ESPN.com | Tennis | Player Index

Venus Williams
Height: 6-foot-1½
Weight: 169 		Plays: Right-handed
Career Titles: 7 		Birthplace: Lynwood, Calif.
Birthdate: June 17, 1980


Career Highlights

1999

  • Through the Australian Open, has reached at least the quarterfinals at her last 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). She also reached the doubles semifinal Down Under with sister, Serena.

  • 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.

  • In the Lipton Championships, she beat her younger sister Serena -- it was the first all-sister women's final in 115 years.

  • Won two clay tournaments in a row -- the Betty Barclay Cup and the Italian Open -- leading up to the French Open.

    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.


    • TENNIS MEN: Results/Sched  |  Rankings  WOMEN: Results/Sched  |  Rankings

    Copyright 1995-98 ESPN/Starwave Partners d/b/a ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.ESPN.com Privacy Policy (Updated 01/08/98). Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (Updated 01/12/98).