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7 Amazing Facts About Venus Williams

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Venus Williams took the sports world by storm when she first arrived on the international stage as a teenage tennis phenom. From the outset, the expectations for her were high, and she commenced exceeding them from the get-go. Here are 7 things you might not have known about the global icon.

 

 

 

 

1. VENUS WILLIAMS WAS PROFILED BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED WHEN SHE WAS A KID.
At an age when most children are out playing with their friends, Williams was being featured in Sports Illustrated, giving her national recognition as a rising tennis star. In a 1991 article entitled “Child’s Play,” Williams—who was just 10 years old—was profiled by the preeminent sports magazine. When asked about her dreams for the future,

 

 

Williams hoped to play at Wimbledon and fly to Jupiter. As for her tennis technique? “I try to see if they’re playing smart and concentrating, and playing to their opponent’s weaknesses,” Williams explained. “That’s what I try to do when I play.”

 

 

2. VENUS WILLIAMS BECAME THE FIRST BLACK TENNIS PLAYER TO BE RANKED NUMBER 1 IN THE OPEN ERA.
On February 25, 2002, Williams made history by becoming the first Black tennis player to be ranked number 1 in the world. When interviewed about her accomplishment, she was quick to acknowledge Althea Gibson, yet another tennis great whose career in the 1950s and ’60s predated official world rankings. “She was the first,” Williams said of Gibson. “More than anything, I just feel proud to represent America in my sport.” While Arthur Ashe won three grand slam titles, he never achieved the top ranking.

 

 

3. VENUS WILLIAMS FOUND TIME TO EARN TWO COLLEGE DEGREES WHILE MAINTAINING HER TENNIS CAREER.
Though she has been playing tennis for most of her life, Williams’s dad—who has been the guiding force behind her career—always stressed the importance of an education over all else. “Too many Black athletes think sports is the only way out,” Richard told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 1992. “But sports is a vehicle to get an education. I’m looking for my kids to be well-balanced. I want them to be role models, but athletes are not great role models. I want to see them develop their education with their tennis.”

Making good on her goals, Williams received an associate’s degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 2007 and earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University East in 2015—all this while being one of the greatest tennis players of all time as well as managing a successful business portfolio.

4.VENUS WILLIAMS FOUGHT FOR EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN PLAYERS AT WIMBLEDON
Up until 2007, male tennis players were paid more than female players at Wimbledon. The archaic policy had been in place for decades, and was yet another shameful example of economic inequality based on gender. But Williams refused to remain silent on the issue. In 2005, Williams attended a Grand Slam committee meeting with then-WTA CEO Larry Scott, where she raised her concerns about the gender pay gap. In 2006, she penned an op-ed in the London Times that drew even more attention to the matter. “I feel so strongly that Wimbledon’s stance devalues the principle of meritocracy and diminishes the years of hard work that women on the tour have put into becoming professional tennis players,” she wrote. In 2007, the All England Club—home to Wimbledon—agreed to change its prize money policy.

5. VENUS WILLIAMS HAS WON FIVE OLYMPIC MEDALS.
Not only does Williams have several Grand Slam titles under her belt, but she’s a five-time Olympic medal winner—four gold and one silver. Along with Serena, she is a part of the winningest doubles tennis team in Olympic history. She and Roger Federer are the only five-time Olympians in tennis. She even hinted on The Late Show with James Corden that she’d like to play in this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo with Serena as her partner (though there’s no confirmation on whether either Williams sister will be there).

6. VENUS WILLIAMS IS A NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR.
In 2010, Williams added another distinction to her ever-expanding list of accomplishments when she became a New York Times best-selling author. Williams co-authored Come To Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession, which explored the early athletic experiences of several successful people. Williams interviewed close to 50 people for the book, including fashion designer Vera Wang, business magnate Richard Branson, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

7. VENUS WILLIAMS HAS NEVER WON THE FRENCH OR AUSTRALIAN OPENS.
While Williams has dominated the courts at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, she has never won the French Open or the Australian Open. In the French Open, she made it to the finals in 2002 but lost to her sister. In the Australian Open, she made appearances at the event to date but lost in the final round on two occasions. When considering her immense accomplishments, the fact that Williams never won a French or an Australian Opens are mere footnotes in a remarkable career.

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