Venus Williams: podcast appearances and interviews

Venus Ebony Starr Williams, born on June 17, 1980, is an American former professional tennis player. She has achieved the world No. 1 ranking in both women's singles and doubles. Throughout her career, Williams secured 49 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including seven Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open. She also earned a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2008 WTA Tour Championships. In doubles, she won 22 titles, including 14 at majors, often partnering with her sister Serena Williams. The duo has remained unbeaten in major doubles finals and won three Olympic gold medals in women's doubles, with Venus also earning an Olympic singles gold medal in 2000 and a mixed doubles silver in 2016. Williams turned professional in 1994 and made her first major final appearance at the 1997 US Open. She became the first African-American woman to reach the singles world No. 1 in the Open era on February 25, 2002, and was only the second woman overall after Althea Gibson. Her career has seen periods of injury and resurgence, with notable wins in 2000, 2001, and 2007, and significant finals in 2017. Along with her sister Serena, she is credited with bringing a new era of power and athleticism to women's tennis. Williams has been a season prize money leader twice and ranks among the highest in all-time career prize money winnings, having earned over US$42 million by 2025.