Venus Williams set to receive a Barbie doll as part of the Women Inspirations series.
Venus Williams Makes History on the WTA Tour at 45
Venus Williams, the legendary tennis player, has once again made headlines by returning to the WTA Tour at the age of 45 and securing a victory in her first match. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as Williams became the oldest winner in the women's tour since Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004, at the age of 47.
However, Williams' recent triumph came after a setback at the Cincinnati Masters last week. She was unable to advance past the first round, losing to Spanish player Jessica Bouzas 6-4, 6-4. In the second round of the same tournament, Williams was eliminated by Magdalena Frech.
Despite these results, Williams' impact on the tennis world continues to be felt. She is being honoured with a Barbie doll in the Inspiring Women collection, which will be released on August 15th, 2022. The doll will celebrate Williams' victory at Wimbledon in 2007, where she won her fifth of seven Grand Slam titles.
The Venus Williams Barbie doll will wear an outfit similar to the one she wore during her Wimbledon victory, and will feature a green gem necklace, a wristband, a tennis racket, and a tennis ball.
Throughout her career, Venus Williams has achieved numerous significant milestones. She has won 49 WTA Tour-level singles titles, with 7 Grand Slam singles titles: 5 at Wimbledon and 2 at the US Open. Williams has also earned 22 doubles titles, including 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, primarily partnering with her sister Serena Williams.
Williams is the first African American woman to be ranked world No. 1 in women's singles in the Open era (and second overall after Althea Gibson), holding the ranking for 11 weeks. She has won three Olympic gold medals: a singles gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and doubles golds with Serena at the 2000, 2008, and 2012 Olympics.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Williams has been a trailblazer for race and gender equality in tennis. She has reached four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals between 2002 and 2003 and made a comeback to reach major finals again in 2017 at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Williams is also recognised for her powerful serve since childhood, which helped her dominate junior circuits and later the professional tour. She holds the record of becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis at age 45 in 2025.
Off the court, Williams has led efforts to advocate for pay equity at Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Her achievements collectively establish her as one of the most successful and influential players in tennis history.
Eight other female athletes were also honoured with customized Barbie dolls as part of Barbie's 65th anniversary celebration. The names of these athletes are: Rebeca Andrade, Alexa Moreno, Mary Fowler, Christine Sinclair, Estelle Mossely, Federica Pellegrini, Susana Rodriguez, and Ewa Swoboda.
This is the second Barbie doll for Venus Williams, with the first one released in May 2024. The cost of the Venus Williams Barbie doll has not been disclosed at this time.
