The final day in October marked 30 years since Venus Williams made her first professional appearance, and she reflected on the significance of that moment for her and others.
Few athletes can claim to be not only one of the greatest in their sport's history but also a revolutionary figure who helped change the style of the sport and economic fairness of it.
However, Venus is one of those people. Off the court, she played a significant role in the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, deciding to award equal prize money to female players.
The Australian Open did this in 2001, and Wimbledon and the French Open eventually followed in 2007. Billie Jean King, who was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, and others convinced the US Open to grant it in 1973.
On the court, Venus brought a powerful and aggressive baseline game the likes of which the WTA Tour had never seen before. Previous legends of the sport relied more on coming to the net or counterpunching.
The kind of explosive hitting and athleticism Venus was capable of at a young age astounded many at the time. Her sister Serena Williams, who had an even more successful career than Venus, showed the same qualities when she turned professional.
Venus and Serena also inspired millions with their stunning successes as two women of color in a predominantly white sport. They achieved this despite not coming from a wealthy background.
Coco Gauff recently stated that the sisters' influence helped her cope with sticking out like a sore thumb as a woman of color when she initially tried to make it as a professional tennis player.
Venus' first professional appearance was at the Silicon Valley Classic. Despite being just 14 years old at the time, the American won her first match against Shaun Stafford in straight sets.
She lost to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the next round in three sets, but the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion's debut remains one of the most significant moments on the WTA Tour.
In an Instagram story, the tennis legend reflected on reaching 30 years since her professional debut. Williams praised her dad's vision and is aware that her influence also changed the lives of many others.
"This day 30 years ago I bought braids, beads, and the beginning of a game never seen before in tennis, it was the vision of my dad. This day changed my life, and I had no idea at 14 years old it would change so many others."
"So proud of those who came next. Never compromise, be unapologetically and authentically you and be proud of who you are and where you come from, you never know, you might just change the game."
Incredibly, Venus' legendary career is not over after 30 years. The five-time Wimbledon winner intends to keep playing in 2025 by picking and choosing her tournaments, something she has earned the right to do after leaving such a significant mark on tennis.
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