1981), a 23-time major singles champion, both of whom were coached from an early age by their parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price.
[1] When the sport was introduced as a form of leisurely activity in the United States, “many clubs would not allow women to be members” (Smith & Hattery, 76).
2 on singles, respectively, marking the first time in history that sisters occupied the top two positions.
They became the first two players, female or male, to contest four consecutive major singles finals, from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open; Serena famously won all four to complete the first of two "Serena Slams" (non-calendar year Grand Slams).
Moreover, the duo achieved a non-calendar year Grand Slam in doubles between 2009 Wimbledon and 2010 Roland Garros, which made them the co-No.
Venus partnered with American Chanda Rubin and lost in the first round to eventual gold-medalists Sun Tiantian and Li Ting.
As Richard Williams and Venus made their way to their seats, the crowd booed, and some spectators yelled verbal jabs.
"[3][4] Oracene Price (mother and coach of Venus and Serena) accused the crowd of "taking off their hoods".
[5] After the initial controversy, neither Williams sister played the tournament in Indian Wells for 14 years.
The Women's Tennis Association currently classifies the Indian Wells tournament as a Premier Mandatory event for all eligible players.
[3] Allegations had been made before Venus's withdrawal that Richard Williams decided who won the matches between his daughters.
But I looked up and all I could see was a sea of rich people—mostly older, mostly white—standing and booing lustily, like some kind of genteel lynch mob.
It's become a mandatory tournament on the tour, meaning that the WTA can fine a player if she doesn't attend.
But I don't care if they fine me a million dollars, I will not play there again.However, on February 3, 2015, Serena Williams wrote an exclusive column for Time magazine stating her intentions to return to Indian Wells for a tournament on March 9, 2015.
[9] The WTA announced on January 27, 2016, that Venus would return to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years.