that’s good news. Serena is a constant attendant of the Forbes Highest Paid Athletes list.
Major Earner
Workout Mix
When Serena hits the gym, she hits it hard. In order to get through those long work outs Serena admits that she listens to “Fame” by David Bowie. Of course, she also has some less than ‘conventionally popular’ music on her list — ‘Mmmbop’ by Hanson. Serena isn’t ashamed to admit that she jams to Hanson. Okay, maybe a little bit. When she’s done working out she likes to finish things off with Gatorade protein bars in order to start healing up right away.
Workout Mix
An International Goodwill Ambassador
September 20th, 2011 was the day that Serena achieved one of the biggest and most honorable milestones of her life. On this day the UNICEF appointed Serena Williams’s as an International Goodwill Ambassador. Wow!
unicef goodwill ambassador
‘The Sixth Sense’
The first time that Serena Williams won a U.S. Open, The Sixth Sense was #1 at the Box Office. Who knew that one of M. Night’s only good movies would be the marking point for an unheralded career of tennis dominance. We wonder what film will be #1 at the Box Office when she finally decides to retire.
The Sixth Sense
Well Paid
When you are the best in the world at what you do, you tend to get paid for it. Williams topped the list of all female athletes in 2016 in terms of how much money she made — earning a cool $29 million combined between prize money and endorsements. Serena doesn’t figure to be slowing down any time soon, either, as she has been pushing her endorsements more and more.
Well Paid
Power Player
Critics of the sport tend to look at Serena and Venus as resetting the popularity of female tennis on the global stage. Serena and Venus are also credited with bringing ‘power’ back to the forefront of the female tennis game. Serena and Venus are two of the hardest hitting tennis players of all time, clocking in serves at 129 MPH and 128.6 MPH respectively. Sabine Lisicki leads the pack with fastest serves at 131 MPH.
Power Player
All Together Now
Serena Williams has been dominant in a way that most other athletes can only dream of. In fact, she is the most recent player in female tennis to have all four major single titles to herself. She is only the third player ever to accomplish this task in professional tennis – joining Rod Laver as well as Steffi Graff.
All Together Now
Maxed Out
In 1998 Serena won her first-ever Grand Slam title, well titles that is, taking home the gold medal for both Wimbledon and the US Open. But Serena can’t take all of the credit, as they both were mixed-doubles matches, playing with partner Max Mirnyi. When Serena and Max were together on the court, wow was it powerful!
Max Out
Jameka
Serena Jameka Williams. Jameka is somewhat of an uncommon name, but it seems like a combination of Jamaica and Jamie.
Jameka
Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Thy dynamic tennis duo, aka the Williams sisters, have successfully won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together. In fact, Serena and Venus are undefeatedstar Grand Slam and Olympic doubles champions.
Undefeated Champions
Sagina, Michigan
While Serena grew up in the heat of Compton and Palm beach, she was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
Saginaw, Michigan
“Thirty Shmirty”
“You’re as young as you feel.” And Serena can certainly vouch for that saying. After Serena turned 30-years-old she won 4 Grand Slam title, establishing herself as the only player in tennis history to achieve such an accomplishment.
Thirty Shmirty
Green Days #1 Fan
Talk about a huge punk-rock fan. One of the best fun facts about Serena is that she’s actually obsessed (no joke) with Green Day, the 1980s punk rock band. She not only owns countless Green Day t-shirts, but she also knows almost every lyric to every one of their songs. And as you can see from the picture, she even got to meet these rockers backstage.
Green Days 1 Fan
MIA For 14 Years
When Serena and her family were mistreated after she had won the Indian Wells tournament in 2001, she strongly took a stand. She felt so strongly about the situation that she decided to boycott tennis for 14 years! Let’s just say her fans were beside themselves.
Boycotted Tennis For 14 Years
She’s Getting Married!
In December 2016 Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian got down on one knee and popped the question we’d all be waiting for, “Will you marry me Ms. Serena Williams?” Okay, we’re not positive those were his exact words, but you get the jist… she’s getting married!
The Engagment
Owner Of The Miami Dolphins NFL Team, Kind Of.
In 2009 Serena and Venus Williams officially joined the “Dolphins Ownership” group, becoming minority owners/partners of the Miami Dolphins NFL team. It’s almost as if the Williams sisters are just handed fame and glory.
Owner Of The Miami Dolphins Kind Of
She’s Not Just A Star On The Tennis Court
From on-court queen to small screen, Serena Williams has made it clear that she is not camera shy, at all. The tennis champ has made guest appearances in some of the most well-known TV shows like ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Simpsons, The Bernie Mac Show, MADtv, Punk’d, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. We’re starting to wonder if there is something she cannot do.
She’s not just a star on the court
When In Rome
If you ask Serena what her favorite city in the entire world is she’d say Rome. But hey, who doesn’t love a city filled with pizza, pasta, and beautiful Italian people?
When In Rome
She Likes Other Sports Besides Tennis
Now if you were to ask Serena what her favorite sport to watch is, she would not say the answer most of assume, which of course is tennis. SO what does she enjoy watching? Gymnastics.
She Likes More Then Just Tennis
Stick To The Tennis Court
In 2001 Serena was supposed to appear in the debut of “Black Knight”, but unfortunately (we aren’t sure the exact reason) her scenes didn’t make the cut.
Stick To The Tennis Court
Manicure Anyone?
To prepare for the launch of her new nail collection, sponsored by Hair Tech, Serena became a certified nail technician back in 2001. Just add this to long list of her hundred other talents.
Manicure Anyone
1999
Serena Williams made her professional debut back in 1995 but it wasn’t until 1999 that she began to hit her stride. 1999 was the year that Serena won her first Major Title at the U.S. Open. Serena beat Martina Hingis in the finals to seal the deal.
1999
You Gotta Have Faith
Serena is a Jehovah’s Witness.
Gotta Have Faith
Her Favorite Gadget In The Kitchen Is…
The toaster over.
The Toaster Oven
And Her Favorite Water Sport Is…
Tubing.
Tubing
And She Loves Nail Polish
So, Serena not only keeps tennis rackets/tennis balls in her gym bag, but she also always has a bottle of OPI Nail Polish. But, as we learned before, she’s a certified nail technician so I guess it makes sense.
OPI Nail Polish
An Animal Lover
Serena’s two favorite animals are dogs and tigers.
Her favorite animal
The U.S. Open Champion
Serena is among the highest ranked singles player in the U.S. Open era, with a winning percentage of .898!
US Open Champion
The Number One Tennis Player In The World
To this day, Serena has established herself as the number one tennis player in the world – Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA).
Number One Tennis Player In The World
