Serena Williams’ journey to the top of women’s tennis

By: MRT Desk

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Serena Williams announced on Tuesday her retirement from the sport after this year’s US Open, which begins on August 29.

Here’s a timeline of her rise to the top of women’s sports:

1999: Defeated Martina Hingis in the final of the US Open, becoming the first African-American woman to win a Grand Slam singles title after Althea Gibson in 1958.

2001: She didn’t reach a major final again until 2001, when she lost the US Open title match against her sister Venus.

2002-03: Missed the 2002 Australian Open through injury, then embarked on an incredible run that included winning five of the next six majors and a semifinal loss at the 2003 French Open.

2004-07: His career was affected by injuries, but he still won the Australian Open titles in 2005 and 2007.

2008-09: Won the 2008 US Open and broke his Grand Slam drought before winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon the following year.

2010: Joined Billie-Jean King in sixth place among the most Grand Slam winners with her 12th major at the Australian Open. She missed the US Open due to medical complications after cutting her foot on glass while celebrating her Wimbledon victory.

2011: He underwent an operation after a life-threatening blood clot was detected in his lung. He reached the final of the US Open, but lost to Australia’s Sam Stosur.

2012: Won Wimbledon in 2012 and followed up with Olympic gold on the same grass, beating top seed Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals and third seed Maria Sharapova in the final.

She won her fourth US Open title, beating Azarenka in the final.

2013: Won his second Roland Garros crown in 2013, one of 10 titles he lifted that year to regain the top spot in the world rankings. He added another US Open title to his collection.

2014: Captured seven titles, including her sixth US Open, which was her third in a row, to join compatriots Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with 18 Grand Slam wins.

2015: Beat Maria Sharapova in the 2015 Australian Open final to clinch her 19th Grand Slam title. Despite battling the flu, she won a third consecutive major and her 20th overall by beating Czech Lucie Safarova in the French Open final.

He achieved the so-called “Serena Slam” by winning the sixth Wimbledon crown and taking all four majors for the second time in his career. She looked poised to clinch another calendar grand slam at the 2015 US Open, but she lost to Italy’s Roberta Vinci (EPA: SGEF ) in the semifinals.

2016: Lost the 2016 Australian Open final and was denied victory again in the French Open final, before winning Wimbledon for the seventh time, tying Steffi Graf for 22 majors.

2017: Won his seventh Australian Open in 2017 to pass Graf for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era. Australia’s Margaret Court won 24, but most during the amateur era.

2018-19: Failed in the Wimbledon and US Open finals both years after returning to tennis following the birth of daughter Olympia a year earlier.

2021-22: Has not played competitive tennis since limping from her opening match at Wimbledon in 2021 due to a leg injury. He returned to Wimbledon this year, but lost in the first round.

He announced his intention to retire after this year’s US Open.

1 thought on “Serena Williams’ journey to the top of women’s tennis”

  1. Wow, I didn’t know Serena Williams had such a difficult time on her ascent to the top. Glad that she kept the faith.

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