英語名人堂：維納斯·威廉姆斯

　　維納斯·威廉姆斯(Venus Williams)，1980年6月17日生于美國加利福尼亞州棕櫚樹城，美國女子職業(yè)網(wǎng)球運動員。[1]

　　她是同時代女網(wǎng)天后塞雷娜·威廉姆斯的親生姐姐，所以通常稱呼她為“大威廉姆斯”，簡稱“大威”。大威廉姆斯相對于妹妹小威來說，她對關(guān)鍵分的把握能力較強，在一發(fā)失誤的情況下依然敢打敢拼，掌握主動權(quán)。[2]

　　1994年開始了自己的網(wǎng)球生涯，首次參加WTA職業(yè)比賽，2000年獲得溫網(wǎng)，美網(wǎng)冠軍，2000年悉尼奧運會單打雙打金牌雙料得主。[1] 2002年，首度登上單打世界排名第一，截止到2014年7屆女單大滿貫得主，2008年成為第11位登上WTA單打排名第1的選手，2010年，完成了女雙的跨年度大滿貫，登上女雙世界第一。2014年，在迪拜收獲了第45個單打冠軍。[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.