Serena makes 2010 TIME 100 List

Serena is #19 on the 2010 TIME 100 "Heroes" List:

Serena Williams is one of those rare champions who have transcended sports and impacted our society. In tennis, she is as focused as she has ever been at any point in her career, and it shows. (She recently picked up her 12th Grand Slam title, the same number I won.)

But in addition to the people who follow her on the court, she has a growing legion of fans outside the sport. Serena, 28, is committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Her work with children in Kenya and here in the U.S. stresses the importance of education.

Through her charitable efforts, people are seeing her in a larger context. She has several interests — yes, tennis is one of them — but it is this new combination of success on the court and stability in her life that is creating new opportunities, for her and the people whose lives she touches.

By: Billie Jean King

King, a tennis champ and social-justice pioneer, is a co-founder of World Team Tennis and the founder of the Women's Sports Foundation.

Serena spends 100th week at #1

Nineteen players have held the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's No.1 ranking, but only six of them had done it for 100 weeks - until now. Serena Williams became the seventh player ever to hit triple digits at the top this week.

Williams spent her first 57 weeks at No.1 from July 8, 2002 to August 10, 2003; it took her over five years to return to the top of the rankings but she did it, spending four more from September 8 to October 5, 2008; 11 more from February 2 to April 19, 2009; two more from October 12 to 25, 2009; and now, having returned there on November 2, 2009, her 26th straight (and 100th overall).

Williams is preceded in the '100 Club' by fellow Tour legends Steffi Graf (377), Martina Navratilova (332), Chris Evert (260), Martina Hingis (209), Monica Seles (178) and the still active Justine Henin (117).

Williams is a 12-time Grand Slam champion, winning five Australian Opens (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010), one French Open (2002), three Wimbledons (2002, 2003, 2009) and three US Opens (1999, 2002, 2008).

Article courtesy of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website

Serena attends opening of "American Idiot"

Serena Williams attends the Broadway Opening of "American Idiot" at the Roseland Ballroom on April 20, 2010 in New York City.

Venus and Serena to speak at Best of Preps

Two of the world's most recognized professional athletes, Venus and Serena Williams, will be the guest speakers for this year's Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps awards banquet.

The annual banquet, which honors hundreds of area high school athletes, will be held June 10 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Tickets go on sale today and you can purchase them directly by clicking this link to our best of preps web page. Last year the event featured record-smashing swimmer Michael Phelps, who has won 14 Olympic gold medals.

Serena Williams currently is ranked as the No. 1 women's singles tennis player in the world, while her sister is No. 4. The Williams sisters have combined to win 32 Grand Slam titles -- including 11 as a doubles team -- and three Olympic gold medals. Serena has won more than $30 million playing tennis, and Venus has earned more than $25 million in prize money, making them the top two female money winners in professional sports history.

They won 2009 doubles championships at three of the four Grand Slam events -- the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open -- and Serena is the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon singles champion. She has won more Grand Slam titles than any other active female player (12). The sisters have played each other in 23 professional matches dating back to 1998, with Serena winning 13 of those. Their meeting in the final of the 2001 U.S. Open was the first Grand Slam final contested by two sisters in the open era.

"It's an honor for the Chattanooga Times Free Press to have the ability to bring world-renowned athletes to town for our annual 'Best of Preps' awards program," said Jason Taylor, president of the newspaper. "We know that these experiences assist in shaping athletes as they prepare themselves for the future. Nothing pleases us more than being able to honor the region's top athletes, and we look forward to welcoming Venus and Serena Williams to Chattanooga.

Serena approaches another milestone

Her cranky left knee prevented her from playing recent tournaments in Miami and Charleston, but Serena Williams continues to close in on a milestone.

Next week, she will surpass Lindsay Davenport's career weeks as the No. 1-ranked player (98) and is projected to become the seventh player in Sony Ericsson WTA history to reach the century mark. She'll join Steffi Graf (377), Martina Navratilova (332), Chris Evert (260), Martina Hingis (209), Monica Seles (178) and Justine Henin (117).

Serena first reached No. 1 in July 2002, when she wrested it from her sister Venus in the midst of four consecutive major victories. Then, after reigning for 57 weeks, Serena was supplanted at the top by Kim Clijsters.

It was more than five years before she returned at No. 1, in the wake of her 2008 U.S. Open victory. The 265-week gap between holding the No. 1 ranking is the longest in tennis history. Andre Agassi went 177 weeks, between February 1996 and July 1999, while Evert (156 weeks) and Davenport (144 weeks) also experienced prolonged sabbaticals.

- Article by: Greg Garber / ESPN.com

FINALLY: Serena to make return at Italian Open

ROME — Top-ranked Serena Williams has asked for and received a wild-card entry for next month's Italian Open, signaling that she's ready to return from a lingering knee injury. Having been sidelined since her Australian Open title in January, Williams originally did not enter the tournament in Rome, which begins May 3 and is a key clay-court warmup for the French Open. Williams won the Italian Open in 2002 en route to her only title at Roland Garros. Tournament organizers announced the wild card for Williams on Tuesday, adding that nine of the top 10 women have entered, with No. 10 Kim Clijsters the only exception.

Serena withdraws from Family Circle Cup

Serena Williams has pulled out of this month's Family Circle Cup for a second straight year, this time due to a continuing knee injury. Williams hasn't played since winning the Australian Open earlier this year, when she beat Justine Henin in the final. Williams won the Family Circle Cup in 2008.

"I was really hoping my knee would heal in time to play the Family Circle Cup, as it's one of my favorite stops on the Tour," said Williams. "Unfortunately my knee has not fully healed in time and I am now looking forward to returning to the WTA Tour in Europe. I wish the tournament, players and fans a great week." Last year, Williams pulled out of the event due to a left leg injury.

Defending champion Sabine Lisicki of Germany also withdrew due to a left ankle injury. Last year, she upended Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the final in Charleston. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to defend my title. It's heartbreaking for me to not be able to come back," said Lisicki. "I'm sorry, but I hope to be back next year to get the great support in Charleston and win the nice trophy again."

I saw Serena earlier today (kinda) LOL

As I was traveling to Charleston, South Carolina (accompanying a friend to a doctor's appointment) we were talking and suddenly saw Serena! We were passing through Daniel's Island (the site of next week's Family Circle Cup). After the appointment, we traveled to the actual facility to "walk along the road of Champions"(images of previous champions flapping in the wind from light poles) and took the follow pics:

Serena and Common attend "Date Night" Premiere

Serena Williams and her boyfriend (rap star) Common, real name Lonnie Rashid Lynn, made an appearance at the opening of his new movie, Date Night, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. Common plays Detective Collins in the new comedy.

Serena back at the beach

Serena: Out and about in Miami

Serena Williams and Lala Vasquez pose with Kelly Rowland at the launch of Kelly's "I Heart My Girlfriends" charity in Miami.

Serena questionable for Italian Open

ROME — Top-ranked Serena Williams has not entered the Italian Open, although she could still play as a wild card.

Williams has been sidelined with a knee injury since her Australian Open title in January. Williams won in 2002 in Rome, a key clay-court warmup for the French Open, en route to her only title at Roland Garros. Tournament director Sergio Palmieri told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he spoke with Williams in Miami recently, and she asked him to hold a wild-card spot open in case she decides to play. The tournament begins May 3.

Serena out of Marbella

The second edition of the Andalucia Tennis Experience is about to get underway, but one of its biggest star- the World Number One Serena Williams has officially announced that she has had to pull out of the Andalucia Tennis Experience to be held in Marbella from April 3rd to 11th.

Williams has been one of the much renowned international faces for this tournament but she was absent from the circuit since the Australian Open (in January) the knee trouble that’s kept her out is still bothering her. She had decided to make a comeback in Marbella, but the persistence of her injury has finally forced her to pull out of the tournament.

“It’s a real pity that we won't be seeing Serena. I know she’s made every effort to be fit enough to make it, but in the end it just wasn’t possible, commented Tournament Director Conchita Martinez in a press statement.