英语名人堂：维纳斯·威廉姆斯
她是同时代女网天后塞雷娜·威廉姆斯的亲生姐姐，所以通常称呼她为“大威廉姆斯”，简称“大威”。大威廉姆斯相对于妹妹小威来说，她对关键分的把握能力较强，在一发失误的情况下依然敢打敢拼，掌握主动权。[2]
1994年开始了自己的网球生涯，首次参加WTA职业比赛，2000年获得温网，美网冠军，2000年悉尼奥运会单打双打金牌双料得主。[1] 2002年，首度登上单打世界排名第一，截止到2014年7届女单大满贯得主，2008年成为第11位登上WTA单打排名第1的选手，2010年，完成了女双的跨年度大满贯，登上女双世界第一。2014年，在迪拜收获了第45个单打冠军。[3]
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of the most successful women ever to play tennis. She is a former World No. 1, and always a serious threat on court. She is likely to win a tournament even if her ranking is low. She has also met with success off the court as the CEO of two companies she started.
Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1980. She started playing tennis from a very young age with her four sisters. Her father recognized that both Venus and little sister Serena were outstanding players. She built up an amazing record of being unbeaten in 63 matches in girls’ tournaments, andaged ten, won the Southern California girls' under-12 title.
Venus moved with her family to Florida to train at a tennis academy. By the time she was thirteen, major sports companies were offering her sponsorship deals. She turned pro at 14 and nearly beat the world number 2 in her debut tournament. Venus made it to the final at her debut US Open in 1997 but lost in straight sets.
Venus won her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2000 and her 16th in 2008. This outstanding achievement makes her one of the all-time greats. In 2006, Williams led and won a campaign for women to receive the same prize money as men at Wimbledon and was backed by the British government. Her successful interior design company and fashion lines also show she is a winner.
