Serena Williams holds back the clock with history-making moments, career

A historical look at Serena Williams's accomplishments in comparision to some of tennis' greats, including Steffi Graf, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and more.

Author:
Richard Rothschild
Publish date:
Jul 16, 2015

No athlete can defeat time but Serena Williams is waging a historically worthy challenge.

In winning her sixth Wimbledon championship last week at the All England Club, the nearly 34-year-old Williams became the oldest Grand Slam women’s champion of the Open era and also registered her eighth Slam title since turning 30.

Saturday’s victory brought Williams her 21st major title—third best all time—and her second Serena Slam, the distinction of holding all four major singles titles simultaneously. Should she prevail at the U.S. Open in September, she will become only the fourth woman to win a calendar Grand Slam and the first since 19-year-old Steffi Graf accomplished the feat in 1988.

No room for body image criticism in Serena Williams' Grand Slam chase

As Williams prepares for a possible rendezvous with destiny in New York, tennis fans—indeed fans of any sport—should take time to appreciate the majestic length and breadth of one of most sustained careers of excellence in the history of athletics.

Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 U.S. Open when she was still 17, defeating Martina Hingis, then the world’s No. 1 player. During that same year, John Elway played his last football game, Tom Brady was a senior at Michigan, LeBron James was becoming a high school basketball sensation and Bryce Harper would turn 7.

Over the past 16 years Williams has produced six wins on the grass of Wimbledon, a half-dozen apiece on the hard courts of Melbourne Park in Australia and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York and three more on the clay of Roland Garros in Paris.

No women’s player has been so good for so long as Williams. Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slam titles spanned 13 years. Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf won their majors over 12 while Billie Jean King’s 12 Slam championships took place over nine. Only Helen Wills, perhaps the greatest female player of the pre-World War II era, comes close to Williams, winning 19 Grand Slam events over 15 years (1923-38).

Court, King, Evert and Navratilova combined to win eight major crowns after reaching the age of 30, the same number as Williams has registered. In their 30s, Wills took one title while Graf didn’t win any. Among players male or female, only Big Bill Tilden back in the 1920s played to Williams’s level in later years, winning five Slam championships in his 30s.

Williams was a phenom who kept getting better on the women’s pro tour, an exhausting enterprise that sometimes devours its young. Hingis (five) and Tracy Austin (two) won multiple Grand Slam titles as teenagers but neither won another major championship after turning 20. A teenage Andrea Jaeger reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon but a bad shoulder dashed her career. Jennifer Capriati had two careers, reaching the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals at 15 but not actually winning Grand Slam events until her mid-20s.

Monica Seles grabbed eight Grand Slam crowns as a teenager before her career was derailed by a twisted German fan who knifed her in the back during a tournament in Hamburg. Seles won only one Slam title after the incident.

Serena continues dominance with sixth Wimbledon, 21st Slam title

Even in men’s tennis, where players tend to stick around longer, Williams’s longevity stands out. Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe dominated early in their careers but neither won a Grand Slam title after turning 26. At 29, does Rafael Nadal still possess the skills—and health—to add to his Slam total of 14? Roger Federer, although still competitive in Grand Slam events, has won only one of his record 17 majors since turning 30.

Only Ken Rosewall, who captured Australian Opens 19 years apart (1953-72) reigned at or near the top longer than Williams, but the venerable Aussie never won Wimbledon and only once won as many as two Slams in a single year.

Yet, as Al McGuire would say, it hasn’t always been seashells and balloons for Williams. She has battled injuries, illness, depression, weight problems and occasional McEnroe-esque blowups with officials. Her WTA ranking plunged to 139 in 2006 and to an unfathomable 169 as recently as 2011.

She has never displayed the same consistency as Navratilova, who reached 19 straight Grand Slam semifinals in 1983-88, or Evert, who qualified for 96 percent of her Slam quarterfinals in 1971-89. Williams’s best is six straight semis in 2002-03, the years of her first Serena Slam. Eleven times she has exited a major tournament in the third round or earlier.

During her career, Williams has seen Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka all top the WTA standings at year’s end.

How Serena compares to Steffi Graf as she chases 22 Slam titles record

But when Williams is on her game—serving aces, running the court and returning hard-hit balls with even more ferocity—she’s extremely difficult to beat, particularly in the final of major tournaments. Her record in Grand Slam championship matches is a stunning 21-4, far superior to Navratilova’s 18-14, Evert’s 18-16, King’s 12-6 or even Graf’s 22-9. Only Australia’s Court, who played the majority of her career before the Open era and won 19 of her 24 Slam titles on grass, comes close to Williams at 24-5. (In the pre-Open era, Wills’ 19-3 ranks highest.)

And Williams is tough, winning nine three-set matches during her 2015 Slam run.

Some observers say if Williams completes the Grand Slam, she will deserve consideration as the best female athlete ever. This argument forgets Babe Didrikson, who won two gold medals in track at field at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, and later won three U.S. Women’s Opens in golf, the last in 1954, two years before she died of cancer. Didrikson also might have been the nation’s best female basketball player. Six times she was voted Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year.

Of course, if Babe Didrikson is the only superior name that sports can throw at Serena Williams, her legacy stands at Himalayan levels.

In New York, history awaits.

GALLERY: CLASSIC PHOTOS OF SERENA

Classic Photos of Serena Williams

From her humble beginnings, Serena Williams has climbed to the top of the tennis world. Here are some rare photos of the woman Billie Jean King says is the best player in tennis history.

Serena Williams playing tennis in Florida in 1992.

Growing up in Compton, Calif., Serena worked tirelessly with Venus and their father to hone her skills.

Their California roots got Serena and Venus a photo op with President Ronald Reagan and wife, Nancy.

All five of the Williams sisters were exposed to tennis at an early age, but Serena and Venus seemed to display the most interest and strongest prospects.

In 1992, Serena, then 10, and Venus, then 12, stunned the tennis world when they each won their single divisions in the Southern California Junior Sectional Championships.

After several years living in Compton, Richard Williams relocated the family to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to enroll Serena and Venus in Rick Macci's renown tennis academy.

Serena was on hand for Venus's pro debut at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena in October 1994. The family, including mom Oracene, are pictured here before that event.

Serena was in Venus's shadow for several years, but has matured into the more accomplished player.

Serena Williams

At 17, Serena became the first African-American woman since Althea Gibson to win a Grand Slam title.

Venus and Serena, pictured here with Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles, helped lead the U.S. in its 4-1 Federation Cup victory against Russia in 1999.

The sisters got in touch with their patriotic side during a 2000 photo shoot for SI. Serena has won four Olympic medals while representing the U.S., three in doubles and the other in singles.

Despite their undeniable skills and stockpile of titles, the Williams sisters have been accused of slacking off when pitted against each other in competition. Venus and Serena have vehemently denied those claims. Serena leads the head-to-head series 14-11 through August 2014.

Serena lost in hair-raising fashion in the quarterfinals of the first three majors in 2001, but made the final of the U.S. Open, which she lost to Venus.

Serena capped off a busy 2001 by carrying the Olympic torch in the leadup to the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

Julie Foudy, Summer Sanders and Serena appeared with Ronald McDonald at the World Children's Day Event in New York City in November 2002.

Serena created a stir when she competed in this cat suit at the 2002 U.S. Open.

Serena's appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno coincided with her inclusion in the SI Swimsuit issue.

Serena's swimsuit poses didn't stop with SI. Here she poses during a December shoot.

Jeffery A. Salter for Sports Illustrated

Serena had a clothing line with Puma in the early years, but signed with Nike in 2004.

Serena in action at Fairmont Stadium in Arizona, where she had won the State Farm Classic the year before.

Serena's victory over Venus in the 2003 Australian Open made her the fifth woman to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously. The media dubbed it the Serena Slam.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty showed Serena around the garage area when she attended the Ford 400 in Homestead, Fla.

Pascal Le Segretain/Laureus via Getty Images

Pictured with Laura Harring and David Coulthard, Serena helped present the 2003 Comeback of the Year Award to soccer phenom Ronaldo at the Laureus World Sports awards.

Serena Williams

Serena turned heads again at the 2004 U.S. Open, when she took to the court in this outfit. Officials told her to ditch the knee-high boots.

Serena Williams

Serena's 2005 Australian outfit wasn't quite as flamboyant, but reinforced that she does have a fashion sense about her.

Serena Williams

Seen here playing with her two dogs, Bambi and Jackie, Serena struggled through 2005 as a variety of injuries caused her to have her first non-Top 10 finish since 1998.

Recovering from a knee injury, Serena didn't win a single tournament in 2006 and finished the year ranked 95th in the world.

Serena celebrates a point during the 2007 Australian Open finals against Maria Sharapova. Williams, who was unseeded because of her World No. 81 ranking, continued on to beat Sharapova and win the tournament.

Serena Williams

Serena made it to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2007, where she lost to world No. 1 Justine Henin.

Serena Williams

Serena unveiled her trench coat look at Wimbledon in 2008.

Serena lost 7-5, 6-4 to Venus in the finals at Wimbledon in 2008.

34-2008-serena-williams-Olympics-Tennis-Womens-Doubles.jpg — Charles Krupa/AP

Serena and Venus rejoice after they beat Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain during the gold medal match at the Beijing Olympics.

The victory was their second consecutive gold medal in doubles.

Serena Williams

Serena reacts after defeating Jelena Jankovic to win the 2008 U.S. Open title.

Serena poses with Kim and Khloe Kardashian and rapper Common, whom she once dated.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross with Serena and Venus after it was announced they had become minority owners of the NFL football team.

Serena kids around after winning a title in Melbourne.

Serena had an 18-match Grand Slam tournament winning streak snapped at the 2009 French Open.

Serena famously lost her temper at the 2009 U.S. Open, berating the line judge for calling a foot fault. She was assessed a point penalty, which happened to be on match point in the semifinal, giving the victory to Clijsters, 6-4, 7-5.

Serena is seen here enjoying a White Sox-Yankees game with former Bronx bomber Reggie Jackson.

Other than her 2002 victory in the French Open, Serena had never made another final at Roland Garros. That is, until she won the 2013 edition.

Queen Elizabeth II meets Roger Federer, Serena, Novak Djokovic and others on Day 4 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It was the first visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the Championships in 33 years.

Serena didn't lose a set in winning Wimbledon in 2010.

Serena and Venus, the two-time defending doubles champions at Wimbledon, lost in the quarterfinals in 2010. Serena cut her foot on a piece of glass a few days afterwards and missed the rest of the season.

Serena and Venus at the end of their exhibition match at La Macarena bullring in Medellin.

Serena Williams

Serena along with Kim Kardashian and Sean "Diddy" Combs at a 2012 Pre-Grammy gala.

Serena Williams

Serena on the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood. That same week she underwent emergency treatment for a blood clot in her lungs.

Serena, Tim Tebow and Venus at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Serena was overcome by emotion after winning her fifth Wimbledon title. The victory came a little more than a year after she had been hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism. It was the first Wimbledon title by an over-30 woman since Martina Navratilova in 1990.

Serena Williams

Wimbledon singles champions Serena Williams and Roger Federer at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball. It marked her third Wimbledon title in four years.

Serena Williams

Venus and Richard Williams congratulate Serena after she won her first major title in two years.

Serena poses with members of Engine 54 Ladder 4 Battalion 9 in New York the day after winning the U.S. Open.

Serena Williams

Serena won seven tournaments in 2012, including the WTA Championships in Istanbul.

Serena plays a forehand during the 2013 Australian Open. She lost in the quarterfinals to Sloane Stephens, who later in the year said several critical remarks about Williams.

Serena Williams

Two points from defeat in the Open final, Serena regained her composure to come back and win the last four games, beating No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 for her fourth U.S. Open title and 15th Grand Slam title overall.

Serena poses after winning the Sony Tennis Open 2013 in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Serena finally cast off her Parisian demons—she hadn't been past the quarterfinals since 2004—to win her second French Open title 11 years after her first title in 2002.

Serena wins the U.S. Open against Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki pose with Miami Heat's Greg Oden and the NBA Eastern Conference championship trophy in 2014.

Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki pose together in the water on May 31, 2014, in Miami Beach.

Serena Williams plays a backhand in her semifinal victory over Madison Keys in the 2015 Australian Open. Serena would go on to defeat Maria Sharapova in the final match for her 19th grand slam singles title.