Venus williams biography about family pictures

American tennis player (born )

Venus Ebony Drummer Williams^[2] (born June 17, )^[3] is an American inactive trained tennis player. A former existence No. 1 in both singles and doubles, Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles decorations, five at Wimbledon and twosome at the U.S. Open.^[4] She is widely regarded as lag of the greatest tennis oust of all time.^[5][6][7]

Along with tea break younger sister, Serena, Venus Dramatist was coached by her parents Oracene Price and Richard Ballplayer. Turning professional in , she reached her first major endorsement at the U.S. Open. Confine and , Williams claimed say publicly Wimbledon and U.S. Open awards, as well as Olympic singles gold at the Sydney Olympiad. She first reached the singles world No. 1 ranking marking out 25 February , becoming grandeur first African American woman open to the elements do so in the Agape era, and the second elect all time after Althea Gibson.^[8] She reached four consecutive elder finals between and , however lost each time to Serena. She then suffered from injuries, winning just one major appellation between and Williams returned raise form starting in , like that which she won Wimbledon (a anxiety she repeated the following year). In , she returned reach the world No. 2 regalia in singles, but then salutation again from injuries. Starting inconvenience , she again gradually reciprocal to form, culminating in digit major final appearances at excellence Australian Open and Wimbledon crumble

Along with her seven singles major titles, Williams has extremely won 14 women's doubles senior titles, all partnering Serena; significance pair are unbeaten in Gorgeous Slam doubles finals.^[9] She became the world No. 1 resolve doubles for the first period on June 7, , fringe Serena, after the pair realized a non-calendar-year Grand Slam as a consequence the French Open. The badly maintained also won three Olympic money medals in women's doubles, make the addition of , , and , computation to Venus' singles gold dense and her mixed doubles hollowware in ^[10] Williams has too won two mixed doubles higher ranking titles, both in

The Ballplayer sisters are credited with ushering in a new era exert a pull on power and athleticism on blue blood the gentry women's professional tennis tour.^[11][12][13] Friendliness 49 WTA Tour singles adornments, Williams has the most singles titles among active players. Mess up 22 WTA doubles titles enjoin two mixed doubles titles, attendant combined total of 73 WTA titles is also the ceiling among active players. She anticipation also the only active actor to have reached the singles finals of all four majors.^[14] Williams was twice the bout prize money leader (in other ), and ranks second reject Serena in all-time career honour money winnings, having earned staunch US$42 million as of Parade ^[15]

Early life

Williams was born sully Lynwood, California, to Richard Colonist and Oracene Price.^[16]

The Williams affinity moved from Compton, California, march West Palm Beach, Florida, like that which she was eleven, so become absent-minded she and her sister Serena could attend the tennis college of Rick Macci, who took notice of the sisters president who would provide additional employment. He did not always noise with Williams' father but esteemed that "he treated his kids like kids, allowed them outline be little girls".^[17] Richard obstructed sending his daughters to nationwide junior tennis tournaments when Ballplayer was eleven, since he desired them to take it leisurely and focus on schoolwork. Substitute motivation was racial, as dirt had allegedly heard parents atlas other players disparage the Dramatist sisters during tournaments. At turn time, Williams held a 63–0 record on the United States Tennis Association junior tour most important was ranked No. 1&#;among dignity under players in Southern California.^[18] In , Richard pulled empress daughters out of Macci's faculty and took over all coaching.^[19]

Playing style

Williams is an aggressive trouper, with an all-court game. Birthright to her assertive playing pact, she typically accumulates large information of both winners and spontaneous errors. She possesses powerful groundstrokes on both sides, and assay capable of hitting both frequent forehand and backhand flat, stream with topspin. She is very adept at hitting her leftslanting with slice to slow hit rallies and disrupt pace up the river rallies. Her serve is resounding, allowing her to serve profuse aces in any match. Main the peak of her calling, her first serve would customary &#;km/h (&#;mph), and would continually peak at &#;km/h (&#;mph); time out serve has slowed since authenticate, averaging &#;km/h (&#;mph), and peaking at &#;km/h (&#;mph). She possesses effective kick and slice serves, which she deploys as straightaway any more serves, preventing opponents from do free points. Up to , she held the record fetch the fastest serve on honesty WTA Tour, recorded at birth U.S. Open, at &#;km/h (&#;mph). She likes to approach illustriousness net, and finish points promptly. Her height, at 6&#;ft 1&#;in (&#;m), provides her with well-organized long arm span, allowing break down to reach difficult returns like chalk and cheese positioned at the net. She has a repertoire of shots to perform at the spontaneous, which leads to many won points.^[20]

Due to her all-court pastime, Williams can hit winners do too much any position. An exceptional strategic player with remarkable problem-solving power, she also plays with vertical power and aggression. She relies on defense infrequently, rarely touch drop shots and lobs, thanks to her exceptional speed and woo coverage allow her to crash into with assertive power and well put together from frequently defensive positions. Supplemental strengths include her detailed deliver intricate footwork, and supreme athleticism.^[21]

Professional career

– Professional Career

Venus Williams off professional on October 31, , at the age of ^[22] In the first round avail yourself of her first professional tournament, nobleness Bank of the West Outstanding in Oakland, Venus defeated erstwhile NCAA singles champion Shaun Stafford. In the second round, Ballplayer was up a set view a service break against globe No. 2, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, before losing the match. Make certain was the only tournament Reverend played in

In , Ballplayer played three more events because a wildcard, falling in loftiness first round of the tournaments in Los Angeles and Toronto but reaching the quarterfinals pustule Oakland, defeating No. 18 Obloquy Frazier in the second here for her first win package a top ranked player, heretofore losing to Magdalena Maleeva. Clergyman played five events in , falling in the first structure four times but reaching primacy third round in Los Angeles, before losing to No. 1 Steffi Graf.

Debut Great Slam singles final

Williams played 15 tour events in , inclusive of five Tier I tournaments. She reached the quarterfinals in brace of the Tier I word – the State Farm Evert Cup in Compton, California, rank European Indoor Championships in Zürich, and the Kremlin Cup imprisoned Moscow. In Indian Wells injure March, Williams defeated No. 9, Iva Majoli, in the 3rd round for her first come in over a player ranked block the top She then vanished in the quarterfinals to Thumb. 8, Lindsay Davenport. Her novice broke into the top opt April 14, She made improve debut in the main drag of a Grand Slam contest at the French Open, motility the second round before failure to Nathalie Tauziat. She so lost in the first anticipate of Wimbledon to Magdalena Grzybowska. During her debut at representation U.S. Open, she lost honourableness final to Martina Hingis, funds defeating Irina Spîrlea in a-one semifinal which saw Spîrlea move Williams collide during a conversion when neither would yield introduce they passed the umpire's armchair. Richard Williams, her father, closest claimed that this incident was racially motivated.^[23]

First WTA singles title, entering the top 10 and first Grand Slam doubles titles

In her debut at birth Australian Open, Williams defeated other sister Serena Williams in probity second round, which was depiction sisters' first professional meeting. Colonist eventually lost in the quarterfinals to No. 3 Davenport.

Three weeks later, Williams defeated Rebuff. 2 Davenport for the primary time in the semifinals draw round the Cellular South Cup bear Oklahoma City. Williams then cringing Joannette Kruger in the in reply to win the first singles title of her career. Deduct her first Tier I affair of the year, Williams gone in the semifinals of primacy State Farm Evert Cup plod Indian Wells to No. 1 Hingis. The following week, Ballplayer won the Tier I Lipton International Players Championships in Deliberate Biscayne, Florida. On March 30, , her ranking broke have a break the top 10 for illustriousness first time, at No.

Williams played only one tournament rearward clay before the French Conduct. At the Italian Open ordinary Rome, she defeated her in the quarterfinals and Cack-handed. 5, Sánchez Vicario, in representation semifinals, before losing to Negation. 1, Hingis, in the concluding. She lost again to Hingis in the quarterfinals of rank French Open. She lost breather first match at the Eastbourne International on grass, before deprivation to No. 3 and due champion, Jana Novotná, in representation quarterfinals of Wimbledon. On July 27, , her ranking gules to No. 5.

Williams pompous three tournaments during the Northern American summer hardcourt season. She reached her fifth final be more or less the year at the University Classic in California, defeating Thumb. 6 Monica Seles in representation semifinals before losing to Cack-handed. 1 Davenport. Patellar tendonitis overload her left knee caused torment to retire from her quarterfinal match in San Diego determine trailing Mary Pierce in rendering third set. At the U.S. Open, Williams defeated fourth-seeded Sánchez Vicario in the quarterfinals earlier losing to second seeded extremity eventual champion Davenport in probity semifinals. was the first epoch that Williams reached at littlest the quarterfinals of all league.

Williams played four tournaments encircle the remainder of She won her third title of authority year at the Grand Thwart Cup in Munich in Sep, defeating No. 9 Patty Schnyder in the final. She left out in the second round precision the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, before losing briefing the final of the Course I Swisscom Challenge in Zürich to No. 1 Davenport explode the semifinals of the Range I Kremlin Cup in Moscow to Pierce. She had fair enough points during the period to participate in the year-ending WTA Tour Championships but withdrew from the tournament because capacity tendonitis in her knee. She finished the year ranked Rebuff. 5.

In , Williams teamed with Justin Gimelstob to stand-in the mixed doubles titles swot the Australian Open and representation French Open. Her sister Serena Williams won the other cardinal Grand Slam mixed doubles dignities that year, completing a "Williams Family Mixed Doubles Grand Slam". Williams won the first unite women's doubles titles of break through career, in Oklahoma City viewpoint Zürich. Both titles came occur to her sister, becoming only high-mindedness third pair of sisters interrupt win a WTA tour doubles title.^[24]

Three Tier I titles

Williams started the tour in Continent, where she lost to Clumsy. 10 Steffi Graf in class quarterfinals of the Sydney Intercontinental and No. 1 Davenport pierce the quarterfinals of the Inhabitant Open. However, she rebounded attractive the Faber Grand Prix send back Hanover, defeating Graf for grandeur first time in the semifinals before losing the final explicate No. 3 Novotná. Williams proof successfully defended her titles compromise both Oklahoma City and Decisive Biscayne. At the final get going Key Biscayne, where she abject her sister in three sets in the first final acquiesce the WTA Tour to give somebody the job of contested by two sisters.

Williams lost her first match unbendable the Amelia Island Championships pigs Florida. Three weeks later, but, she won her first caption on clay at the WTA Hamburg, defeating Mary Pierce gauzy the final. Williams then won the Tier I Italian Come apart in Rome, defeating No. 1 Hingis in the semifinals duct No. 8 Pierce in character final. At the French Unstop, she extended her winning stroke to 22 matches before forfeiture in the fourth round add up No. , Barbara Schwartz. Dramatist teamed with Serena Williams tote up win the women's doubles label at this event, the chief Grand Slam title the matched set won together.

At Wimbledon, Settler reached the quarterfinals for high-mindedness second consecutive year, losing occasion eventual runner-up Graf.

Williams rebounded in the summer when she won two Fed Cup matches against Italy and lost impossible to tell apart the final of the University Classic to No. 1 City. One week later, Williams shamefaced Davenport in the semifinals epitome the San Diego Classic, in advance losing to No. 2 Hingis in the final. In cook last tournament before the U.S. Open, Williams won the Original Haven Open in Connecticut, defeating No. 5 Seles in interpretation semifinals and Davenport in probity final. On August 30, , her world ranking reached ordinal for the first time. Germ third at the U.S. Environmental, Williams lost in the semifinals to No. 1 Hingis hoard three sets. However, she teamed with singles champion Serena Playwright at this event to spitting image their second Grand Slam women's doubles title.

Williams contributed lambast the victory of the U.S. team over Russia in prestige Fed Cup final, winning singular singles rubber before joining multiple sister to win the doubles rubber. At the Grand Thwart Cup in Munich, Williams furtive Hingis in the semifinals beforehand losing to her sister Serena for the first time entice the final. Williams won scratch sixth title of the origin at the Tier I occurrence in Zurich, defeating No. 1 Hingis in the final. Two weeks later, she lost kindhearted Davenport in the semifinals defer to the tournament in Philadelphia. Construction her debut at the year-ending WTA Championships, Williams lost attend to Hingis in the semifinals. She finished the year ranked Clumsy. 3.

Olympic gold medals and 1st & 2nd superior titles

In , Williams missed rank first five months of leadership year with tendinitis in both wrists. She returned to position tour during the European sludge court season. She lost fluky the quarterfinals of the Betty Barclay Cup in Hamburg deliver to Amanda Coetzer and in rendering third round of the File IItalian Open in Rome have an adverse effect on Jelena Dokić. Although she challenging won only two of show four matches before the Gallic Open, she was seeded there. She won her prime four matches in Paris hard up losing a set before misfortune in the quarterfinals to eighth-seeded and former champion Arantxa Sánchez, in three sets.

Williams run away with won 35 consecutive singles matches and six tournaments. She won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, defeating Cack-handed. 1, Martina Hingis, in birth quarterfinals, sister Serena in character semifinal and defending champion, Dramatist Davenport, in the final. She also teamed with her keep alive Serena to win the women's doubles title at this phase.

She won three Tier II events during the North English summer hardcourt season, defeating Metropolis in the final of blue blood the gentry Silicon Valley Classic in Businessman and Monica Seles in rectitude finals of both the San Diego Classic in and integrity Pilot Pen Tennis championships perform New Haven.

At the U.S. Open, Williams defeated No. 1 Hingis in the semifinals suffer No. 2 Davenport in rank final. At the Summer Olympiad in Sydney, she defeated Sánchez Vicario in the quarterfinals, Seles in the semifinals, and Elena Dementieva in the final interrupt win the gold medal. She also won the gold garnishment in women's doubles with amalgam younger sister Serena. Davenport in the end snapped her winning streak wealthy October in the final slate the Linz Open. Williams outspoken not play a tournament loftiness rest of the year by reason of of anemia. She finished influence year ranked No. 3 person in charge with six singles titles.

3rd & 4th major titles

In , Williams reached the semifinals of the Australian Open receive the first time, where she lost to No. 1 Hingis. However, Williams teamed with repudiate sister to win the doubles title at the event, fulfilment a Career Golden Slam greet women's doubles for the span.

Williams also reached the semifinals of the Tier I Sport Masters Series tournament in Amerindian Wells, where she controversially defaulted her match with her cherish just before the match in progress. Williams had been suffering foreign knee tendinitis throughout the combat and eventually this prevented bake from playing. The following apportion, Williams and her father Richard were booed as they indebted their way to their seating to watch the final.^[25] Serena Williams was subsequently booed lasting the final with Kim Clijsters and during the trophy mold. Due to this, neither Ballplayer sister entered the tournament yen for 14 years,^[26] with her foster Serena entering in after appeals for forgiveness from the reason and the WTA Tour. Reverend rebounded from the Indian Well 'boycott' controversy to win loftiness next tournament on the trek calendar, the Tier I Wishywashy Biscayne Open. She defeated Hingis in the semifinals and Rebuff. 4 Jennifer Capriati in honesty final, after saving eight espousal points. Because of this attainment, her ranking rose to excellent career high of No. 2.

During the European clay-court period, Williams won the Tier II tournament in Hamburg but lacking in the third round be in opposition to the Tier I German Unstop to No. 18 Justine Henin and the first round appreciate the French Open to Barbara Schett. This was only description second time that she difficult lost in the first array of a Grand Slam singles tournament. Williams then successfully defended her Wimbledon title, defeating third-seeded Davenport in the semifinals view eighth-seeded Henin in three sets in Henin's first Wimbledon closing.

During the North American summertime hardcourt season, Williams won crave the second consecutive year rank tournaments in San Diego, defeating Seles in the final, promote in New Haven, defeating City in the final. Williams as well won the U.S. Open singles title for the second sequent year, without dropping a crush. In the quarterfinals, she with it fifth-seeded Clijsters, followed by regular semifinal victory over No. 2 Capriati. She played her suckle Serena in the final, which was the first Grand Bang singles final contested by mirror image sisters during the open days. Venus won the match tell her fourth Grand Slam singles title. Williams also became single the sixth woman in chronicle to win the singles awards at both Wimbledon and loftiness U.S. Open in consecutive eld, the others being Martina Navratilova (twice), Steffi Graf (twice), Mallow Gibson, Maureen Connolly Brinker, vital Helen Wills Moody (twice).

World No. 1 ranking

Williams began by winning the Mondial Dweller Women's Hardcourts in Gold Littoral, defeating Henin in the rearmost. However, she then lost reach the first time in turn one\'s back on career to Seles in character quarterfinals of the Australian Gush. Williams then went on disturb win the Open Gaz secondary France in Paris when Jelena Dokić withdrew from the encouragement, and the Proximus Diamond Doggeds in Antwerp, defeating Henin weight the final. As a elucidation of her strong start the same as the season, Williams assumed decency world No. 1 position cart the first time on Feb 25, dislodging Capriati. Williams was the first African-American woman sly to hold the ranking. She held it for just tierce weeks before surrendering it extend to Capriati.

Williams failed make ill defend her title in City, after losing in the semifinals to her sister Serena. Nevertheless, she made a strong initiate to the clay-court season, attractive the Amelia Island Championships, defeating Henin in the final. Systematic week after winning that meeting, she once again replaced Capriati as the No. 1, hitherto losing it again to Capriati after three weeks. During those three weeks, Williams had obligated the final in Hamburg, defeating Hingis in the semifinals, already losing to Clijsters in magnanimity final. Seeded second at magnanimity French Open, Williams defeated anterior champion Seles to reach honourableness semifinals for the first interval. There, she defeated Clarisa Fernández. In the final, Williams tumble her sister Serena for far-out second time in a Lavish Slam final, with her preserve winning. Williams once again replaced Capriati as the No. 1 as a result of movement the final.

As the relief seed at Wimbledon, Williams disappointed Henin in the semifinals hold on to make the final for glory third consecutive year. However, about, she lost to her nurture Serena. This result meant Serena Williams replaced Venus as justness No. 1. The Williams sisters teamed up to win probity women's doubles title at primacy event, their fifth major women's doubles title together.

Williams won the titles in San Diego and New Haven for character third consecutive year, defeating City and Dokic to win class former and defeating Davenport affluent the final of the current. At the U.S. Open, Playwright defeated Seles in the quarterfinals and Amélie Mauresmo in leash sets to make the in response. Playing her younger sister Serena for their third consecutive Famous Slam final, her sister won once again. After that, Settler played just four more matches during the season. She reached the semifinals at the year-ending Tour Championships after defeating Seles in the quarterfinals, but she then was forced to leave against Clijsters due to laceration. Williams finished the year hierarchal No. 2 having won sevener titles, her best showing uphold both respects of her job.

Australian Open & Suburbia finals, injuries

Williams started by defeating fifth seed Justine Henin do research make the final of interpretation Australian Open for the be in first place time. In the final, in spite of that, she lost to her care for Serena. This marked the final time in the open generation that the same two formulation had met in four sequential Grand Slam finals (matched moisten Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic who met in Wimbledon terminating through the French Open final). Venus and Serena Williams teamed to win the women's doubles title at the event, their sixth Grand Slam title reside in women's doubles.

In February, Colonist won the Proximus Diamond Merrymaking in Antwerp for the next consecutive year, defeating Kim Clijsters in the final. However, soon afterwards, she began to thrash with injury. She reached significance final of the clay-court J&S Cup in Warsaw, before be the source of forced to retire against Amélie Mauresmo. She then suffered multifaceted earliest exit at a Gorgeous Slam tournament in two age when she lost in character fourth round of the Sculpturer Open to Vera Zvonareva.

At Wimbledon, Williams was seeded rooms. Williams defeated former champion Dramatist Davenport in the quarterfinals enjoin Kim Clijsters in the semifinals to advance to her casern consecutive Wimbledon final, where she lost again to sister Serena.

Wimbledon was Williams's last backing of the year as undecorated abdominal injury that occurred mid the Clijsters match prevented supreme from playing again. While she was recovering from the damage, her sister Yetunde Price was murdered.^[27] Williams finished the origin ranked No. It was nobleness first time in nearly cardinal years that she had forsaken out of the top

Tough losses and further injuries

In , Williams came back watchdog the tour suffering inconsistent close-fisted. As the third seed due to of a protected ranking, she reached the third round spick and span the Australian Open, where she lost to Lisa Raymond. She then lost in the quarterfinals of her next three tournaments.

Williams began to find unlimited form at the beginning bring in the clay-court season. At interpretation Tier I Family Circle Pot in Charleston, Williams defeated Conchita Martínez in the final unite win her first title need over a year and grandeur second Tier I title check clay of her career. She then won in Warsaw, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the concluding, before reaching the final innumerable the Tier I German Break out in Berlin. She then withdrew from that match against Mauresmo due to injury. Going impact the French Open, Williams difficult to understand the best clay-court record mid the women and was amidst the favorites to win ethics title; however, after making excellence quarterfinals to extend her sickly streak on the surface stick to 19 matches, she lost evaluate eventual champion Anastasia Myskina. Insult her defeat, she re-entered birth top

In Wimbledon, Williams gone a controversial second-round match cling on to Croatian Karolina Šprem. The moderator of the match, Ted Poet, awarded Šprem an unearned mark in the second-set tiebreak. Come across the conclusion of the reservation, he was relieved of her majesty duties.^[28] This defeat marked description first time since that Reverend had exited Wimbledon prior hinder the quarterfinals. After Wimbledon, she reached her fourth final be a devotee of the year at the University Classic in California, where she was beaten by Lindsay Metropolis for the first time because

As the defending champion explore the Athens Olympics, Williams mislaid in the third round permission Mary Pierce. She then won three very close matches antagonistic Petra Mandula, Shikha Uberoi ground Chanda Rubin to make dignity fourth round of the U.S. Open where she lost cause somebody to Davenport, the first time she had ever lost at blue blood the gentry U.S. Open prior to class semifinals. Williams completed the crop by losing in the quarterfinals of three indoor tournaments bring to fruition the fall, a period ramble included defeat in her be foremost meeting with year-old Wimbledon sponsor Maria Sharapova at the City Open. Williams finished the crop as No. 9 and exact not qualify for the year-ending WTA Tour Championships.

Tertiary Wimbledon title

In , Williams in progress the year by losing renovate the fourth round of birth Australian Open to Alicia Molik. She then reached the endorsement in Antwerp, defeating Clijsters scold Myskina en route. In position final, Williams was a congregation and a service break respite against Mauresmo before eventually bereavement.

In March, at the Algonquin Open, she defeated sister Serena in the quarterfinals, the pass with flying colours time she had defeated repel since Venus Williams went have time out to lose in the semifinals to No. 3 Sharapova. Foundation May, she won her precede title in over a vintage at the clay-courts at loftiness İstanbul Cup, defeating Nicole Vaidišová in the final. However, have emotional impact the French Open, she missing in the third round extremity year-old Sesil Karatantcheva, who later tested positive for steroids captivated was suspended.

Williams was seed 14th for the Wimbledon Championships. In the quarterfinals of description tournament, she defeated French Spew runner-up Pierce in a second-set tiebreak, winning it 12–10 bare make the semifinals of natty Grand Slam for the lid time in two years. Take, she defeated defending champion person in charge second-seeded Sharapova to make class Wimbledon final for the 5th time in six years. Deportment top-seeded Davenport in the rearmost, Williams saved a match full stop with a backhand winner untie route to winning. This was her third Wimbledon singles give a call, her fifth Grand Slam singles title overall and her greatest since It was the good cheer time in 70 years mosey a player had won stern being down match point past the women's final at Wimbledon.^[29]

Williams reached her fourth final be fitting of the year in Stanford, wheel she lost to Clijsters. Argue the U.S. Open, Williams accomplished her second consecutive win focus on sister Serena in the ordinal round, but then lost occupy the quarterfinals to eventual defender Kim Clijsters. Williams did classify qualify for the year-ending Journey Championships because of an harm sustained during the China Flight. She finished the year hierarchical No. It was the precede year since that she locked away finished a year ranked better than her sister Serena Dramatist.

Wrist injury and description in the rankings

In , Ballplayer was upset in the labour round of the Australian Unfastened by Tsvetana Pironkova, which was her earliest loss ever recoil that tournament. After that mislaying, she did not play correct for three months due approximately a wrist injury. She shared in late April on remains in Warsaw, where she cowed former No. 1 Hingis lid the second round, before forfeiture to Svetlana Kuznetsova in high-mindedness quarterfinals. Williams completed the clay-court season by reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open, turn she lost to Nicole Vaidišová.

Williams was the defending fighting man and one of the favorites to win the singles name at Wimbledon. However, she astray in the third round down 26th-seeded Jelena Janković. After representation loss, Williams said that she was having pain in connection left wrist, although she famous that the injury was bawl the cause of her forfeiture. Williams did not play inconvenience the U.S. Open Series cast the U.S. Open itself exam to the wrist injury. Critical October, during her first event in almost three months, she reinjured her wrist at interpretation Luxembourg Open and lost market the second round to modifier Agnieszka Radwańska. Williams finished interpretation season as No. 46, drop lowest finish since she began to play on the WTA Tour full-time in It was the second consecutive year she finished higher than her sis Serena, who finished the best at No.

Fourth Suburbia title

Williams withdrew from the Inhabitant Open, the second consecutive Imposing Slam that she had lost due to her recurring carpus injury. She returned in Feb at the Cellular South Mug 1 in Memphis, defeating top-seeded Shahar Pe'er in the final, churn out first singles title since turn thumbs down on victory at Wimbledon in

At the beginning of the clay-court season, Williams reached the semifinals of the Tier I City Open, where she lost crossreference Janković on a third reflexive tiebreak. She also lost interrupt fourth seed Janković in interpretation third round of the Romance Open, her third consecutive drain to Janković. During her following round win over Ashley Harkleroad, Williams hit a &#;km/h (&#;mph) serve, which was the subordinate fastest woman's serve ever transcribed and the fastest ever filmed during a main draw engage in battle at the time.

Williams was ranked No. 31 going halt Wimbledon and was seeded Xxiii at the tournament due cuddle her previous results at Suburbia. Williams was a game trip from defeat in her be in first place round match against Alla Kudryavtseva and in her third discoid match against Akiko Morigami she was two points away stay away from defeat, but she eventually won both 7–5 in the gear set. She then advanced journey reach her sixth Wimbledon last, after beating Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic emit straight sets en route, wheel she defeated 18th seed Marion Bartoli also in straight sets. Williams thus became only influence fourth woman in the rip open era to win Wimbledon delay least four times, along bend Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf. She besides became the lowest-seeded Wimbledon winner in history, breaking the slope she herself set in Settler returned to the top 20 as a result of decency win.^[30]

At the U.S. Open, abaft setting a Grand-Slam record &#;mph (&#;km/h) serve in the cork round,^[31] Williams advanced to multiple first Grand Slam semifinal out of Wimbledon since However she then lost to eventual fighting man Justine Henin. The tournament resulted in Williams's ranking moving put in safekeeping to No. 9. Williams afterward won her third title snatch the year at the Peninsula Open in Seoul, defeating Mare Kirilenko in the final, formerly then losing in the finishing of the Japan Open Sport Championships in Tokyo to Virginie Razzano. Williams had earned sufficient points during the year substantiate qualify for the year-ending WTA Championships in Madrid; however, she withdrew because of continuing difficulties with anemia.^[32]

Fifth Wimbledon honour, and Olympic gold in doubles

In , as the eighth corm at the Australian Open, Ballplayer reached the quarterfinals for magnanimity first time since However, she then lost to eventual runner-up Ana Ivanovic. Williams made go in first semifinal of the yr at the Bangalore Open make real India, where she met nurse Serena for the first repel since with Serena Williams delectable despite Venus Williams holding practised match point in the ordinal set tie break.

Williams lost two tournaments at the footing of the clay-court season owing to undisclosed medical problems.^[33] Fob watch the French Open, Williams was seeded eighth but was ineligible by 26th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta in the third round.

Williams was the defending champion topmost seventh-seeded player at Wimbledon. Wanting in dropping a set, she reached her seventh Wimbledon singles rearmost. She then won her onefifth Wimbledon singles title, and 7th Grand Slam singles title inclusive, by beating sister Serena bring straight sets. This was nobility first time since that Urania and Serena Williams had la-di-da orlah-di-dah each other in a Huge Slam final and was picture first time since that Urania had defeated her in a-okay Grand Slam final. Venus enthralled Serena Williams then teamed optimism win the women's doubles reputation, their first Grand Slam doubles title together since

Williams gone in the quarterfinals of rectitude Beijing Olympics to Li Simple. She did, however, earn top-notch gold medal along with gather sister Serena in women's doubles, their second gold medal gorilla a team, having won yield at the Sydney Olympics assimilate At the U.S. Open, Ballplayer was playing some of assimilation best tennis since dominating loftiness circuit in , However, she was defeated in two tiebreaks by Serena Williams (the last tournament winner) in a expose quarterfinal match, after Williams difficult to understand led 5–3 in both sets.

At the Porsche Tennis Famous Prix in Stuttgart in Oct, Williams defeated a player hierarchical in the top three the first time that ready by defeating No. 3 Dinara Safina to reach her tertiary semifinal of the year. Near, she lost to Janković. Smashing fortnight later, Williams won greatness Zurich Open, defeating Ivanovic make out the semifinals before defeating Pennetta in the final to regain her second title of decency year and secure a redistribute in the year-ending WTA Cable Championships in Doha. There, Settler defeated No. 2 Safina, Ham-fisted. 3 Serena Williams and Pollex all thumbs butte. 5 Dementieva in the preparatory round-robin stage. In the semifinals, Williams defeated No. 1 Janković before winning the year-ending meeting for the first time indifferent to defeating Vera Zvonareva in distinction final. She ended the generation ranked No. 6 with a handful of titles and a winning arrangement of 78 percent.

Quadruplet consecutive major doubles titles

As honesty sixth seed at the Denizen Open, Williams lost in decency second round to Carla Suárez Navarro, after holding a replica point in the third dinner suit. However, she teamed up work to rule her sister Serena to conquer the women's doubles title press-gang the event, their eighth Costly Slam doubles title together. Ballplayer rebounded in singles play clasp February at the Premier 5 (formerly Tier I) Dubai Sport Championships, defeating defending champion existing No. 4 Dementieva in nobility quarterfinals and No. 1 Serena Williams in the semifinals hand in a third set tiebreak. Primacy latter win meant that Playwright led the head-to-head in job matches with her sister affection the first time since Reverend went on to defeat Virginie Razzano in the final. That win meant Williams was grade in the top five storage space the first time since , while it also marked world-weariness 40th professional singles title, solitary the twelfth player in rank Open era to achieve picture feat.^[34] Williams won another dub the following week at honesty Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco defeating Pennetta in the final. That was her first title embark clay since

On European ooze, Williams reached the semifinals bring to fruition Rome before losing to Cack-handed. 1 Safina. This run designed Williams was ranked in greatness top three for the primary time since Seeded third soft the French Open, Williams gone to Ágnes Szávay in rendering third round, the third ordered year she had exited warrant that stage.^[35]

Williams was seeded 3rd at Wimbledon. She advanced humble her eighth Wimbledon final, assume which point she had won 34 straight sets (held owing to Wimbledon ). In the in response, however, she lost the greatest set tie-break, and from substantiate on lost in two sets to sister Serena. The Settler sisters teamed up to be victorious the doubles tournament for greatness fourth time.

In Stanford, Clergyman defeated Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva to advance to significance finals, where she would drench to Marion Bartoli. Teaming enter her sister, she played doubles and won the title, defeating Monica Niculescu and Chan Yung-jan.

At the U.S. Open, rightfully the third seed, Williams beholden it to the fourth interject, before losing to Kim Clijsters in three sets. Williams verification teamed up with Serena Playwright to play doubles at description open, where they won authority title over defending champions paramount No. 1s in doubles, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, claiming their third major doubles label in

Williams's last tournament meat was the year-ending Tour Championships, where she was the guard champion in singles. She was in the maroon group which includes her sister Serena Reverend, along with Elena Dementieva existing Svetlana Kuznetsova. She lost have time out first match against Dementieva, bear her second match against an extra sister Serena- both in uncurved sets, after taking the crowning set. In her third bear final round-robin match, Williams cringing Kuznetsova. Because of Dementieva's obliterate to Kuznetsova in their pop in robin match, Williams advanced give somebody the job of the semifinal of the championships. In her semifinal match, she defeated Jelena Janković of Srbija to advance to her alternate consecutive final in the combat which she lost to stress sister Serena. In doubles, Playwright teamed with her sister whilst the second seeds. However, they lost to Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez in the semifinal. Their doubles record at the end abide by the year stood at 24–2.

Williams finished ranked No. 6 in singles (with a engaging percentage of 70 percent) illustrious No. 3 in doubles nervousness Serena Williams, in spite rule them playing only six word together that year.

Pollex all thumbs butte. 2 in singles and Rebuff. 1 doubles

Williams played at say publicly Australian Open as the onesixth seed. She defeated 17th-seeded Francesca Schiavone in the fourth galvanize. She was two points dismiss defeating 16th-seeded Li Na rerouteing the quarterfinals before losing curb three sets. In doubles, she teamed with her sister Serena to successfully defend their dub, defeating the top-ranked team identical Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the final. She went onto the clay courts disparage the Mexican Open in Port, where she was the patrolling champion. She reached the semifinals after recovering from a 1–5 third set deficit to Laura Pous Tió in the quarterfinals. In the final, she guilty first-time finalist Polona Hercog implant Slovenia. This was her 43 career title, the most in the middle of active female players.

Her go along with tournament was the Premier Obligatory Miami Open in Key Biscayne, where she was seeded position. She defeated No. 9, Agnieszka Radwańska, in the quarterfinals soar No. 13, Marion Bartoli, knock over the semifinals to reach turn thumbs down on third straight WTA Tour encouragement and fourth Miami Open endorsement. She was defeated by Diminish Clijsters in the final generate just 58 minutes, ending squash match winning streak. By movement the final, her ranking richer reconsider to No. 4 and she crossed the $26&#;million mark of great magnitude career prize money, the sui generis incomparabl player besides Serena Williams touch on do so.

The knee hurt that hampered her during righteousness final of the Miami Eject forced her to skip depiction Fed Cup tie against Country and the Porsche Tennis Expensive Prix. Williams returned to loftiness tour at the Premier 5 Italian Open in Rome. She suffered the worst defeat eliminate her career in the quarterfinals, losing to No. 4 Jelena Janković. Despite this loss, spread ranking improved to No. 3 on May

Her next head-to-head was the Madrid Open, straight Premier Mandatory tournament. She departed to Aravane Rezaï in glory final. In doubles, she teamed with her sister Serena fully win the title.

On Might 17, her ranking improved consent No. 2, behind only Serena. This was the fourth repel that the Williams sisters imitate occupied the top two acne, and the first time in that May

Her next tournament was the French Open, where she played both singles and doubles despite her knee injury. Seed second in singles, she virgin past the third round recoil this tournament for the eminent time since before losing chance on Nadia Petrova in the flyer of She also played doubles with Serena as the honour seeds. Their defeat of Huber and Anabel Medina Garrigues barge in the semifinals increased their doubles ranking to No. 1. They then defeated 12th seeded Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik break off the final to win their fourth consecutive Grand Slam women's doubles title. By virtue stencil reaching the No. 1-ranking deal doubles on June 7, , Venus and Serena became tetchy the sixth and seventh division to reach the No. 1 ranking in both singles obscure doubles following in the tail diminish of Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Metropolis, and Kim Clijsters.

Her consequent tournament was the Wimbledon Championships, where she had reached righteousness final the previous three length of existence. Despite her knee injury, she made it to the quarterfinals, where she lost to Tsvetana Pironkova. Pironkova was ranked Cack-handed. 82 and had never absent past the second round catch sight of a Grand Slam event. Little a result, Williams dropped sort out No. 4. She was magnanimity defending champion in doubles skilled her sister Serena, having won the tournament in the past two years. However, they misplaced this time in the quarterfinals to Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva.

Williams then missed be at war with tournaments in the U.S. Gaping Series because of a outstanding knee injury but still participated at the U.S. Open importance the third seed. She won three matches to move smash into the fourth round. Williams became one of only two brigade in (along with Caroline Wozniacki) to reach at least leadership fourth round at all unite Grand Slam singles tournaments. Reverend then defeated Pe'er and Sculpturer Open champion Schiavone en gizmo to her eighth U.S. Geological semifinal, against defending champion Clijsters. Williams won the first backdrop of their match and cured from 5–2 down in dignity second set but ultimately double-faulted on a key point secure the end of the fellow and lost in three sets. Because of Serena's withdrawal depart from the U.S. Open, Venus plain-spoken not participate at the doubles event, where she was honourableness defending champion.

The recovery longed-for her left knee took person than expected and it stilted her to miss the park of , including the year-ending WTA Championships and Fed Tankard final.^[36] Williams ended the epoch ranked fifth in singles, prestige first time she ended unornamented year in the top cardinal since , while playing nonpareil nine tournaments. She finished leadership year ranked 11th in doubles.

Sjögren syndrome diagnosis

Williams began the year at the ending edition of Hong Kong Sport Classic exhibition event. She mislaid both her singles matches disagree with Vera Zvonareva and Li Candid, but she helped Team U.s.a. to win the silver set. At the Australian Open, Settler retired in the second pastime of her third round fellow against Andrea Petkovic after air a hip muscle injury rerouteing her second round.^[37] This was Williams's first retirement during spruce match in a Grand Crash tournament since and thus ready her record of most Eminent Slam matches without ever priggish, with consecutive matches.^[38] This was also her first retirement detach from a match since LA Women's Championships in Los Angeles rotation , ending her consecutive matches without retiring. The injury put on Williams to pull out signal the Fed Cup quarterfinal surface Belgium, the Dubai Tennis Championships, and the Mexican Open, to what place she was the two-time guarding champion in both tournaments. She subsequently withdrew from the Algonquin Open causing her ranking package drop to No. She additionally missed the clay court time which caused her ranking concord drop to No. Her hope for from the French Open forcible the first Grand Slam altercation since the U.S. Open spin neither of the Williams sisters were competing.

Williams then imposture her first appearance since primacy Australian Open in Eastbourne. Unsown, she lost for the cheeriness time in eleven meetings restrain Daniela Hantuchová in the quarterfinals. She was seeded 23rd differ the Wimbledon Championships. She swayed for nearly three hours play a role her second round match refuse to comply Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm, cute in three tough sets. She then defeated Spaniard María José Martínez Sánchez in the gear round, but was defeated outdo Bulgarian 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round.

Originally scheduled to participate in grandeur Rogers Cup in Toronto become peaceful the Western & Southern Govern in Cincinnati, Williams withdrew justification to viral illness.^[39] Her uproot scheduled tournament was the U.S. Open.^[40] Unseeded at the U.S. Open, Williams defeated Vesna Dolonc in the first round. She was scheduled to meet Twentysecond seed Sabine Lisicki in blue blood the gentry second round, but withdrew formerly the match began after bring into being diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome, brainchild autoimmune disease which causes weakness and muscle and joint pain.^[41][42] This was the first spell in her career that she did not reach the quarterfinals or better in any go together with the Grand Slam tournaments take away a season. As a play a part, her ranking dropped to one-hundred and five.

Williams did throng together play for the rest stop the year at a ambitious level; she appeared in team a few exhibitions tournaments in November keep from early December. She played be drawn against sister Serena in Colombia, which she won in straight sets.^[43] The week later, the sisters appeared in Milan, Italy used to play exhibition against Italian couple Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta. Williams lost both her singles tie-break matches but won probity doubles pairing with her sister.^[44] Williams played her third extravaganza tournament in Barbados where she lost to Victoria Azarenka. She ended the year ranked Clumsy. This was her first year-end finish ranked outside of representation top 50 since

Repartee and Olympic gold record

Williams was scheduled to play in Metropolis in preparation for the Dweller Open.^[45] but withdrew from both tournaments due to health compression, announcing that she would come back to the WTA tour terminate February.^[46] This dropped her wellbuilt to No. In February, Dramatist returned to competition in high-mindedness doubles match of the Injured Cup World Group II join between USA and Belarus.^[47] Interpretation with Liezel Huber, she won the dead-rubber in straight sets.

Williams was granted wildcards give explanation participate in the Miami^[48] most important Charleston tournaments.^[49] In the leading round of Miami — tea break first singles match since influence U.S. Open — Williams hangdog Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm, happening straight sets. In the alternative round, she defeated No. 3 Petra Kvitová, her first top-3 victory since beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in In the third anticipate, she saved a match mark and defeated Aleksandra Wozniak send a three-set tiebreaker that on the brink a nearly three-hour match. Comport yourself the round of 16, she bested No. 15 Ana Ivanovic in three sets to extent the quarterfinals, where she gone to the eventual champion, Agnieszka Radwańska in straight sets. Bunch up run improved her ranking occasion No. A week later cage up Charleston, she reached her next consecutive quarterfinal, where she misplaced in three sets to Samantha Stosur.

Williams was granted wildcards to participate in Madrid snowball Rome. In Madrid, she misplaced in the second round assign Angelique Kerber, but still elevate surpass her ranking to No. Grand week later in Rome, she reached her third quarterfinal extent the four tournaments she difficult to understand participated in with a straight-sets victory against Samantha Stosur shrub border the third round. She missing in the quarterfinals, in undeviating sets, to the No. 2, defending and eventual champion, Part Sharapova.^[50] Her appearance in Scuffle increased her ranking to Maladroit thumbs down d. 52, placing her as dignity third-ranked American. She lost bring into being the second round of rank French Open to Agnieszka Radwańska, in straight sets.

At Suburbia, Williams was unseeded for decency first time since ^[51] She lost to Elena Vesnina seep out the first round in as expected sets.^[52] This was the good cheer time Williams lost in honourableness first round of a Huge Slam since the Australian Breakage, and her first opening clique loss at Wimbledon since multifarious debut in ^[53] Williams fared better in her return ruin doubles competition where she fake alongside her sister Serena. Cage up just the pair's first battle since Wimbledon, the unseeded sisters advanced to the final to victories over fourth-seeds Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova in nobleness second round and top-seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond slot in the semifinals. The Williams sisters claimed their fifth Wimbledon doubles title after defeating sixth-seeds Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká eliminate straight sets in the last, on the same day Serena Williams won her fifth Suburbia singles title.

Williams's next halt was the London Olympics. She entered the women's singles move women's doubles events, partnering memo sister Serena in doubles. Behave singles, Williams reached the base round where she lost shout approval Angelique Kerber. In doubles, high-mindedness unseeded Williams sisters advanced completed the final, which was a-okay repeat of their final go on doing Wimbledon against Hlaváčková and Hradecká. The sisters won their position gold medal in doubles end defeating the Czech pair resolve straight sets. With the achieve first place (and her sister Serena's double in the singles event), picture Williams sisters claimed the bossy Olympic gold medals of wacky other tennis player, male rudimentary female.

Next, Williams played activity Cincinnati where she received clever singles wild card entry. She defeated her first two opponents, Maria Kirilenko and Chanelle Scheepers, in three tight sets once eliinating eighth seed Sara Errani in the third round. Diminution the quarterfinal, she defeated Samantha Stosur, in three sets.^[54] Border line the semifinal Williams played try a back injury, eventually misfortune in three sets to Li Na.^[55] Her semifinal run bushed her ranking back within grandeur top 50 for the primary time in almost a period. At the US Open, Settler lost in a second-round be at war with against Angelique Kerber in couple sets, despite having a instruction in the third set.

Williams won her 44th WTA vitality title and her first designation in over 2+1&#;2 years move the Luxembourg Open, where she defeated Monica Niculescu in handy sets. Williams also qualified expend the WTA Tournament of Champions in Sofia, but withdrew chimp the tournament clashed with and her sister Serena's 'Breaking the Mould' tour in Africa.^[56] With her title in Luxemburg, her ranking rose to release She ended the year suggest itself this ranking.

Back injury

At the Hopman Cup, and show for USA (with John Isner), the first rubber was realize South Africa. Williams beat Chanelle Scheepers and, with John Isner, they comfortably defeated the Southern African pair Scheepers and Kevin Anderson. In USA's second caoutchouc against France, she won both her singles and in mongrel doubles defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga countryside Mathilde Johansson. Next she palpable Anabel Medina Garrigues of Espana and won in two sets.

From there Williams went enplane the Australian Open, seeded 25, after missing it the anterior year due to injury. She beat Galina Voskoboeva and Alizé Cornet before losing to authority second seed, Maria Sharapova. Back up next tournament was Brasil Sport Cup. She participated the meet as the top seed. She defeated Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in greatness first round, Garbiñe Muguruza play a role the second round and Magdaléna Rybáriková during the quarterfinals. Motion her first semifinal of say publicly year, she was then furtive by Olga Puchkova in pair sets. This tournament allowed Clergyman to strengthen her position focal the top She retired deviate the Miami Open in justness third round due to pure lower back injury.

One period after Miami, Williams participated corner Charleston as the fifth egg cell. She reached the semifinals, to what place she lost to her suckle Serena in two sets fall to pieces the sisters' first meeting thanks to the WTA Tour Championships