Happy Birthday, Venus Williams
Seventeen Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and a host of other championships make Venus Williams one of the most recognizable figures in professional tennis. The birthday girl’s resume off the court is nearly as impressive as her on court accomplishments. She’s launched her own line of clothing, founded an interior design company and has been named one of America’s most powerful women by Ladies Home Journal Venus Williams was born June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, Calif., to Richard and Oracene Williams. Growing up in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, Venus and her younger sister Serena displayed talent as they “practiced with dead balls on cracked courts,” wrote Sports Illustrated. By age 10, Venus was winning tournaments, and in 1991, the Williams clan relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where the young phenoms began training full-time. The sisters’ careers were carefully managed by Richard and Venus turned pro at age 14. Venus played her first full season on the WTA Tour in 1997 and won her first pro tournament a year later. The following year won two grand slams. She and Serena became two of the tour’s top players, and also formed one of the best doubles teams. In 2002, Venus became the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, the first African-American to achieve that status. Williams has thus far won seven grand slam tournaments: two U.S. Open titles and five Wimbledon titles. At 30, she remains one of the best players on the women’s tour. Off the court, Venus Williams studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. In November 2007, she launched a line of sporty clothing and accessories, including footwear, called EleVen. She and Serena founded the Venus and Serena Williams Tutorial/Tennis Academy in Los Angeles, providing tennis lessons to inner-city children. The academy provides not only on-court instruction, but also tutoring and assistance in applying to colleges. Venus, who is one of the best paid athletes in the world, has one the fastest serve in the women’s game – 129 mph. She also stars in Virtua Tennis, a popular video game. Happy Birthday Venus!! Hope the day is as special as you are!! Profile Name : Venus Williams Profession : Tennis Player Date of Birth : June 17, 1980 Place of Birth : Lynwood, California, USA Plays : Right-handed Career Titles : 25 |
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