Venus and Serena

Venus and Serena Williams were born a little more than a year apart. Venus was born in Lynwood, CA. on June 17, 1980, and Serena was born September 26, 1981 in Saganaw, Michigan. They were raised in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles. Their childhood was not exactly glamorous, but they were a tight-knit family, and held tightly together.

Venus and Serena took to the sport of tennis at an early age. Their father Richard took them to a tennis court for the first time when they were three and four years old.

In 1991, they were enrolled in Rick Macci's Tennis Academy; but shortly after, their father, who was their coach and manager pulled them out of the school. He wanted to make sure that the girls were getting the education that they needed before they began competing in any tennis competitions. Their mother was their teacher as they were home-schooled.

At the age of 14, Venus turned pro. She won her first match against Shaun Stafford at the Bank of the West Classic in California.

Serena turned pro in 1995, and conducted a clinic with Venus and Richard for the California Tennis Association. This later became the Venus and Serena William Tutorial Tennis Academy.

By the time the girls had graduated, they were both rich, and making millions of dollars. The story of Venus and Serena is one that is amazing and inspiring. Many amateurs look up to Venus and Serena because they beat the odds of all of the negatives that were against them. Their story is one that everyone should know. It teaches a life lesson that no matter where you're from, you can make it in life!