Career Highlights
2002
After losing in the first round of the French Open the year before, reached the final at Roland Garros where she lost her sister Serena 7-5, 6-3. The sisters performance in Paris made them the No. 1 (Venus) and No. 2 (Serena) players in the world -- a first for siblings.
Won the final of the Open Gaz de France on a walkover from Jelena Dokic.
Lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open to Monica Seles.
Became the bane of Justine Henin's existence in three finals by winning each: Gold Coast, Antwerp and Amelia Island.
2001
Defended her title at New Haven by beating Justine Henin, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport the week before the U.S. Open.
Successfully defended her Wimbledon title by defeating Belgian teenager Justine Henin 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 and predicted that Wimbledon would be a great place for her for years to come.
Won in Hamburg by defeating Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-3, 6-0 and in San Diego by defeating Monica Seles, 6-2, 6-3.
In the Ericsson Open final, came from behind to defeat Jennifer Capriati in a dramatic tiebreak in the final set, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Venus showed up at the Australian Open looking rusty on the court and in a new outfit that drew more attention at times than her playing. Venus fell to Martina Hingis 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals as Hingis managed to beat the two Williams sisters back-to-back for the first time. The sisters got some revenge as Hingis and doubles partner Monica Seles lost to them in the doubles semifinal. The Williamses went on to win the doubles Grand Slam trophy, but both expressed disappointment in their singles performance.
Won ESPY award for Outstanding Women's Tennis Performer.
2000
Won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon by defeating Lindsay Davenport, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the final after defeating her sister, Serena, in the semifinal. Davenport faced her again in the U.S. Open final and fell in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5 giving Venus her second Slam.
At the Sydney Olympics, she was the first woman to win a gold in singles and doubles (with sister Serena) since 1924.
Went on a 32-match win streak and won three other titles: Bank of the West Classic, Acura Tennis Classic, Pilot Pen. She also made the finals of the Generali Ladies Open, but this time Davenport was ready for her as Venus fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
1999
Defended Lipton title, defeating younger sister Serena in the final to become the first sisters to meet in a WTA Tour final. En route to the final, she beat No. 4 Jana Novotna and No. 7 Steffi Graf, ending Graf's 21-match Lipton winning streak.
Earned her career first clay court singles title at Hamburg, including wins over Top 10 players Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the semifinals and Mary Pierce in the final.
Won second clay court title in two weeks -- extending her red-clay winning streak to nine -- over Mary Pierce at the Italian Open.
Through the Australian Open, reached at least the quarterfinals at six Grand Slam tournaments out of eight career Grand Slam appearances, a more consistent start than all nine Grand Slam winners currently playing (Davenport, Graf, Hingis, Majoli, Martinez, Novotna, Pierce, Sanchez-Vicario, Seles).
Finalist at Hannover, including a three-set semifinal win over Steffi Graf where Williams served 12 aces, including one on match point, for her first win over Graf.
Won in Oklahoma City on February 28, the same day her sister, Serena, won the Paris Indoors, and they became the first sisters in professional tennis history to win singles titles in the same week.
On April 5 she and sister Serena became the first sisters to be ranked in the Top 10 simultaneously since April 22, 1991 (Manuela and Katerina Maleeva).
By winning the French Open doubles title with her sister Serena, became the first sisters to win a Grand Slam crown together in the 20th century.
In her Fed Cup debut, led the United States over Italy in the semifinals by winning both her singles matches and the doubles with sister Serena.
1998
Through the U.S. Open, only two of her 10 losses in 1998 came to players ranked outside the Top 5.
Made the semifinals of the U.S. Open, losing to eventual champ Lindsay Davenport. Also advanced to the quarters at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
Clocked a women's world record 127 mph serve in the quarterfinals of the Swisscom Challenge.
Won the Grand Slam Cup by defeating Patty Schnyder 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Won her second career singles title by beating Anna Kournikova in an all-teen final at the Lipton Championships.
Won her first singles title by topping South Africa's Joannette Kruger 6-3, 6-2 in the finals of the IGA Tennis Classic. Her WTA ranking jumped to No. 12.
The only unseeded player to reach the quarterfinals of 1998 Australian Open; won her second-round match over sister Serena; fell in quarterfinals in three sets to second seed Lindsay Davenport.
1997
The bright young star in American tennis began the year ranked No. 211 in the world, but climbed up to No. 64.
She reached the quarterfinals of two tournaments.
1996
At the Bausch & Lomb Championships, her serve was recorded at 108 mph, the ninth-fastest serve recorded on the tour that year.
Went 7-5 in her 12 matches after playing only seven matches since her professional debut in 1994.
1994
Nearly upset Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in her professional debut at the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland. Williams held a 6-3, 3-0 lead over Sanchez Vicario, then ranked No. 2, but she couldn't hold on.
Went 7-5 in her 12 matches after playing only seven matches since her professional debut in 1994.
Personal
Won her first singles title, the IGA Tennis Classic, on March 1, 1998.
Managed and coached by her father, Richard.
Younger sister Serena is also a rising star on the women's tour.
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