Venus Williams
Awards & Honours
7
Awards Won
4
Honours
3
Rankings
5
Covers
4
Records
Venus Williams's career is defined by historic firsts and remarkable longevity. She was the first Black woman to be ranked world No. 1 in the Open Era. Her seven Wimbledon singles titles place her among the all-time greats on grass. Her fourteen Grand Slam doubles titles with Serena are a record for any women's pair in the Open Era. She is one of only a handful of players to win Olympic gold in both singles and doubles. Her advocacy directly led to equal prize money at Wimbledon, a landmark achievement for gender equality in sports. At age 37, she became the oldest Grand Slam finalist in the Open Era, a testament to her resilience after managing Sjögren's syndrome for years.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Key to the City of Lynwood
Awarded for her tennis achievements and community impact.
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
Awarded upon her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design.
Billie Jean King Leadership Award
Recognized for her leadership in advocating for equal prize money.
National Women's Hall of Fame
Inducted for her contributions to sports and gender equality.
Rankings & Lists
TIME 100 Most Influential People
Top 50 Greatest Athletes of All Time
50 Greatest Players of All Time
Magazine Covers
TIME
2001-09-03
The Sisterhood of Tennis
Sports Illustrated
2000-07-10
Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams
Vogue
2001-08-01
Venus Williams: Tennis Queen
Forbes
2002-08-12
The Highest-Paid Female Athletes
Glamour
2006-11-01
Woman of the Year: Venus Williams
Records & Feats
First Black woman to be ranked world No. 1 in the Open Era
Venus Williams reached the world No. 1 ranking in singles on February 25, 2002, becoming the first Black woman to achieve that feat in the Open Era.
Oldest Grand Slam finalist in the Open Era
At age 37, Venus Williams reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals in 2017, making her the oldest Grand Slam finalist in the Open Era.
Most Wimbledon singles titles among active players (as of 2026)
Venus Williams has won five Wimbledon singles titles, the most among active players as of 2026.
First player to win Olympic gold in singles and doubles at the same Games
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Venus Williams won gold in both women's singles and women's doubles (with Serena), a feat no other player had achieved.