SI

Memory Lane: Venus Williams wins first career title ... and raises the roof

Venus Williams won the first of her 44 singles titles as a 17-year-old in 1998. (Jerry Laizure/AP) Memory Lane is a recurring feature in which we dig through
Courtney Nguyen|
Memory Lane: Venus Williams wins first career title ... and raises the roof
Memory Lane: Venus Williams wins first career title ... and raises the roof

Venus Williams won the first of her 44 singles titles as a 17-year-old in 1998. (Jerry Laizure/AP)

Memory Lane is a recurring feature in which we dig through photo and video archives for classic moments.

Fifteen years ago Friday, a 17-year-old Venus Williams won the 1998 IGA Tennis Classic in Oklahoma City for her first WTA title. Wearing a white Reebok dress and beads in her hair, Venus broke through in her third career final by defeating South Africa's Joannette Kruger 6-3, 6-2.

Ranked No. 14 at the time, Venus earned her spot in the final with a 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-3 victory against top seed and world No. 2 Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals.

How did Venus celebrate her maiden win (and $27,000 windfall)? By raising the roof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j7141I19hk

That day in 1998 also sparked another Williams trend, as Venus came out 30 minutes later to team up with Serena to win their first doubles title.

"This is one I will probably always remember," Venus said at the time. "I can say it all started back in Oklahoma City."

Published
Courtney Nguyen
COURTNEY NGUYEN

Contributor, SI.com Nguyen is a freelance writer for SI.com, providing full coverage of professional tennis both on and off the court. Her content has become a must-read for fans and insiders to stay up-to-date with a sport that rarely rests. She has appeared on radio and TV talk shows all over the world and is one of the co-hosts of No Challenges Remaining, a weekly podcast available on iTunes. Nguyen graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 1999 and received a law degree from the University of California, Davis in 2002. She lives in the Bay Area.

Home/Tennis