Serena vs. The Greatest: Iconic Rivalries in Her Career

Serena Williams, one of the most dominant forces in tennis history, engaged in some of the most iconic rivalries the sport has ever seen, battling against legends who pushed her to greatness.

[{"selector":"#anim-f562e9c8-fef5-4c7a-a732-94a31bcf3f18","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -259.66183%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -73.016906596%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -24.823670948000004%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -9.321859697%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -4.050724548%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}]

Her clashes with Venus Williams, her sister and fiercest competitor, defined an era, as they met in nine Grand Slam finals, showcasing a rare mix of sibling rivalry and mutual respect.

[{"selector":"#anim-40c25c36-b5c2-4aab-bc20-fd30cdf5b4ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Another unforgettable opponent was Maria Sharapova, whose lone Wimbledon victory over Serena in 2004 sparked a rivalry that, despite being lopsided in Serena’s favor, remained one of the most talked-about matchups in tennis.

[{"selector":"#anim-1c0079bb-3b8e-48a8-8dba-79b57eba2544","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-247716aa-602b-48b1-949c-e9c3e03d58dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Justine Henin, with her gritty play and strategic brilliance, frequently challenged Serena, particularly in Grand Slam battles where their styles clashed in electrifying encounters.

[{"selector":"#anim-8d4ba6df-fb31-4010-ae31-11397e28bc74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-212a28ec-0817-4ac4-a739-09a2de0e8bfe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -259.22705%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Serena’s duels with Victoria Azarenka produced some of the most dramatic moments, with the two meeting in multiple US Open and Grand Slam finals, each match brimming with intensity.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d6092e0-5963-4683-9b1f-c37950044bc8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a206b2ae-07af-4df3-9eac-c8b2d24f6298","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.22705%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Her battles with Naomi Osaka symbolized a generational shift in the sport, none more controversial than the 2018 US Open final, where emotions ran high amid a backdrop of disputed umpire calls.

[{"selector":"#anim-5894f600-8b04-4e9d-9d1f-2c07c97cb756","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]

Serena also faced off against the likes of Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters, legends in their own right, in pivotal moments that shaped her career and added depth to her legacy.

[{"selector":"#anim-28d4d552-1db1-41b1-9e9c-0e9301503032","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bede40b4-617b-4fd4-8a88-7e775bfec84e","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(-180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Beyond individual rivalries, Serena's competition with the broader tennis field, including stars like Simona Halep, Petra Kvitová, and Angelique Kerber, highlighted her relentless pursuit of excellence as she adapted to each opponent’s unique strengths.

[{"selector":"#anim-0aa7287d-b3f2-4e84-abd8-82052ab93463","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}]

stay connected Learn more