Venus Williams

• Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
• DOB: June 17, 1980
• Birthplace: Lynwood, CA, USA
• Height: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
• Weight: 160 lbs. (72.5 kg)
• Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Biography

As of May 11, 2009, Venus Williams is ranked World No. 3. She has won the Wimbledon singles title the last two years and is the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open doubles champion. She is the older sister of Serena Williams.

Since joining the Women's Tennis Association tour in 1994, Williams has won 56 titles, which includes 17 Grand Slam titles - seven in singles, eight in women's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. She has won more Olympic gold medals than any other tennis player (male or female) in history - one in singles and two in women's doubles.

Williams is one of the most powerful baseliners on tour, equipped with an attacking all-court game. Her game is very well adapted to grass where she feels most comfortable, which is reflected in her Grand Slam results as she has five Wimbledon titles. Across her career, she has developed into a skillful volleyer and effectively utilizes her long 'wingspan' (1,85m) and agility around the net. She stated during an interview at the 2008 Australian Open that she was working to improve her volley. Williams also has great court coverage using her long reach to play balls that most players would not be able to reach and is capable of hitting outright winners from a defensive position.

Although Williams has the most powerful and feared serve on the women's tour, she has a technically flawed motion. Many tennis analysts have said that there is a lack of synchronization between the upper and lower body, and when not confident in the shot she can produce several double-faults or attackable second serves. She holds the record for the fastest serve struck by a woman in a main draw event. At the Zurich Open, she recorded 130 mph (210 km/h).

Williams has always been a explosive hitter of the ball off the ground, but her backhand is the more consistently reliable of her groundstrokes. Her backhand is equally effective down-the-line or crosscourt (frequently for a set-up approach shot). Her forehand occasionally breaks down under pressure. However, it is still the more powerful of her groundstrokes and yields many winners, from a variety of court positions. Additionally, it is one the most powerful forehands in the women's game, frequently struck in the 85 - 90 mph (140 km/h) range.

Career History