What Makes Serena Williams One of the Greatest Tennis Players in History?
What Makes Serena Williams One of the Greatest Tennis Players in History?
Learn more about the life and career of American tennis player Serena Williams.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about the life and career of American tennis player Serena Williams.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about weird moments in Olympic history.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.With the tennis racket back and shoulders turned, the athlete steps into the ball with the lead foot. The ball should be struck just in front of the lead foot and far enough away from the body so that the elbow is slightly bent upon the strike. A sweeping low-to-high motion will produce topspin, which creates higher bounces that keep the opponent behind the baseline.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Holding the tennis racket with both hands (with the "back" hand underneath the second hand), the athlete's shoulders and hips turn toward the ball, and the weight shifts forward. The ball should be hit just in front of the athlete and with the centre of the racket head in order to produce a flat, powerful shot. Both hands are kept on the racket in the follow-through.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The tennis serve begins with the racket-side foot placed parallel to the net and the lead foot pointed at the nearest net post. As the toss is made, the racket arm extends downward to begin an upward and forward circular motion. The ball is released overhead and just in front. As the ball descends, the body rotates, and the head of the racket moves explosively through the ball.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where Palestinian militants killed 11 Israelis.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; thumbnail © kovop58/Shutterstock.comThe first Olympic Games consisted of a singular event: a footrace.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Even tug-of-war once held its own as a respected Olympic sport.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the first Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece.
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• Dec. 17, 2025, 1:57 AM ET (Reuters)
A Brutally Long Tennis Season Takes a Toll on Players
• Dec. 12, 2025, 7:07 AM ET (New York Times)
Serena Williams says she is not coming back to tennis
• Dec. 2, 2025, 4:04 PM ET (AP)
Serena Williams says she is not coming back to tennis
• Dec. 2, 2025, 4:04 PM ET (AP)
Transcript
Who is Serena Williams?
Serena Williams is an American athlete whose powerful play has made her one of the top tennis players in the open era.
For more than twenty years, she dominated the court, spending 319 weeks ranked number one by the Women’s Tennis Association.
However, her success wasn’t always guaranteed. Williams faced many obstacles, including serious knee and foot injuries, that kept her sidelined for months at a time.
But with each setback came a dramatic return to the top.
After missing almost a full year battling various health issues, Williams won the singles gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, becoming the second woman ever to win a career Golden Slam.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I love a challenge, and I love holding up trophies. And so I guess if ever I feel that I can’t do that, then maybe I won’t play anymore.
In 2017, Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, the most of any athlete in the open era.
She gave birth to a daughter later that year and returned to the court six months later, placing second at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon in both 2018 and 2019.
Along with Williams’ success in singles events came 14 grand slam doubles titles with her sister Venus, the second most for a pair in the open era.
Serena William’s incredible level of success has earned her a place as one of the greatest tennis players in history.
Serena Williams is an American athlete whose powerful play has made her one of the top tennis players in the open era.
For more than twenty years, she dominated the court, spending 319 weeks ranked number one by the Women’s Tennis Association.
However, her success wasn’t always guaranteed. Williams faced many obstacles, including serious knee and foot injuries, that kept her sidelined for months at a time.
But with each setback came a dramatic return to the top.
After missing almost a full year battling various health issues, Williams won the singles gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, becoming the second woman ever to win a career Golden Slam.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I love a challenge, and I love holding up trophies. And so I guess if ever I feel that I can’t do that, then maybe I won’t play anymore.
In 2017, Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, the most of any athlete in the open era.
She gave birth to a daughter later that year and returned to the court six months later, placing second at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon in both 2018 and 2019.
Along with Williams’ success in singles events came 14 grand slam doubles titles with her sister Venus, the second most for a pair in the open era.
Serena William’s incredible level of success has earned her a place as one of the greatest tennis players in history.
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