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Williams, Venus; and Williams, Serena


At the 2003 Wimbledon finals, sisters Serena (left) and Venus Williams showing off their first and …
© Reuters/Corbis

(born June 17, 1980, Lynwood, California, U.S.) (born September 26, 1981, Saginaw, Michigan) American tennis players and sisters who revolutionized women's tennis with their powerful style of play and became the game's most dominant players. From 1999 to 2003 they collected 10 grand slam singles titles, 6 doubles titles, and 3 Olympic gold medals.

The Williams sisters were introduced to the sport on the public courts in Los Angeles by their father, who early on recognized their talent and oversaw their development. Venus turned professional in 1994, and Serena followed suit a year later. Possessing powerful serves and ground strokes and superb athleticism, the sisters soon attracted much attention. In 1997 Venus became the first unseeded U.S. Open women's finalist in the open era; she lost to Martina Hingis. Many predicted Venus would be the first Williams sister to win a grand slam singles title, but it was Serena who accomplished the feat, winning the 1999 U.S. Open. Although disappointed, Venus quickly rebounded and in 2000 won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open; she defended her titles in 2001.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Venus captured the gold medal in the singles competition and claimed a second one with Serena in the doubles event. After several years of inconsistent play, Serena asserted herself in 2002 and won the French Open, the U.S. Open, and Wimbledon, defeating Venus in the finals of each tournament. Known for her fierce tenacity, Serena won the Australian Open and Wimbledon the following year, again besting her sister in the finals. Despite their numerous clashes on the court, the sisters enjoyed a friendly rivalry and often competed together in doubles events.

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