American women’s tennis is having a moment. Seven of the 14 titles this season have been won by players from the USA. 2025 kicked off with Coco Gauff leading Team USA to victory at the United Cup. Then came Madison Keys, pulling off a stunning win at the Australian Open. Amanda Anisimova added to the streak by grabbing her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai. Jessica Pegula got her hands on the trophy in Austin. And Emma Navarro claimed the title in Merida, Mexico. Clearly, the new wave is here. But let’s not forget who set the tone. Serena Williams has always been the heartbeat of American women’s tennis. And even after hanging up her racket, she continues to rewrite the script.
With 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, Serena Williams is still the gold standard, not just in the U.S., but across the entire tennis world. Williams won 73 WTA Tour-level singles titles and became the only player to complete a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. The tennis icon retired in 2022 after an emotional farewell at the U.S Open, but her achievements in the sport are still being recognized. Talk about impact!
She has been named the winner of the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. It is one of Spain’s top honors. It celebrates achievements across fields like arts, literature, science, and, of course, sports. The award comes with a prize of 50,000 euros (around $57,000). The decision came after a two-day jury meeting chaired by Teresa Perales in Oviedo. The jury chose her from a pool of 30 candidates from 13 different countries. The ceremony will be held this fall in Oviedo and will be presided over by Spain’s Princess Leonor.
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This win puts Serena in elite company. The last American tennis player to receive this award was Martina Navratilova in 1994. However, unfortunately, Navratilova couldn’t receive the award in person due to her commitments. The 18-time Grand Slam champion had already committed to playing an exhibition match in Slovakia when the award ceremony was to take place. In an interview Navratilova revealed, “I wasn’t notified of the award until after I had committed to the exhibition, so what am I supposed to do? Break a commitment to make another. That’s not why I’m getting an award. I’m not getting an award for breaking commitments. You know, I signed a deal and said I would play an exhibition, and that’s how it goes.”
Now, 30 years later, Serena Williams has become the second American tennis player to win it. She’s also just the fifth American overall to get the award. Before her, it was Carl Lewis (1996), Lance Armstrong (2000), the New York Marathon (2014), and Lindsey Vonn (2019). She also joins the shortlist of tennis legends to have received it — Martina Navratilova (1994), Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1998), Steffi Graf (1999), and Rafael Nadal (2008).
Not bad company to keep, right? But wait, she isn’t done yet. This month, Williams added another shiny badge to her collection.
Serena Williams receives huge honor from U.S. Olympic Committee
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has officially inducted Serena Williams into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. She’s part of the Class of 2025 and will be honored in a ceremony on July 12 in Colorado Springs.Team USA shared it on Instagram, writing, “No one else has done it like @serenawilliams: a Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. The Queen of the Court takes her throne in the #TeamUSAHOF.”
Williams shared the news on her Instagram story beaming with pride at the achievement. Joining the 43-year-old tennis icon in the Class of 2025 are Gabby Douglas, Allyson Felix, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Bode Miller, Steve Cash, Susan Hagel, and Marla Runyan. It’s a class full of American legends — and Serena fits right in. Her Olympic record speaks for itself. She has four gold medals — one in singles and three in doubles with her sister Venus. That includes the 2000 Sydney Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2012 London Olympics. Her singles gold in London was one of the biggest highlights of her career.
From a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles to now winning prestigious awards across continents, Serena Williams continues to make history. Even in retirement, Serena Williams’ legacy is growing louder. What record-breaking chapter will she add to her legacy next?
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