Serena Williams is arguably the greatest of all time with 23 Grand Slams and a total of 73 singles titles. However, this journey was a hard-fought one that began nearly 20 years ago, as Serena slowly started to make her way to the top. From clinching her first major title at the 1999 US Open up until the time she hung up her racquet, Serena made quite a legacy. And to that, she owes it all to her incredible support system.

In 2007, Williams staged a stunning comeback, entering the Australian Open ranked 81st after a knee injury sidelined her for six months. On January 28, she faced top seed Maria Sharapova in the final, winning decisively 6–1, 6–2, silencing her critics in just 63 minutes. “I hadn’t won a tournament in a long time,” she reflected later at the post-match conference. “You know, you’re thinking about, ‘Wow, will there be another time?’”

This victory marked the end of a two-year winless streak for Serena. She fought through adversity and emerged victorious on one of tennis’s biggest stages. But she didn’t forget those who supported her along the way. “Since day one, my parents, my mom and my dad, have always been so positive,” Williams said. “They never stopped believing in me.” Having dealt with criticism from many spectators over the years, her triumphs were not only a way to get to the top, but to prove her potential to them.

“That helps me believe in me. Venus, as well. I live with her, so I’m with her every day. We always believe in ourselves. You know, it works,” She added. The WTA star has always expressed deep gratitude for her family, especially during her farewell match at the 2022 US Open. Despite losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, she emotionally acknowledged her father, Richard, and thanked her mother, Oracene Price, as tears filled her eyes. She concluded by crediting her sister, who grew with her in the sport since the beginning, “I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus. Thank you, Venus.”

While Serena’s legacy speaks volumes, it was her 2007 AO performance that silenced her doubters. At that moment, Serena Williams reclaimed her spot among the elite and reminded everyone of the power of resilience and family support in overcoming challenges. Something that she proudly proclaims to this day on her social media through her posts. But what were the hardships the GOAT had to overcome to earn that title?

Serena’s battle with criticism back in the day

Entering the tournament ranked 81st, few believed Serena Williams could reclaim her former glory after a knee injury sidelined her for six months in 2006. Critics were quick to label her “unfit” and “out of shape.” Williams herself admitted, “The mean-spirited comments about my fitness and game were rooted in truth. I was a little heavy – maybe twenty pounds heavier than I wanted to be at that point.” Revealing the comments in her autobiography saying, “The general consensus was that I was a big fat cow.” Yet, she silenced the doubters in the years to come.

The journey began with a shaky start at the Hobart International, where Williams was eliminated in the quarterfinals. However, once in Melbourne, she found her rhythm. After defeating No. 27 seed Mara Santangelo and Anne Kremer, she faced No. 5 seed Nadia Petrova. Down a set and trailing 5-3 in the second, Williams experienced an awakening: “There was this one point when I let out this unbelievable grunt. It was almost primal.” She rallied to win that match and continued her momentum through the tournament, dispatching Jelena Jankovic and Shahar Peer before reaching the final against top seed Sharapova.

Over the course of her career, Serena solidified her status as both a tennis legend and a fashion icon, famously wearing the controversial catsuit at the 2018 French Open to address health concerns post-childbirth. Now a mother of two, she shares her fitness journey on social media, showcasing outfits that once didn’t fit but now do.

As the Australian Open 2025 approaches, it’s fascinating to consider whether any WTA player can match the remarkable legacy Serena has built in tennis and fashion, inspiring countless fans along the way.