Serena Williams' tennis career in photos: 11 sports photographers on capturing the GOAT through the years

Meredith CashSep 22, 2022, 18:44 IST

Serena Williams celebrates a win at Wimbledon in 2016.Getty/Clive Brunskill

Serena Williams — the 23-time Grand Slam champion widely considered tennis' greatest athlete of all time — stepped off the court for the final time at this year's US Open.
Insider spoke with 11 of Getty Images' top sports photographers about the iconic images they've taken of Williams and what it was like to capture her storied tennis career.

1998: Serena Williams hits a backhand shot during the 1998 US Open.

Al Bello/Getty Images

1999: Serena Williams holds up her trophy after winning her very first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2002: Serena Williams points to her name on the Women's Singles Champions roll of honor after her first victory at Wimbledon.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

2004: Serena Williams competes at the 2004 US Open wearing a denim skirt.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

2005: Serena Williams in action during her first-round match at the 2005 Australian Open.

Adam Pretty/Getty Images

2011: Serena Williams prepares to serve the ball during her fourth-round match at Wimbledon in 2011.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2012: Serena Williams plays a forehand shot in her first-round match at the 2012 French Open.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

2012: Serena Williams jumps for joy after winning her third-round match at Wimbledon.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2012: Serena Williams poses with her gold medal after winning the women's singles competition at the 2012 London Olympics.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2012: Serena Williams focuses during her second-round match at the 2012 US Open.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2013: Serena Williams strikes the ball from behind the baseline during her 2013 US Open semifinal match.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2013: Serena Williams leaps into the air to celebrate winning the 2013 US Open title.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2014: Serena Williams serves during her first-round match at Wimbledon in 2014.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2014: Serena Williams reacts to winning the 2014 US Open title.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2015: Serena Williams screams after winning a point in her second-round match at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, Italy.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

2015: Serena Williams serves the ball during her semifinal match at the French Open.

Dan Istitene/Getty Images

2015: Serena Williams poses with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy after winning the final at the French Open.

Dan Istitene/Getty Images

2016: Serena Williams lets out a roar after winning a point during the 2016 Wimbledon final.

Adam Pretty/Getty Images

2016: Serena Williams plays a forehand in her first-round match at the Australian Open.

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

2016: Serena Williams celebrates winning a point in her first-round match at the Australian Open.

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

2016: Serena Williams returns a shot during her fourth-round match at the 2016 US Open.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

2017: Serena Williams serves in her third-round match at the 2017 Australian Open.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2017: Serena Williams celebrates winning her quarterfinal match at the 2017 Australian Open.

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

2017: Serena Williams prepares for a game during her 2017 Australian Open semifinal match.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2017: Serena Williams stretches out to play a backhand during the 2017 Australian Open final.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2017: Serena Williams falls to the floor after winning championship point in the 2017 Australian Open final. She later revealed she was two months pregnant while competing for her 23rd Grand Slam title.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2017: Serena Williams falls to the floor after winning championship point in the 2017 Australian Open final. She later revealed she was two months pregnant while competing for her 23rd Grand Slam title.

2017: Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the 2017 Australian Open final.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2018: A frustrated Serena Williams kneels on the court after losing a point during the 2018 Wimbledon final.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

2018: Serena Williams hugs Angelique Kerber after losing in the 2018 Wimbledon final.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

2018: Serena Williams returns the ball during her first-round match at the 2018 US Open.

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

2018: Sisters Venus Williams (left) and Serena Williams change ends during their third-round match at the 2018 US Open.

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

2018: Serena Williams serves to Naomi Osaka during the 2018 US Open final.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2018: Serena Williams argues with umpire Carlos Ramos during her finals match against Naomi Osaka at the 2018 US Open.

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

2019: Serena Williams looks down at the court during her quarterfinal match at the 2019 Australian Open.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2019: Serena Williams plays a backhand during her third-round match at the 2019 French Open.

Adam Pretty/Getty Images

2019: Serena Williams returns a shot during her third-round match at the 2019 US Open.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2019: Serena Williams hits a shot in full stride during her third-round match at the 2019 US Open.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2021: Serena Williams hits a shot during her fourth-round match at the 2021 Australian Open.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2022: Serena Williams waves goodbye to the crowd at the 2022 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.

Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

2022: Serena Williams offers the crowd at Arthur Ashe her signature twirl after winning her first-round match at the 2022 US Open.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2022: Serena Williams celebrates winning a point in the final match of her 2022 US Open run.

Al Bello/Getty Images

2022: Serena Williams waves to the crowd before leaving the court at the US Open one final time.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

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Serena Williams' tennis career in photos: 11 sports photographers on capturing the GOAT through the years

1998: Serena Williams hits a backhand shot during the 1998 US Open.

1999: Serena Williams holds up her trophy after winning her very first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open.

2002: Serena Williams points to her name on the Women's Singles Champions roll of honor after her first victory at Wimbledon.

2004: Serena Williams competes at the 2004 US Open wearing a denim skirt.

2005: Serena Williams in action during her first-round match at the 2005 Australian Open.

2011: Serena Williams prepares to serve the ball during her fourth-round match at Wimbledon in 2011.

2012: Serena Williams plays a forehand shot in her first-round match at the 2012 French Open.

2012: Serena Williams jumps for joy after winning her third-round match at Wimbledon.

2012: Serena Williams poses with her gold medal after winning the women's singles competition at the 2012 London Olympics.

2012: Serena Williams focuses during her second-round match at the 2012 US Open.

2013: Serena Williams strikes the ball from behind the baseline during her 2013 US Open semifinal match.

2013: Serena Williams leaps into the air to celebrate winning the 2013 US Open title.

2014: Serena Williams serves during her first-round match at Wimbledon in 2014.

2014: Serena Williams reacts to winning the 2014 US Open title.

2015: Serena Williams screams after winning a point in her second-round match at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, Italy.

2015: Serena Williams serves the ball during her semifinal match at the French Open.

2015: Serena Williams poses with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy after winning the final at the French Open.

2016: Serena Williams lets out a roar after winning a point during the 2016 Wimbledon final.

2016: Serena Williams plays a forehand in her first-round match at the Australian Open.

2016: Serena Williams celebrates winning a point in her first-round match at the Australian Open.

2016: Serena Williams returns a shot during her fourth-round match at the 2016 US Open.

2017: Serena Williams serves in her third-round match at the 2017 Australian Open.

2017: Serena Williams celebrates winning her quarterfinal match at the 2017 Australian Open.

2017: Serena Williams prepares for a game during her 2017 Australian Open semifinal match.

2017: Serena Williams stretches out to play a backhand during the 2017 Australian Open final.

2017: Serena Williams falls to the floor after winning championship point in the 2017 Australian Open final. She later revealed she was two months pregnant while competing for her 23rd Grand Slam title.

2017: Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the 2017 Australian Open final.

2018: A frustrated Serena Williams kneels on the court after losing a point during the 2018 Wimbledon final.

2018: Serena Williams hugs Angelique Kerber after losing in the 2018 Wimbledon final.

2018: Serena Williams returns the ball during her first-round match at the 2018 US Open.

2018: Sisters Venus Williams (left) and Serena Williams change ends during their third-round match at the 2018 US Open.

2018: Serena Williams serves to Naomi Osaka during the 2018 US Open final.

2018: Serena Williams argues with umpire Carlos Ramos during her finals match against Naomi Osaka at the 2018 US Open.

2019: Serena Williams looks down at the court during her quarterfinal match at the 2019 Australian Open.

2019: Serena Williams plays a backhand during her third-round match at the 2019 French Open.

2019: Serena Williams returns a shot during her third-round match at the 2019 US Open.

2019: Serena Williams hits a shot in full stride during her third-round match at the 2019 US Open.

2021: Serena Williams hits a shot during her fourth-round match at the 2021 Australian Open.

2022: Serena Williams waves goodbye to the crowd at the 2022 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.

2022: Serena Williams offers the crowd at Arthur Ashe her signature twirl after winning her first-round match at the 2022 US Open.

2022: Serena Williams celebrates winning a point in the final match of her 2022 US Open run.

2022: Serena Williams waves to the crowd before leaving the court at the US Open one final time.