Nobody saw it coming. Four years after waving goodbye at the 2022 US Open, Serena Williams returned to the tour in 2026, winning a doubles match at Queen's at the age of 44, playing singles on Centre Court at Wimbledon and teaming up with sister Venus once more at Flushing Meadows.
The results matter less than the joy of seeing her back. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, she is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Celebrate her with our tennis collection.
Serena Williams Fact File
| Full name | Serena Jameka Williams |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 September 1981 (age 45) |
| Place of birth | Saginaw, Michigan, USA |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed, two-handed backhand |
| Nationality | American |
| Current status | Returned to the tour in 2026 after retiring in 2022 |
| Grand Slam singles titles | 23 |
| Nickname | Serena |
Career History
| Year | Grand Slam singles titles won | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | US Open | 1 |
| 2002 | French Open, Wimbledon, US Open | 3 |
| 2003 | Australian Open, Wimbledon | 2 |
| 2005 | Australian Open | 1 |
| 2007 | Australian Open | 1 |
| 2008 | US Open | 1 |
| 2009 | Australian Open, Wimbledon | 2 |
| 2010 | Australian Open, Wimbledon | 2 |
| 2012 | Wimbledon, US Open | 2 |
| 2013 | French Open, US Open | 2 |
| 2014 | US Open | 1 |
| 2015 | Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon | 3 |
| 2016 | Wimbledon | 1 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | 1 |
Grand Slam singles titles only: 7 Australian Opens, 3 French Opens, 7 Wimbledons and 6 US Opens. She also won 14 women's doubles majors with Venus, 2 mixed doubles majors and 73 WTA singles titles.
Early Years: Compton and Richard's Plan
Serena grew up in Compton, California, learning the game alongside Venus on public courts under the guidance of their parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price. The family later moved to Florida so the sisters could train full time.
She won her first Grand Slam at the 1999 US Open aged 17, the first of the sisters to win a major singles title.
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Breakthrough: The First Serena Slam
Between the 2002 French Open and the 2003 Australian Open she won four majors in a row, beating Venus in all four finals. The 'Serena Slam' made her world No.1 and announced a new kind of power tennis.
Alongside Venus she also became a doubles force, winning 14 women's doubles majors and Olympic doubles gold in 2000, 2008 and 2012.
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Peak: Dominance in Her Thirties
Serena's thirties were astonishing. She won Olympic singles gold at London 2012, completed a second Serena Slam from the 2014 US Open to Wimbledon 2015, and spent 319 weeks as world No.1, including 186 in a row.
Her 23rd and final major came at the 2017 Australian Open, which she won while pregnant with her daughter Olympia.
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Later Career: Farewell and Return
Serena stepped away after a third-round defeat at the 2022 US Open. In 2026 she came back: a winning doubles debut at Queen's with Victoria Mboko, a three-set first-round loss to Maya Joint at Wimbledon, and a match tie-break defeat alongside Venus in the US Open doubles.
Honours
Grand Slams
- 23 singles titles
- 14 women's doubles titles (with Venus)
- 2 mixed doubles titles (1998)
Olympics
- Singles gold: London 2012
- Doubles gold: Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, London 2012
Rankings and Awards
- 319 weeks at world No.1
- Year-end No.1: 2002, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year: 2015
Away From the Game
Serena founded Serena Ventures in 2014, investing in start-ups and especially in founders from diverse backgrounds, and launched the Wyn Beauty make-up brand in 2024. She married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017, and they have two daughters, Olympia and Adira.
FAQs
How old is Serena Williams?
Serena Williams was born on 26 September 1981, so she is 45.
Where was Serena Williams born?
She was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in Compton, California.
How tall is Serena Williams?
Serena is 1.75 m, or 5 ft 9 in.
How many Grand Slams has Serena Williams won?
23 singles titles, plus 14 women's doubles and 2 mixed doubles majors.
Has Serena Williams come out of retirement?
Yes. She returned in 2026, playing doubles at Queen's and the US Open and singles at Wimbledon.
What was the Serena Slam?
The name for holding all four major titles at once, which she did twice: 2002–03 and 2014–15.
Shop the Serena Williams Collection
Icon frames, logo tees and classic name designs from our Serena Williams range.
Find more court legends in our tennis collection, or design your own custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Roger Federer and Usain Bolt.
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