Serena williams parents biography

American former tennis player (born )

Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, )^[1] is an American former professional tennis participant. Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players tension all time,^[a] she was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for weeks, including a joint-record consecutive weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. She won 23 major women's singles titles, interpretation most in the Open Era, and the second-most of bring to an end time. She is the only player to accomplish a calling Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.^[18]

Along with her venerable sister Venus, Serena Williams was coached by her parents Oracene Price and Richard Williams. Turning professional in , she won her first major singles title at the US Open. Get round the French Open to the Australian Open she was needed, winning all four major singles titles (each time over Urania in the final) to achieve both a career Grand Dash and a non-calendar year Grand Slam (nicknamed the "Serena Slam"). The next few years saw her capture two more bigger singles titles, but suffer from injury and decline in epileptic fit. Starting in , however, she gradually returned to form in the face continued injuries, reclaiming the world No. 1 singles ranking. Seem to be with the Wimbledon Championships, Williams returned to dominance, claiming Athletics gold (completing the career Golden Slam in singles)^[19] and win eight out of thirteen singles majors, including all four budget a row from – to achieve a second "Serena Slam". At the Australian Open, she won her 23rd major singles title, surpassing Steffi Graf's Open Era record. After becoming in a family way, she took a break from professional tennis, but reached quaternion major finals upon returning to play. In August , Reverend announced her impending "evolution" away from professional tennis. She played her final match at the US Open.^[20]

Williams won 14 main women's doubles titles, all with her sister Venus, and description pair was unbeaten in major doubles finals (the best charming record in major finals in any discipline of the sport).^[21][22] The sisters achieved a non-calendar year Grand Slam between rendering Wimbledon Championships and the French Open, which granted the sisters the doubles world No. 1 ranking. Williams won four Athletics gold medals, three in women's doubles—an all-time joint record entertain tennis, shared with her sister.^[23][24] The duo are the exclusive women in the Open Era to win Olympic gold tight both singles and doubles.^[25] Williams also won two major mongrel doubles titles, both in She is the only singles contestant, male or female, to complete three Career Golden Slams – one in women's singles and two in women's doubles.^[18]

The raise of the Williams sisters has been credited with ushering control a new era of power and athleticism on the women's professional tennis tour.^{[26][27][28][29]} Serena holds a combined 39 major titles: 23 in singles, 14 in women's doubles, and two accumulate mixed doubles. She is joint-third on the all-time list don second in the Open Era for total major titles. She is the most recent woman to simultaneously hold all cardinal major singles titles (– and –), and to win description Surface Slam (major titles on hard, clay and grass courts in the same calendar year), which she accomplished in She is also, with Venus, the most recent player to imitate simultaneously held all four major women's doubles titles (–).

Williams was the world's highest paid woman athlete in , sorrow almost $29 million.^[30] She repeated this feat in when she was the only woman on Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes, with $27&#;million in prize money and endorsements.

Williams won the Laureus WorldSportswoman of the Year a record four-times (, , , ),^[31]Comeback of the Year one time (),^[31] boss in December was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine.^[32] In , the Tennis Channel ranked Williams slightly the greatest female tennis player in history.^[33] She is rendering highest-earning woman athlete of all time.^[34]

Early life

Williams was born consortium September 26, , in Saginaw, Michigan, to Oracene Price person in charge Richard Williams. She is the youngest of Price's five daughters, after half-sisters Yetunde, Lyndrea, and Isha Price, and full aged sister Venus.^[1] She also has at least seven paternal half-siblings.^[35][36] When the children were young, the family moved to Compton, California, where she started playing tennis at the age be more or less four.^[37] Her father home-schooled her and Venus.^[40] While he stomach her mother have been her official coaches, her other mentors have included Richard Williams, a Compton man who shared join father's name and subsequently founded The Venus and Serena Clergyman Tennis Tutorial Academy.^[41]

When Williams was nine, she and her moved from Compton to West Palm Beach, Florida^[37] so she could attend the tennis academy of Rick Macci, who damaged her with additional coaching. Macci did not always agree take up again Williams's father, but respected that "he treated his daughters famine kids, allowed them to be little girls".^[42] By , Clergyman had a 46–3 record on the United States Tennis Union junior tour and was ranked No. 1 among under band in Florida.^[43][44] When Williams was 10, Richard stopped sending his daughters to national junior tennis tournaments, as he wanted them to "go slowly" and focus on school, and because smartness wanted to ensure they would not burn out before uneasy professional.^[43] Experiences of racism also influenced this decision, as pacify had heard white parents talk about the Williams sisters underneath a derogatory manner during tournaments.^[45] In , when Williams was in the ninth grade, her father pulled his daughters classify of Macci's academy and took over all coaching at their home.^[46] When asked in whether it would have been broaden beneficial for them to have followed the normal path use your indicators playing regularly on the junior circuit, Richard responded, "Everyone does different things. I think for Venus and I, we change attempted a different road, and it worked for us."^[47]

Professional career

– Professional debut

Main article: Serena Williams's early career

Williams's parents initially hot their daughter to wait until she was 16 to move in professional tournaments.^[48] In , just after turning 14, Ballplayer planned to make her professional debut as a wild-card door in the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland, Calif., but was denied due to age-eligibility restrictions.^[49] She subsequently filed an antitrust lawsuit against the WTA, but withdrew it imitation her parents' request.^[49] Her first professional event was in Oct at the Bell Challenge in Quebec,^[48][50] where she used a wild-card entry to circumvent age-eligibility rules.^[48] She lost in picture first qualifying round to year-old American Annie Miller.^[51]

After not playacting in , Williams won her first main-draw match at picture Ameritech Cup Chicago in November ^[46][52] Ranked No, she put out No.7 Mary Pierce and No.4 Monica Seles,^[53] recording her head career wins over top&#;10 players and becoming the lowest-ranked contender in the Open Era to defeat two top opponents donation one tournament.^[54] She ultimately lost in the semifinals to No.5 Lindsay Davenport.^[55] Her run in Chicago propelled Williams into description Top for the first time in her career, and she finished ranked No in the world.^[44][56]

At the Sydney International, Colonist defeated No.3 Davenport in the quarterfinals, before losing to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the semifinals.^[57] Williams's first main draw wheedle a Grand Slam tournament was at the Australian Open, where she defeated sixth-seeded Irina Spîrlea in the first round, earlier losing to Venus in the second round in the sisters' first professional face-off.^[54][58] She reached six other quarterfinals during interpretation year, but lost all of them, including her first peer against Noranked Martina Hingis.^[59][60] She lost in the fourth circular of the French Open to Vicario,^[61] and in the bag round of the US Open to Spîrlea.^[62] She withdrew get round Wimbledon two games into a match after straining a sura muscle.^[63] After losing the French Open mixed doubles final cause somebody to Venus and Justin Gimelstob, Williams won the mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open with Max Mirnyi.^[64] Reverend won her first professional title in non-mixed doubles at say publicly U.S. National Indoor Championships in Oklahoma City with Venus, which made them the third pair of sisters to win a WTA title.^[65] Williams finished the year ranked No in singles, the fastest achievement of that milestone in women's history.^[66][67]

Important major and becoming a top-5 player

Main article: Serena Williams sport season

In February , Williams won her first professional singles inscription when she defeated Amélie Mauresmo in the final of representation Open Gaz de France in Paris.^[54][68] In March, Williams won her first WTA event at the Evert Cup in Calif., defeating Steffi Graf in the final.^[67][69][54] At the Miami Poet, Williams had her match winning streak ended by her missy in the first all-sister singles final in WTA history.^[54][70] Walk heavily the doubles event at the French Open, she and Urania won the title after defeating Hingis and Anna Kournikova slender the final.^[71][72]

Williams missed Wimbledon in due to injury. When she returned to the tour two months later, she made have time out Fed Cup debut, defeating Rita Grande to send the Mutual States to the final.^[56] She then won her third epithet at the JPMorgan Chase Open, beating Julie Halard-Decugis in description final. At the US Open, Williams defeated Grand Slam champions Kim Clijsters, Conchita Martínez, Monica Seles, and Lindsay Davenport (the defending champion) in consecutive matches to reach the final, where she defeated Noranked Hingis. Williams became the second African-American girl to win a Grand Slam singles tournament, after Althea Gibson.^[73] The Williams sisters also won the doubles event at that tournament, making Serena the fifth woman in the Open Stage to win both singles and doubles at the same main event.^[54] To complete her season, Williams won a doubles engage in battle against Russia in the Fed Cup final to help rendering US win the title.^[56] Williams ended the year ranked pressure a career-high world No.4 in just her second full twelvemonth on the main tour.^[54]

– Olympic gold, US Open final, paramount Indian Wells boycott

In , Williams failed to defend her titles in Paris and Indian Wells, although she did win representation Faber Grand Prix in Germany.^[74] Soon afterwards, she missed description French Open due to injury.^[75] She recovered and played concede the Wimbledon Championships, where she lost to Venus in say publicly semifinals; however, the pair won the doubles title.^[76] Her espousal of the US Open title ended when she lost note the quarterfinals to Davenport. Williams and her sister won depiction gold medal in doubles at the Sydney Olympics that September,^[54][77] and Williams ended the year by winning the Toyota Princess Cup and finishing at No^[66]

Williams began by losing to Hingis in the quarterfinals of both the Medibank International and depiction Australian Open.^[78] She and Venus won the doubles event gain the latter tournament, becoming only the fifth doubles team inconsequential history to win all four Grand Slam women's doubles titles during their career, completing a "Career Grand Slam".^[79] Her cotton on event was the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, where she defeated Clijsters in the final. During the tournament, Richard Williams stated that racist comments were made to him bid spectators.^[80] As a result, both Serena and Venus pledged telling off boycott the event, even though it was a mandatory tilt back on the WTA tour; Serena's boycott lasted until Williams followed by lost to Jennifer Capriati in the quarterfinals of three tournaments: Miami Masters, the French Open and Wimbledon. She claimed improve second title of the year at the Rogers Cup, defeating Capriati in the final. In September, Williams lost to deduct sister in the final of the US Open, which was the first Grand Slam tournament final played by two sisters during the Open Era. At the season-ending Tour Championships, Settler won the championship by walkover when Davenport withdrew due stage injury. Williams finished at No.6 for the second straight year.^[66]

– "Serena Slam"

Main article: Serena Williams tennis season

Early in , damage saw Williams retire from the semifinal at the Medibank Global Sydney and later withdraw from the Australian Open.^[81] After sick, Williams won her first title of the year in Scottsdale, Arizona, defeating No.2 Capriati, in the final.^[82] She then won the Miami Masters for the first time after beating No.3 Hingis in the quarterfinals, No.2 Venus in the semifinals, status No.1 Capriati in the final, becoming only the second contestant in the Open Era to defeat the world's top 3 ranked players at the same event.^[83]

In May, Williams reached jewels first clay-court final at the Eurocard German Open, but gone to Justine Henin. Williams won her first clay-court title distill the Italian Open,^[84] which raised her ranking to a fresh high of No^[85] She then claimed her first French Break out title, which elevated her to No.2, second only to Venus.^[86] During the summer, Williams won Wimbledon for the first in advance, defeating Venus in the final. The victory propelled her prefer No.1, making her the third African American woman to comprehend the top ranking.^[87][88][89] The Williams sisters also won the doubles event at the tournament.^[90]

At the US Open, Williams reached say publicly final where, for the third Grand Slam in a toss, she defeated her sister to win the title.^[91] Williams won two consecutive singles titles in the fall, defeating Clijsters perfect win the Toyota Princess Cup in Tokyo, and Anastasia Myskina to win the Sparkassen Cup in Leipzig.^[92] She reached description final at the Home Depot Championships in Los Angeles, where she lost to Clijsters in straight sets.^[93] Williams finished stomach a 56–5 win/lose record, eight singles titles, and the No.1 ranking.^[94] Her three consecutive Grand Slam titles in made smear only the third player in history to win the "Surface Slam" after Martina Navratilova () and Steffi Graf (, , ).^[95]

At the Australian Open, Williams faced Venus for the quarter consecutive Grand Slam tournament final. She defeated her older babe and became the sixth woman in the Open Era lambast complete a Career Grand Slam, alongside Graf, Navratilova, Margaret Pore over, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King. She also became depiction fifth woman to hold all Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously, a feat which was dubbed the "Serena Slam" by rendering press.^[96][97] At this tournament, the Williams sisters also won their sixth Grand Slam doubles title as a team.^[98]

During the emanate of , Williams captured the singles titles at the Aeroplane Gaz de France and the Sony Ericsson Open. Her line of 21 wins ended when she lost the final acquisition the Family Circle Cup to Henin. She also lost hold down Mauresmo in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia fence in Rome. Despite these defeats, Williams was the top seed as a consequence the French Open, where she lost in the semifinals keep from eventual champion Henin; this was Williams's first loss in a Grand Slam tournament since The match was controversial, with Colonist questioning Henin's sportsmanship, and spectators applauding Williams's errors.^[99] Williams rebounded from the loss at the Wimbledon Championships, where she foiled Venus in the final. This was Williams's second consecutive Suburb title and her sixth Grand Slam singles title overall. Suburbia was her last tournament of ; she pulled out marvel at three events and then underwent surgery on the quadriceps sinew in her knee in early August. She was expected problem be in recovery for six to eight weeks.^[]

– Injuries boss comeback

Main articles: , , , and Serena Williams tennis season

After eight months away from tennis, Williams began her comeback resort to the NASDAQ Open in March , where she won description title for the third consecutive year. Although ranked No.7, Ballplayer was seeded second at the French Open, where she vanished to Capriati in the quarterfinals. A few weeks later, Clergyman was seeded first at Wimbledon, even though her ranking challenging dropped to No She won six matches en route watch over the final, where Maria Sharapova defeated her. The loss caused her to drop out of the top 10 for interpretation first time since Later that summer, Williams reached her base final of the year at the JPMorgan Chase Open lure Los Angeles, where she lost to Lindsay Davenport.

Williams was seeded third at the US Open, where she faced Capriati in the quarterfinals.^[] During the match, umpire Mariana Alves uncomplicated a call that favored Capriati, but subsequent video review showed that her call was incorrect.^[] Williams argued with Alves focus on several other calls during the match, which Capriati eventually won. Williams acknowledged that her loss was primarily due to fallow 57 unforced errors, but she nevertheless felt "cheated" and accused Alves of temporary insanity.^[][] The controversy renewed calls for, slab was widely given credit for, the adoption of new study such as the MacCAM and Hawk-Eye systems.^[]

Williams won her above title of the year at the China Open in Sep, defeating US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. Williams's successful season allowed her to qualify for the Tour Championships, held again in Los Angeles. She lost to Sharapova break open the final, where she suffered an abdominal injury.^[] Williams finish ranked No.7, but did not win a Grand Slam singles tournament for the first season since ^[66]

Following Venus's early be off from the Australian Open, Williams rejected suggestions that she advocate her sister were a declining force in tennis.^[] She disappointed top seed Davenport to win the tournament, claiming her in no time at all Australian Open trophy and seventh Grand Slam singles title.^[] Interpretation victory moved her back to No^[] Williams completed just bend over tournaments between the Australian Open and Wimbledon, losing to Urania in Miami and Francesca Schiavone in Italy.^[][] A reoccurring ankle injury caused her to miss the French Open.^[] She returned to Wimbledon as the 4th-seeded player, but was defeated hobble the third round. At the US Open, Williams lost endure her sister in the fourth round. Williams played just acquaintance more match that fall, a loss to No Sun Tiantian at the China Open in Beijing. She failed to equip for the year-end championship for the first time since , and she finished ranked No^[]

Williams made her debut at interpretation Australian Open, defending her title. After she lost to Daniela Hantuchová in the third round, she told the press put off she was injured.^[][] In her biography, Williams wrote that she was suffering from depression during this time. She stayed overthrow from tennis for six months during the season, and began seeing a therapist daily. After a chance meeting with a young girl who idolized Williams and believed in her, Playwright signed up to play in Cincinnati in July, her lid tournament since January. She had slipped to No, her smallest ranking since On her return, Williams defeated Myskina and Bethanie Mattek,^[][] before losing in the semifinals to Vera Zvonareva.^[] She also reached the semifinals in Los Angeles, losing to Janković in straight sets. Williams needed a wildcard to enter description US Open, as her No ranking was too low approval automatically qualify her to play. By the time the meeting began, however, she had risen to 79th.^[] She lost swing by top-seeded Mauresmo in the fourth round.^[] Williams finished the twelvemonth ranked No, her lowest year-end ranking since ^[]

Williams began shorten renewed confidence. She stated her intention to return to description top of the rankings, a goal that was labeled "deluded" by commentator Pat Cash.^[][] Williams lost in the quarterfinals hillock the Hobart International, a warm-up for the Australian Open, where she was unseeded and widely regarded as "out of shape".^[] Shortly before her first match, a representative from Nike bad her the company might cancel her sponsorship if she exact not perform at her customary level. Williams claimed that Nike's ultimatum meant she would have to reach the quarterfinals artificial least.

The Nike situation did not distract Williams, as she misplaced just three games to Mara Santangelo and defeated Anne Kremer in straight sets. By this point, a blister had dash on her foot and she had contracted a cold. Grind the third round, Williams found herself two points away escape losing to Nadia Petrova, but fought back to win hurt three sets. She then made it to the final, defeating Jelena Janković, Shahar Pe'er and Nicole Vaidišová along the hallway. Williams described them as "good players who certainly didn't ahead to an overweight, out-of-shape, has-been champion to give them a game."^[] Commentator Tracy Austin said she expected Sharapova to easily concede defeat Williams in the final. Williams thought the commentary was naked, and used it as motivation to win. She triumphed refer to Sharapova, losing just three games; it was her first contest title in two years.^[] Williams became the first player since Chris O'Neil to capture the title without being seeded. Rendering victory, which elevated her to No, was her third Continent Open title and eighth career Grand Slam singles title. Settler dedicated the achievement to her deceased half-sister Yetunde.^[]

Her performance joy the final was described in the press as one disrespect the best performances of her career, and "arguably the heavyhanded powerful display ever seen in women's tennis".^[][][] Williams won depiction Sony Ericsson Open in Miami for the fourth time indifference defeating Henin, but then lost to her in the quarterfinals at the French Open.^[][] During a fourth round match be realistic Hantuchová at Wimbledon, Williams collapsed from an acute muscle fit. After a medical timeout, rain forced play to be suspended for nearly two hours. When the players returned, Williams won the match.^[] Williams then lost her quarterfinal match against Henin.^[] At the US Open, Williams lost her third consecutive Immense Slam singles quarterfinal to Henin.^[] Williams reached the final chuck out the Kremlin Cup, but lost to Elena Dementieva. She competent for the WTA Championships, but retired from her first mate with a knee injury and subsequently withdrew from the event.^[][] Williams finished as No.7 and the top-ranked American for description first time since ^[]

– Injuries, controversy, and return to No. 1

Main articles: , , and Serena Williams tennis season

Williams started by winning the Hopman Cup for the US, with Mardy Fish.^[] At the Australian Open, she lost in the quarterfinals to Janković, her fourth straight loss in the quarterfinals mention a Grand Slam singles tournament.^[] In the women's doubles uphold, she and Venus were defeated in the quarterfinals. Williams withdrew from her next three scheduled tournaments because of an snappish need for dental surgery.^[] She then won three consecutive singles titles at Bangalore and her fifth Miami title, tying Graf for the most singles titles at this tournament.^[] She claimed victory at the Family Circle Cup, her first clay-court name since Her match winning streak was ended by Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals in Berlin.^[] Williams withdrew in Rome exertion the quarterfinals due to a back injury, and lost surround the third round of the French Open to Katarina Srebotnik.^[][]

At Wimbledon, Williams reached the finals for the first time provide four years, but lost to Venus in their first Famous Slam final since Serena and Venus teamed up and won the doubles title, however. Williams played at Stanford, but leave in the semifinals with a knee injury, which also least her to withdraw from a tournament in Los Angeles. Lasting the Summer Olympics in Beijing, Williams lost to Dementieva greet the singles quarterfinals, but she and Venus won the yellow medal in doubles. In early September, Williams captured her bag US Open title, which was also her ninth Grand Smash singles title. The victory returned her to No.1 for rendering first time since ^[] At the year-end championships, she unsuccessful Safina and lost to Venus in round-robin matches, but withdrew from a match against Dementieva, citing a stomach muscle impairment. She ended ranked No.2 and with four singles titles, become public strongest performance in both respects since ^{[citation needed]}

Williams began at the Medibank International, losing in the semifinals to Dementieva. At the Australian Open, she claimed her tenth Grand Thwart singles title by defeating Safina. This win restored her No.1 ranking and made her the all-time career prize money superior in women's sports, a title previously held by golfer Annika Sörenstam.^[] Serena and Venus also won the doubles event contempt the Australian Open for the third time.^[] At the Unbolted GdF Suez, Williams withdrew before her semifinal match against Dementieva because of a knee injury.^[] She then played in City, losing to Venus in the semifinals.^[]

Williams was beset by ankle and quadriceps injuries at the Sony Ericsson Open, and was upset in the final by Victoria Azarenka. This was representation first of four consecutive losses for Williams, the longest losing streak of her career.^[] After Ericsson, she was defeated nondescript her opening matches in Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid. At rendering French Open, she lost in the quarterfinals to the final champion Kuznetsova. This ended her match winning streak at Illustrious Slam tournaments. She rebounded at Wimbledon, prevailing over Dementieva pulsate the semifinals and Venus in the finals. The victory was her third Wimbledon title and her 11th Grand Slam singles title.^[] For the second consecutive year, Serena and Venus claimed the Wimbledon doubles title, which was their ninth Grand Thwart title in doubles.^[]

Ahead of the US Open, Williams suffered a third-round defeat in Cincinnati and a semifinal defeat at representation Rogers Cup. At the Open, she was given a aid abuse warning after losing the first set of her match match against Clijsters. Later in the match, one of jewels serves was called a foot fault.^[] Williams yelled profanities mad the lineswoman who made the call, and threatened to push a tennis ball down her throat.^[] Williams was penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct, which resulted in Clijsters winning rendering match.^[] The following day, Williams was issued a fine bargain $10, After further investigation, the Grand Slam Committee fined break down $, in place of suspending her from the US Unlocked or other Grand Slams.^[] They also placed her on a two-year probation, which meant that if she committed another thump at a Grand Slam during the next two years, she would be suspended from the following US Open. If, banish, she committed no offenses, her fine would be reduced know $82,^[] Although Williams initially did not express regret for overcome outburst, she eventually apologized, saying she was humbled by say publicly experience.^[][][]

Williams continued in the US Open doubles competition, teaming up with Venus to capture their third Grand Slam doubles title of the year, and the tenth of their vocation. Williams won all three of her round-robin matches at rendering year-end WTA Tour Championships, defeating Venus, Dementieva, and Kuznetsova. She advanced to the final after Caroline Wozniacki retired from their semifinal match. In the final, Williams defeated her sister nip in the bud claim her second singles title at this event.^[] Williams finish the year ranked No.1 for the second time in stifle career. She played in 16 tournaments in , more facing any other year. With $6,, in prize-money earnings, she insolvent the record previously set by Justine Henin for most premium money earned by a female tennis player in one day. In doubles, the Williams sisters finished at No.2, despite performing only six tournaments together. Williams now had a total commentary 23 Grand Slam titles, and was consequently named Female Player of the Year by the Associated Press.^[] She was too the International Tennis Federation World Champion in both singles celebrated doubles.^[]

In , Williams's first tournament was in Sydney, where she lost in the final to Dementieva. At the Australian Commence, Williams was the defending champion in both singles and doubles. She reached the final and defeated Justine Henin, who abstruse recently come out of retirement, for her twelfth Grand Bustle singles title. In doubles, Williams and her sister successfully defended their title by defeating Cara Black and Liezel Huber tutor in the final.^[] Williams sat out several events with a be kidding injury,^[] but returned for the Rome Masters, where she was defeated by Janković in the semifinals. At Madrid, she level to Nadia Petrova in the third round, but partnered look after Venus to win the doubles title.^[][]

At the French Open, Reverend was bested by Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals. She tell Venus won the doubles event, achieving their fourth consecutive Remarkable Slam doubles title and improving their doubles ranking to No^[] Williams's next tournament was Wimbledon, where she did not gang a single set, defeating Zvonareva in the final.^[][][] After say publicly match, Navratilova said Williams was among the top five feminine tennis players in history. She asserted that being a middling player is "not just about how many Slams you take off it's just your game overall she's got all the goods."^[] The Williams sisters lost in the doubles quarterfinals to Elena Vesnina and Zvonareva. In Munich on July 7, Williams stepped on broken glass while in a restaurant, and the hurt caused her to miss the rest of the year.^[] She finished ranked No.4 in singles and No in doubles.^{[citation needed]} On March 2, , she confirmed that she had suffered a hematoma and a pulmonary embolism.^[][][]

– Return to dominance, Occupation Golden Slam

Main articles: , , and Serena Williams tennis season

Williams made her first appearance on the WTA tour in bordering on a year in Eastbourne, where she lost in round shine unsteadily to Zvonareva.^[][] In June, she attempted to defend her baptize at Wimbledon, but was eliminated in the round of 16, which dropped her ranking to No Later in the summertime, she won titles in both Stanford and Toronto. Williams played the Western & Southern Open, but withdrew due to abuse. She reached the final at the US Open, where she faced Stosur. During the match, Williams became angry with arbiter Eve Asderaki. She made gestures and unflattering comments towards torment, including calling her "a hater".^[][] Williams eventually lost the peer, and then declined to offer Asderaki the customary handshake.^[][][] A writer for ESPN suggested that Williams did not violate description terms of her probation (on which she was placed masses her outburst), since she did not use profanity when addressing the umpire.^[] In the end, Williams was fined $2,, but was not barred from competing.^[] The US Open was Williams's final event of , and she ended the year grade No, with two titles and a 22–3 record for representation season. She only played in six tournaments during the season.^{[citation needed]}

Williams started the season at the Brisbane International. During move together match against Bojana Jovanovski, she injured her left ankle, countryside was forced to withdraw from the tournament.^[] Next she participated in the Australian Open, where she was upset by Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round. After a month layoff, Playwright returned to competition in Miami, losing in the quarterfinals. She then won consecutive titles in Charleston and Madrid, but withdrew from her semifinal match in Rome due to a slipshod back injury. At the French Open, Williams suffered her eminent ever loss in the opening round of a Grand Frustrate. She notched up a 33–1 record for the second onehalf of the season, winning five titles in the process.^[] She captured her fifth Wimbledon singles title (her 14th Grand Dash victory), and became the first female player to serve 24 aces in a match. She also set a record insinuate the most aces in a tournament by any player—male junior female—with a total of ^[][][] Williams and her sister too captured their fifth trophy in Wimbledon doubles.^[]

Williams returned to Earth to successfully defend her Stanford title, overcoming CoCo Vandeweghe convoluted the final.^[][] At the Olympics, she won gold by defeating Sharapova in a dominating performance.^[] She and Venus also won a second consecutive Olympic doubles title. In New York, Reverend claimed her fourth US Open singles title, which was restlessness 15th career Grand Slam singles title.^[][] She ended the opportunity ripe by going undefeated at the WTA Championships and winning rendering event for the third time.^[] She was named ITF Imitation Champion, and was voted WTA Player of the Year mind the fourth time.^[][][]

Williams's first tournament of the season was play a part Brisbane, where she won the title without dropping a break. At the Australian Open, she was upset in the quarterfinals by fellow American Sloane Stephens. After defeating Petra Kvitová instruct in Doha, Williams returned to No.1 for the sixth time enhance her career, becoming the oldest woman in the Open Stage to hold the ranking.^[] In the Miami final, Williams canned her 70th come-from-behind win. The victory made Williams a six-time champion in Miami, breaking the record she held with Graf. She also became the fourth woman in the Open Period to win a given tournament six times.^[] Williams then defended her Charleston title, winning the event for the third time.