Serena Williams was born on 26 September 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, her parents were Richard Williams and Oracene Price.

She was the youngest among the five siblings, all sisters.

She is a pofessional tennis player and, has won 23 individual titles in Grand Slam tournament and has obtained the first position in de ranking for 319 weeks.

Her sister Venus is a famous tennis player too.

When she plays, she has a good serve and powerful shots that make her style aggressive and offensive but she also a strong defensive player.

She has been noted for her unusual and colourful outfits on court.

She was 8 weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open in January 2017.

Williams has received several awards for her activism directed towards Black communities.

In 2016, Serena Williams wrote an open letter in a magazine to speak out about gender equality and her personal struggles as a woman in tennis. She noted that women's contributions to the sport of tennis are not recognized in the way men's contributions are recognized; she also said there was no equal pay in tennis. She said she wanted to inspire a new generation of women to "push for greatness and follow their dreams”.

Williams is admired by many coaches, players and sports experts. In 2018, she was selected as the greatest female tennis player in the Open Era. Her numerous victories on court have been a positive influence on young girls and boys who see Williams as a role model and an ambassador of tennis.

FRANCISCA BATISTA - ENGLISH FOR FUN 3B