Having passed $23 million in career prize money early in 2009, Serena Williams has earned more money than any female athlete in history, passing retired golf great Anika Sorenstam. Passionate and fiery, she, along with her sister Venus have dominated the women's tennis scene for the past decade. The sisters, with their powerful groundstrokes and booming serves, have risen to the top of the rankings in both singles and doubles competitions. Both are credited with raising public awareness of their sport and with bringing the women's tennis game to a whole new level of power and athleticism.
Unsurprisingly, Serena has both broken and set many milestone markers (along with Venus) in women's tennis. Among them:
- At the 1997 Ameritech Cup in Chicago became the lowest ranked player in tennis history (#304) to defeat two Top 10 players (Monica Seles and Mary Pierce) in one tournament.
- At the 1998 Lipton Championships in Miami became the fastest woman in tennis history to record five Top 10 wins by defeating Irina Spîrlea in 2nd Round (16 career matches).
- At 1999 Evert Cup in Indian Wells became the second non-seeded player to win a Tier I event.
- At the 1999 Lipton Championships in Miami became one of the first pair of sisters in the Open Era to meet in a tournament final.
- At the 1999 US Open became the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam title.
- By winning the 2001 Australian Open doubles championship with Venus, became the fifth pair to complete a career doubles Grand Slam and the only pair to win a career doubles Golden Slam.
- At the 2001 US Open marked the first time in the Open Era, and second time in 117 years, that sisters met in a Grand Slam final.
- During the 2002 Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami became the second player in the Open Era to defeat the first (Jennifer Capriati), second (Venus), and third (Martina Hingis) ranked players at the same tournament.
- At the 2002 French Open became the first younger sister in history to defeat her older sister at a Grand Slam.
- In 2002, with Venus, became the first ever siblings to rank in the Top 2 at same time.
- By winning the 2003 Australian Open became the fifth woman to hold all four Grand Slams at once.
- By winning the 2003 Australian Open became the first African-American to win the championship.
- By winning the 2004 Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami, won first comeback tournament with second longest gap (8 months).
- By winning the Australian Open, defeating Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport, became the only player in tennis history to win three Slams (1999 US Open, 2002 French Open) by beating Top 2 players.
- By saving match points against Maria Sharapova in the 2005 Australian Open semi-finals, became the only player in Open Era to win two Slams by saving match points.
- At the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami became the lowest ranked player (#18) to defeat the Top 2 players in the world in the same tournament by defeating #1 Henin and #2 Sharapova..
- In 2008, by winning her fifth Miami tournament title, tied Steffi Graf for the most singles titles.
- By winning the 2008 US Open achieved the longest-ever gap between stints at #1 (five years, one month).
- Her six years between Wimbledon titles is second only to Evonne Goolagong's nine years.
- Only player to have won three Slams after saving match points (2003 Australian Open versus Kim Clijsters, 2005 Australian Open versus Maria Sharapova, and 2009 Wimbledon versus Elena Dementieva)
Serena has won the following awards, by year:
1998
- WTA Newcomer of the Year
- Tennis Magazine/Rolex Rookie of the Year
1999
- WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
- Tennis Magazine Player of the Year
2000
- WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award (with Venus)
2002
- WTA Player of the Year
- ITF Women's Singles World Champion
- Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year
2003
- 34th NAACP Image Awards President's Award
- ESPY Award Best Female Athlete
- ESPY Award Best Female Tennis Player
- Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
- Avon Foundation Celebrity Role Model Award
- BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
2004
- WTA Comeback Player of the Year
- Family Circle/Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference Award
- ESPY Award Best Female Tennis Player
- BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
2005
- BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
2007
- Laureus World Comeback of the Year
- Harris Poll Most Favorite Female Sports Star
2008
- WTA Player of the Year
2009
- BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year
- Harris Poll Most Favorite Female Sports Star
- ESPY Award Best Female Tennis Player
At SerenaWilliamsDVDs.com, we love her passionate, fiery style of play. As a collaborative hobby enterprise, we offer some of her most memorable Grand Slam wins, along with other contests, on DVD for only $8 per match. We pay for all shipping / handling costs. All orders are sent out within 48 hours of being received.
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