Portrait · Vinod Divakaran / Doha Stadium Plus Qatar / CC BY 2.0

Serena Williams

Tennis player, producer and entrepreneur

Born 1981

Serena Jameka Williams is an American tennis player, producer and entrepreneur born in Saginaw, Michigan. Her parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price, taught themselves tennis through books and videos to coach their daughters. Serena trained with her father and Venus on public courts in Compton, then worked with Rick Macci after the family moved to Florida. Her father limited junior tournaments to avoid burnout. In a later long-form interview she recalled the fun of childhood tennis and his emphasis on positive thinking. Her first professional qualifying event came in Québec City in 1995; the WTA main-draw record began in 1997. The 1999 US Open brought her first major singles championship. Victories at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2002 led into the 2003 Australian Open, completing the first Serena Slam. A second run holding all four major singles titles ended at Wimbledon in 2015. Her 23 major singles championships are the women’s Open Era record, with wins across every major surface. She also built a major doubles record alongside her sister Venus. Olympic success included Sydney and Beijing doubles gold and both London singles and doubles gold. Her later career includes a final major singles title at the 2017 Australian Open and an Auckland tour title in 2020. The WTA’s historical record documents 319 weeks at singles No.1 and repeated Player of the Year honors. After stepping away following the 2022 US Open, she returned to competition in 2026; USTA’s tournament reporting confirms another doubles appearance with Venus. With Carlos Alcaraz she also reached the US Open mixed-doubles quarterfinals. Work beyond the court includes film and television roles, from scripted guest appearances and animation to documentaries about her life and career. She executive produced King Richard, where Demi Singleton portrayed the younger Serena, and Copa 71, a documentary recovering women’s football history. In the Arena revisits her career, while The CEO Club follows business leaders including Williams. The Zina festival record identifies another producing role. Her writing includes a book collaboration with Venus and Hilary Beard, the memoir On the Line with Daniel Paisner, and the illustrated children’s book The Adventures of Qai Qai. She founded WYN Beauty and discusses investing and joining Toronto Tempo’s ownership group in a 2025 TIME interview. She married Alexis Ohanian. Those accounts retain their publication context rather than turning historical tastes into a present routine.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionVenus WilliamsSister, major doubles partner and Olympic teammate.

ConnectionAlexis OhanianHusband.

ConnectionRichard WilliamsFather and early coach, documented by the institutional biography.

Serena Williams at Fed Cup training on April 22,2012 — Profile image · Aleksandr Osipov / CC BY-SA 2.0

NewNews13 Sept 2026

A completed return to the US Open

USTA reports Serena and Venus competed together in the 2026 doubles draw.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Serena Williams's work and public record.

News
A watch collaboration in her own words
The interview discusses her Audemars Piguet collaboration and life around the return. Commercial context is explicit.
17 Sept 2026Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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News
Nutrition language in a sponsored interview
Her protein and food answer appears in a Factor paid partnership.
3 Sept 2026Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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News
A mixed-doubles quarterfinal with Alcaraz
The original ATP report confirms a first-round win followed by a quarterfinal loss to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
25 Aug 2026Original report independently checked · 2026-10-02
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News
Chip in the 2026 Dogue interview
She introduces her longtime named dog in the magazine’s pet interview.
19 Aug 2026Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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Project
The CEO Club reaches Prime Video
The platform’s February lineup and episode records establish the 2026 series.
23 Feb 2026Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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News
Investing beyond tennis
The TIME 100 interview discusses venture work and joining Toronto Tempo’s ownership group.
16 Apr 2025Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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Project
Telling the career through In the Arena
ESPN’s director interview explains the 2024 documentary series.
11 Jul 2024Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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News
A makeup business begins
The original interview establishes her role as WYN Beauty’s founder.
3 Apr 2024Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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Project
Producing women’s sports history
Dogwoof names Serena and Venus as executive producers on Copa 71.
21 Feb 2023Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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Project
An authored picture book
The publisher records The Adventures of Qai Qai and illustrator Yesenia Moises.
27 Sept 2022Checked original publication or exact first-party release record
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Selected Credits

View all

Year	Title	Role
2024	In the Arena: Serena WilliamsDocumentary seriesIMDb	Self
2026	The CEO ClubTelevision seriesIMDb	Self
2026	ZinaDocumentary shortIMDb	Producer — festival lists production year 2025
2026	The CEO ClubTelevision seriesIMDb	Executive producer
2026	US Open — mixed doublesTournament result	Quarterfinalist with Carlos Alcaraz

Timeline

1981—2026

1981Born in Saginaw, Michigan.
YouthGrew up training on Compton courts before Florida coaching.
1995Played her first professional qualifying event in Québec City.
1997Entered a WTA main draw at Moscow.
1998Won Wimbledon and US Open mixed doubles with Max Mirnyi.
1999Won her first major singles title at the US Open.
2000Olympic doubles gold with Venus in Sydney.
2002Won Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and US Open singles.
2003Australian Open completed the first Serena Slam.
2005Coauthored Serving from the Hip.
2007Australian Open comeback championship.
2008US Open title and Olympic doubles gold.
2009On the Line memoir published.
2010Major doubles wins in Melbourne and Paris with Venus.
2012London singles and doubles Olympic gold.
2013Roland-Garros championship and WTA Finals title.
2014US Open championship and Singapore WTA Finals title.
2015Wimbledon completed her second Serena Slam.
2016Wimbledon singles and doubles champion.
2017Australian Open singles championship.
2017Married Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans.
2018Being Serena documented a new life chapter.
2020Auckland became her latest WTA singles title.
2021Executive producer on King Richard.
2022Stepped away after the US Open; Qai Qai book published.
2023Copa 71 producing credit and PAW Patrol voice role.
2024WYN Beauty founder and In the Arena documentary series.
2025Discussed venture work and Toronto Tempo ownership.
2026The CEO Club, Zina release record and a return to competition.
2026Competed with Venus in the US Open doubles draw.
20262026-08-25: Reaches the US Open mixed-doubles quarterfinals with Carlos Alcaraz.

A completed return to the US Open

Latest Index

A watch collaboration in her own words

Nutrition language in a sponsored interview

A mixed-doubles quarterfinal with Alcaraz

Chip in the 2026 Dogue interview

The CEO Club reaches Prime Video

Investing beyond tennis

Telling the career through In the Arena

A makeup business begins

Producing women’s sports history

An authored picture book