Tennis has brought about a bevy of strong-willed women. With killer strategic skills and superb athleticism, these fierce belles of the court are a force to be reckoned with and would prove to the world that they are no damsels in distress. True to form, Venus Ebony Starr Williams is a gem and she continues to shine brightly even to this date.
Venus Williams dominated the world of women’s tennis, alongside her younger sister, Serena. At a young age, their father trained both of his daughters from what he learned from reading tennis books and watching tennis videos. Their training ground would be the public courts, where the grounds were full of potholes and the courts were missing nets. It was in this tough and crude environment that Venus and her sister would learn to persevere in the face of adversity and grow to be the powerhouses of tennis as we know them today.
The older Williams sister developed one of the meanest and powerful serves in the history of women’s tennis. In fact, it was this very weapon that had secured her win in the United States Tennis Association Junior Tour. At fourteen, she had turned pro and during her first match, she would prove to the world that she certainly knew her stuff by defeating Shaun Stafford. From then, the world of tennis would be changed forever.
Stunning her opponents with her lightning fast serve, Venus, together with her sister, would later break the mold of the women’s tennis division. Both of them certainly didn’t let their being women of color stop them from dominating the world of tennis. Although these two would sometimes show bouts of sibling rivalry, they would form a formidable tag team that would prove unstoppable on the courts. We simply can’t help but be amazed by the raw talent that both of them exhibit.
To date, Williams would work as a motivator to women of all ages and race. This proud African superstar knows where she has been, and acknowledges her roots. After all, her career started in the run-down public courts. From humble beginnings and after being thrown into the spotlight at an early age, this stellar athlete emphasizes the importance of determination and perseverance as the key in achieving true greatness. And in the world of modern tennis, no one has redefined the women’s tennis division with her fiery tenacity and strength.