Venus Williams: Impact on Women's Tennis and Sports

Introduction

Venus Williams made an incredible impact on the tennis world at a very young age. She arose from modest beginnings in California to become one of the queens of tennis, alongside her younger sister Serena. At twenty-two years of age, Venus provided the sports world with many exciting moments in a relatively short period of time. Her amazing athletic ability and muscular physique are recognized and admired all over the world. Venus rejuvenated the tennis world with her talent, determination, and conviction — all of which may be attributed to a strong work ethic and the tenacity of her father, Richard Williams. The following discussion provides an introduction to her childhood years, her rise as a world tennis champion, and her positive influence on women around the world.

History and Background

Venus was born on June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, California, the fourth of five daughters born to Brandi and Richard Williams (Fillon 11). At four years of age, her father began training her in tennis, and Venus adored the sport. It was often difficult for Richard Williams to keep his daughter away from the court. He knew at an early age that Venus was going to be a star. "I knew she was a champion right away," Richard Williams once said. As Venus approached her adolescent years, she entered many junior tournaments and defeated most of her opponents with ease, so her parents decided she should focus her talents elsewhere — particularly on schoolwork. Although Venus was no longer playing competitive tennis during this period, she was widely recognized in the local tennis circuit. Her future coach, Rick Macci, also saw something special in Venus and hoped to develop her gift in order to take her to the next level: competitive professional tennis tournaments (Fillon 29).

Venus entered the professional tennis arena in 1994, at first against her father's wishes. However, she was eventually allowed to pursue her dream and played her first professional match in 1995 (Fillon 33). At fourteen years of age, Venus was a towering 6'1" tall and was blessed with raw, unmatched athletic power on the court (Fillon 34). She engaged her fans with her captivating presence and physical appearance, and her braided hair became an engaging aspect of her personality that attracted large crowds. As time passed, Venus began her quest for a Grand Slam title.

Venus Williams' athletic ability was not entirely innate. When she first met Coach Macci, Venus had to study the game of tennis through rigorous practice sessions held six hours a day, six days a week for four years (Fillon 45). She was also engaged in such training disciplines as Tae Kwon Do, gymnastics, boxing, football, soccer, and hula hoop practice (Fillon 45). Venus was committed to her athleticism and grace on the court, and she would perform any tasks necessary to achieve her goals.

As Venus began her entrance into the world of Grand Slam events, she would modify her famous hairstyle based on the location of the tournament. For Wimbledon 1997, Venus wore green and purple beads in her hair to match the tournament's colors, and she found herself embroiled in an unforeseen controversy regarding her hairstyle. Venus was not discouraged by fears that her beads might potentially interfere with one of her matches. However, she lost Wimbledon that year in the first round (Fillon 53). Nonetheless, her determination was stronger than ever, and she began to climb in the world rankings.

By the year 2000, Venus and her sister Serena were ranked numbers three and four in the women's professional rankings, respectively (Morgan 53). During this time, Venus was diagnosed with tendonitis in the wrists and was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open (Morgan 54). During her short break from tennis, Venus concentrated on her studies and enrolled at university (Morgan 54). She was very interested in fashion design and considered a future career in that field upon her eventual retirement from professional tennis.

Venus recovered in time to enter the annual Wimbledon tournament and eventually met her sister Serena in a quarterfinal match (Morgan 56). Venus defeated Serena and went on to win the tournament. Venus and Serena would go on to play each other in many matches, and it was always difficult for Venus to compete against her sister. "I felt sad because I'm the big sister and I'm supposed to take care of her. It's really bitter, but someone has to move on. Serena is a real competitor, even more than I am, so this really hurts her deep" (Morgan 57). To cap an already successful year, Venus earned a gold medal when she represented the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia (Morgan 60). Venus continued to accumulate honors and recognition in the tennis world, including a lengthy tenure as the number one ranked women's tennis player in the world.

Character Traits and Aspirations

Venus Williams has possessed determination, strength, courage, and confidence for most of her life, and these qualities are demonstrated in her work both on and off the court. Venus has always been firmly grounded in her roots as a girl raised under modest circumstances within an African-American family. Her family moved frequently when she was a child, eventually settling in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with her parents and siblings (Fillon 32). During her early years on the professional tennis circuit, Venus would visit local schools and share her charm and intelligence with students through motivational speeches (Fillon 35). In addition, the Williams family has always held a deep belief in religion, demonstrated through weekly attendance at religious events and meetings (Morgan 57). Venus possesses a unique combination of raw talent and skill coupled with a deeply embedded set of core values that have provided her with victories both on and off the court.

Conclusion

Venus Williams has changed the face of women's tennis forever. As her legacy continues in the world of sports, she is likely to garner many new achievements that will astound tennis fans around the world. Her humble beginnings in California led to a passion for tennis that is unmatched in the sport, perhaps with the single exception of her sister Serena. Venus and Serena have attracted sports fans with their intense competitive temperaments and their sibling rivalry, which draws significant media attention — especially when they face each other on the court. The Williams family values are strongly evident in both women, and as the older sibling, Venus is firmly grounded in her faith, her belief in family, and her inherent talent.

Venus possesses a unique blend of talent, athleticism, charisma, determination, and confidence that few women in sports will ever surpass. She has inspired and gained the admiration of women all over the world who aspire to follow a dream and achieve their vision. She has also undoubtedly influenced women who seek to improve their lifestyles through health and fitness. Her impact on women's tennis is enduring and will not be forgotten.

Works Cited

Fillon, Mike. Young Superstars of Tennis: The Venus and Serena Williams Story. Greensboro: Avisson Press, 1999.

Morgan, Terri. Venus and Serena Williams: Grand Slam Sisters. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, 2001.

Wiley, Ralph. "Venus Can Do Whatever She Wants." VenusSerenaFans.com, 2002.