It's easy for those new to the tennis world to hear the name 'Williams' and instantly think of Serena. And it's little wonder, when she's been crowned the greatest athlete of all time and a style icon unto herself. But after it was announced that the Serena-ssaince (i.e. her return to tennis from retirement) would include returning to doubles with her sister Venus – well, we couldn't help but pipe up about how much we adore her too.
Venus Williams has always occupied a lane entirely her own. If Serena's style is often remembered for its drama and spectacle, Venus's has been defined by experimentation, individuality and a kind of unwavering commitment to doing things on her own terms. Long before athlete-founded fashion labels became commonplace, she was sketching designs, studying fashion and imagining a future that stretched far beyond the baseline.
Her relationship with style has always been deeply personal. In 2007, she launched EleVen, a brand built around the idea that performance and self-expression shouldn't exist in separate worlds. The label became an extension of her own approach to dressing, both on and off the court. While the sport has historically favoured restraint, Venus often gravitated towards pieces that felt playful, fashion-forward and distinctly hers.
Some of her most memorable looks arrived during an era when women's tennis uniforms were still largely expected to blend into the background. There were asymmetric hems, cut-out details, lace embellishments and floaty dresses inspired by heroes like Tina Turner. Whether embraced or criticised, her choices consistently expanded the conversation around what female athletes could wear and who got to decide. Like her sister, Venus understood that clothing could communicate something larger than aesthetics alone.
In a Tina Turner-inspired dress at Wimbledon, 2010
Wearing a fringed black dress by her own brand, EleVen at the 2010 US Open
With sister Serena Williams during their historic first professional matchup at the 1998 Australian Open
In the sheer 'Firecracker Dress', also at the 2010 US Open
Venus in Reebok at the 2004 Arthur Ashe Kids' Day in New York City
Wearing a distinctive lacy, corset-inspired dress designed by her own brand, EleVen, during the 2010 French Open
Wearing a white Reebok tennis outfit with sister, Serena at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships
Wearing Reebok at the 2001 US Open Women's Singles Final with sister, Serena
In a black babydoll style dress for the 2011 US Open
On court in pink snakeskin EleVen at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio
In purple for Reebok at the 2005 US Open
Classic in white at Wimbledon in 2003
Competing in a World TeamTennis (WTT) match
In Reebok at Wimbledon in 1999
