Venus and Serena Williams

Venus and Serena (http://youbeenblinded.com)

The biography I chose to read was about Venus and Serena Williams. Serena was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw Michigan. Venus was born on June 17, 1980 in Lynwood California. These girls have a mother Oracene, and a father Richard. Also, Venus and Serena have three other sisters; Yelunde, Isha, and Lyndrea. Venus and Serena are amazing tennis players. They are both my heroes.

Serena and Venus (www.ballhype.com)

There are many interesting events that these girls have gone through in their life. First, in 1984, Venus and Serena’s dad took her to play tennis for the first time when she was four and a half, and Serena was three. Next, when Venus was ten she became a Southern California legend. Serena was not far behind. In 1991, Venus and Serena’s tennis coach, Rick Macci, entered both girls in the The Rick Macci International Tennis Academy. After that, in 1993, Richard and Oracene withdrew both Venus and Serena from Carver Middle School in Delray Beach, and taught them at home. Also, in 1993, Venus traveled to Baltimore and teamed up with Jimmy Connors in a doubles match. Serena battled and won against Cal Rikin and his brother Billy. In 1995, Venus went to California to play her first professional tournament.

Venus and Serena Williams (http://z.about.com/)

There are several events that happened in 1997. The first event was that Venus lost to the championship to Martha Hingis, 6-0, 6-4. Another thing that happened was that Venus went on a ten day trip to Russia to play on the Ladies Kremlin Cup. Also, Serena made her pro debut at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, losing in the first round to Kimberly Po, 6-3, 7-6. The last event that was in 1997, Serena broke her wrist while riding her skateboard on the sidewalk, so it was difficult to continue to compete in tournaments. In 1998, Venus graduated from Driftwood Academy, a 30-student private high school in Lake Park, Fla. Serena graduated from Driftwood the following August. They both maintained a 3.0-plus GPA. 1998 was a big year because the William sisters had to battle against each other for the first time as pros. Venus won 6-1. 1999 was a great year for Serena because she broke into the top ten for the first time coming in at number nine. In 2000, Venus returned from her five month break from not being able to play competitive tennis at the Betty Barclay Cup, a French Open, She lost to Amanda Coelzer. (In 2001, a landmark U.S Open for both sisters.) Finally, in 2002, Serena won the third all Williams Grand Slam final in ten months, defeating Venus, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to capture her first Wimbledon Championship.

There were many hardships and struggles that these girls have gone through. One of them was that Venus and Serena’s Grandma died in 1985. Both girls were very close with their Grandma and were very upset. At age five, Venus got her racquet taken away for over a year and got it back at age six, and seven months. Their parents withdrew Venus and Serena from their middle school in 1993. From 1991-1995, Venus couldn’t play competitive tennis because her father said that she was “too good.” There are a lot of major accomplishments in these girls’ life. First, Venus became a professional tennis player at age fourteen. Venus won against 25-year-old Shaun Stafford and won $5,350. Another major event was that Serena became pro at age fourteen as well. The last major event is that Serena signed a five-year deal with Puma that came with a high risk. It would be worth twelve million dollars if she beat the top ten. She did fifteen months later.

These girls are extraordinary tennis players. They both are my heroes because tennis is my favorite sport as well as theirs. Some characteristics about Venus is that she is confident because she is always confident on and off the court. Also, she is very courageous because she never gives up. Venus is a very smart girl. She got a 3.0 plus a GPA. The last characteristic of Venus that I chose is dedicated. She is dedicated to tennis a lot. Serena on the other hand, is very shy. She doesn’t like showing her feelings around other people. Also, she is a very caring person and is willing to help out anyone. Just like Venus, she is also very smart and got a 3.0 plus a GPA. Serena is also extremely dedicated to tennis just like her sister. To this day, Venus and Serena are both alive and still playing tennis. What I learned is that if you have a dream then you have to do everything in your power to pursue it and never give up!