Serena Williams is probably the best known name in womens tennis, maybe even tennis history. Think about it…do you even know five women tennis pro’s? If you do, you are among few. Serena’s story is interesting and her rise was full of trials. Back at the start of the century, Serena almost enrolled in design classes rather than making her start at the 2000 Australian Open. What a different story that would have been!!
The Associated Press reported “She has won 11 major titles, the most of any active woman, and inspired the term “Serena Slam” when she swept four majors in a row in 2002-03. With unprecedented power and underrated agility, she has transformed the way the women’s game is played. Her flair for theatrics and compelling back story brought new fans to the sport, which helped the WTA Tour achieve new levels of popularity. The U.S. Open final became a prime-time attraction, and Williams became a magazine cover celebrity.”
“Serena has redefined women in sports,” Arlen Kantarian, former U.S. Tennis Association CEO for professional tennis commented. “This is an athlete who has that very, very unique combination of grit and glamour, power and grace, like no other athlete I’ve come across in the last decade — or two, for that matter.”
In addition to a career earning of $28.5 million, Serena is up for the The Associated Press’ Athlete of the Decade. Her sibling rivalry with Venus for the top slot in women’s tennis certainly gave the press plenty to work with. Venus started the Williams long run of titles but Serena caught up quick and blew by Venus. Serena edged out Venus in six of eight “sibling showdowns” in Grand Slam finals, the most recent this year at Wimbledon.