Serena Williams held the WTA world no 1 ranking for 319 weeks, the third-longest in history, and claimed the year-end No. 1 spot five times. She captured 73 WTA singles titles, including 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era and second-most all-time. Serena is the only player to achieve a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, winning all four majors and Olympic gold in each discipline.
Serena Williams tennis racquet
Serena Williams racquet was using a Wilson racquet throughout her career. She even has her own Serena Williams Blade 104 Autograph racquet
, which was released in 2017. She hits a heavy ball and has perhaps the biggest serve of all time in the women’s game.
Serena Williams racquet does pack a lot of power. It is an oversize racquet, 104 sq inches which gives a larger sweet spot and helps her hit with pace. Below you can find the specs of a match-used racquet from 2013.
Serena Williams Racquet Specs
Head size: 104 sq. in. / 671 sq. cm.
Length: 27.7 in. / 70.4 cm.
Strung weight: 11.7 oz. / 330 gr.
Strung balance: 340 mm
Stiffness: 61
Grip size: L5 (4 5/8)
Grip type: Wilson Synthetic + Overgrip
String pattern: 18 Mains / 19 Crosses
Paint: Wilson BLX Blade 104 (100 yr logo)
Silicone: No (epoxy filled)
Lead: No (at least not visible)
Swing weight: 366
As you can see from the specs above, not only does the racquet have a larger head size than most players on tour, it also had one of the heftiest swing weights in the women’s game.
Serena Williams used an Eastern forehand grip and hits the ball flat and hard. She perhaps didn’t have a lot of finesse to her game, but her timing of the ball was second to none. She wass also a fierce fighter on the court and you don’t win 23 grand slam titles without that kind of mental strength.
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More on Serena Williams
Born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, Serena Jameka Williams grew up in Compton, California, where she and her sister Venus were coached by their parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Richard introduced Serena to tennis at age four, training her on public courts. The family moved to Florida in 1991 to join Rick Macci’s academy.
Serena turned professional in 1995 at age 14, debuting at a qualifying event in Quebec City. Her first full season in 1997 saw her ranked no 304, but by 1998, she got into the top 20 after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon. In 1999, she won her first Grand Slam at the US Open, defeating Martina Hingis at age 17, becoming the first African-American woman to win a major in the Open Era.
The 2000s showed Serena’s ascent to dominance on tour. She won the 2002 French Open, 2002 Wimbledon and 2003 Australian Open, completing a “Serena Slam” by holding all four majors simultaneously (2002–2003). She reached No. 1 for the first time in July 2002. Despite injuries and personal challenges, including the 2003 murder of her half-sister Yetunde Price, Serena’s dominance continued. She won nine more majors from 2005 to 2010, including four Australian Opens and three Wimbledons.In 2011, health issues, a pulmonary embolism and hematoma, threatened her career, but Serena returned to win the 2012 Wimbledon, Olympic gold in London and the US Open. Her peak dominance came from 2013 to 2015, winning six majors and achieving a second Serena Slam (2014–2015).
In 2017, she won the Australian Open while pregnant, her 23rd major, surpassing Steffi Graf’s Open Era record. Serena retired after the 2022 US Open, leaving a legacy as the best women’s player.
Main Achievements
- 186 weeks as world No. 1, tied for third all-time, including 157 consecutive weeks (2013–2016).
- 23x Grand Slam singles champion: Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017), French Open (2002, 2013, 2015), Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016), US Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014).
- Career Golden Slam: All four majors plus Olympic singles gold (2012).
- 14x Grand Slam doubles champion (with Venus): Australian Open (2001, 2003, 2009, 2010), French Open (1999, 2010), Wimbledon (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016), US Open (1999, 2009).
- 4x Olympic medals: Singles gold (2012), doubles gold (2000, 2008, 2012).
- 39 total major titles (23 singles, 14 doubles, 2 mixed doubles), an Open Era record.
- Career earnings: $94,816,730, the highest in women’s tennis history.
What is Serena Williams’s Playing Style?
Serena revolutionized tennis with her aggressive, power-based game. Her serve, often clocked over 120 mph, was the most dominant in women’s tennis, delivering aces and unreturnable shots under pressure. Her groundstrokes, particularly her forehand, combined precision and force, allowing her to dictate rallies. She could play on all surfaces, with a special mental toughness.
Who Were Serena Williams’s Coaches?
Serena’s key coaches included:
- Richard Williams (childhood–2010s): Her father, who shaped her early game and strategy.
- Oracene Price (childhood–2010s): Her mother.
- Rick Macci (1991–1995): Refined her skills during her junior years.
- Patrick Mouratoglou (2012–2022): Guided her to 10 Grand Slams and Olympic gold, emphasizing mental preparation and tactical adjustments.
What is Serena Williams Best Known For?
Serena is celebrated as the greatest women’s tennis player, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era. Her dominance across surfaces, longevity, and ability to win while overcoming injuries, health scares and even pregnancy gave her a unique legend status. Off the court, she broke barriers as a Black woman in a predominantly white sport, inspiring diversity in tennis. Her fashion also stands out and she was often setting new trends, such as the bold 2004 US Open denim skirt or the 2018 French Open catsuit.
Interesting Facts
- Only player to complete a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
- Won the 2017 Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant with daughter Olympia.
- Holds the record for most US Open singles titles in the Open Era (6, tied with Chris Evert).
- Appeared in films (King Richard) and TV shows, showcasing her cultural reach.
- Launched her own fashion line, S by Serena, and jewelry brand, Serena Williams Jewelry.
- Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.
Social Media Presence and Fan Engagement
Serena has a massive social media presence, with over 18 million followers on Instagram and 10 million on Twitter/X as of 2025. She engages fans with posts about her family, business ventures,and fitness routines, often sharing throwbacks to her playing days.
Serena Williams’s Net Worth
Serena’s career prize money reached over $94M but her wealth extends far beyond. Endorsements with Nike, Wilson, Gatorade and others, plus ventures like Serena Ventures, which has invested in over 60 startups, boost her net worth to an estimated $240 million, per certain sources.
Life After Tennis
Since retiring in 2022, Serena has focused on family, raising daughters Olympia and Adira with husband Alexis Ohanian. She remains active in business, expanding Serena Ventures and her fashion and jewelry lines. Her philanthropy supports education and domestic violence prevention through the Yetunde Price Resource Center. Serena occasionally appears at tennis events, mentors young players and produces media projects.
No!
Despite the fact that I (among most of the tennis nerds;) certainlyy respect Serena for her live accomplishments, she is the most succesful female player in the world and probably will stay for ever!
Nowadays you can see her battle not only against upcoming pros but also against her personal weaknesses which arise from age, motherhood and not being such hungry for success and doing whatever it takes to be No.1 again might be on her task list but she is satisfied with her life. Dont get me wrong. Of course she still wants to win and still has great capabilities on the court but it will become harder and harder against the best upcoming players. (Wong, Gauff, Osaka, Halip,…)
Hi, I would like to purchase a couple of the Serena Williams Blade Autograph rackets. When will this new 2020 version be released? Please help.
Hi Seth, I don’t know, it seems like Serena is testing a new prototype version, so not sure what will happen to her Autograph racquet.
Regards / J
hello, I wanted to know if Serena has a leather grip, and if you are on the sleeve size, thanks for your answer