You probably don’t need a reminder about just how good Serena Williams really was in her unbelievable tennis career.
But maybe you do, because we’re not just talking about one of the greatest tennis players — male or female — of all time.
We’re talking about one of the greatest professional athlete careers here, someone who so dominated her sport for so long that it felt like she could still win even after her struggles with health in recent years.
So after she announced her retirement from tennis after the 2022 U.S. Open, let’s dive in and look back at some of those incredible numbers that back up just how good Williams was:
1
23 Grand Slam Singles titles
That’s one behind Margaret Court for No. 1 all time, but it’s tops in the Open Era. And it’s the one number that will be attached to Williams for life … assuming she doesn’t win it all in Flushing soon.
That said, it shouldn’t be the only barometer of her success.
2
39 total Grand Slam titles
To me, this is the number.
That’s 23 in singles, 14 in women’s doubles and two mix doubles titles.
3
319 weeks of holding the No. 1 ranking in the world
That’s third all time behind Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graff (who spent 377 weeks at the top).
4
Her record for having the No. 1 ranking the first and last time
I love this one, from Eurosport:
Williams holds the record for the longest time between first getting to No 1 (July 8, 2002) and last holding the No 1 position (May 14, 2017), of 14 years, 10 months and six days.
5
6 U.S. Open singles titles
That’s tied with Cris Evert for most in the Open Era.
6
7 Australian Open singles titles
That’s the most all time.
7
10 Grand Slams since turning 30
Again: She dominated well into what people might consider older age for tennis players. That’s a record.
8
$94.5 million in prize money won
That’s per Sporting News.
9
4 Olympic gold medals
10
6 Wimbledon doubles titles
Also amazing.
11
Her career record
Want to have your mind blown?
It’s 855–153.
