The new movie King Richard offers a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, as well as the coach who helped them achieve their dreams – their father, Richard Williams. The Williams sisters have been staples of the tennis scene for decades – it’s almost hard to remember when they weren’t dominating the courts! Back in the ’90s, though, they were just a pair of up-and-coming teenage sensations who burst onto the scene and started climbing the ranks into tennis history.
To celebrate the movie’s release (and the Williams sisters’ incredible, still-ongoing careers), we’re looking back at some of their earliest moments on the public stage. Take a look back at Venus and Serena’s beginnings, as well as a few rare pictures of them with their out-of-the-spotlight father back in the day.
Getty / Ken Levine
Serena Williams at the Nancy Reagan Tennis Tournament in 1990
Getty / Paul Harris
Venus, Richard, and Serena Williams in Compton in 1991
Getty / Paul Harris
Richard Williams Coaching Serena in 1991
Getty / Paul Harris
Richard Williams Coaching Venus in 1991
Getty / Paul Harris
Serena and Venus Williams Shaking Hands After a Match in 1991
Getty / Ken Levine
Serena, Richard, and Venus Williams at a Florida Tennis Camp in 1992
Getty / Ken Levine
Serena, Venus, and Richard Williams at a Florida Tennis Camp in 1992
Getty / Ken Levine
Richard Williams in Florida in 1992
Getty / Ken Levine
Richard Williams in Florida in 1992
Getty / Ken Levine
Venus and Serena Williams in 1992
Getty / Al Bello
Venus Williams Competing at the Bank of the West Classic in 1994
Getty / Al Bello
Venus Williams Competing at the Bank of the West Classic in 1994
Getty / Clive Brunskill
Venus Williams Competing at the US Open in 1997
Getty / Don Emmert
Venus Williams Competing at the US Open in 1997
Getty / Frank Leonhardt
Venus Williams Competing at Wimbledon in 1997
Getty / Gary M Prior / Gary M. Prior
Venus Williams Competing at the French Open in 1997
Getty / Al Bello
Serena Williams Competing at the US Open in 1998
Getty / Carol Newsome
Serena Williams Competing at the US Open in 1998
Getty / Clive Brunskill
Serena Williams Competing at the French Open in 1998
Getty / Gary M. Prior
Serena Williams Competing at the Australian Open in 1998
Getty / Clive Brunskill
Venus Williams Competing at the Australian Open in 1998
Getty / Clive Brunskill
Venus and Serena Williams at Practice in 1998
Getty / Greg Wood
Venus and Serena Williams at the Australia Open in 1998
Getty / Roberto Schmidt
Richard Williams Congratulating Venus at the Lipton Championships in 1998
Getty / Gary M. Prior
Venus Williams Competing at the Grand Slam Cup in 1998
Getty / Mike Nelson
Serena Williams Celebrating Victory at the Evert Cup With Richard and Venus in 1999
Getty / Jack Atley
Serena Williams Competing at the Australian Open in 1999
Getty / Robert Sullivan
Richard Williams at the Lipton Championships in 1999
Getty / Alex Livesey
Venus Williams Competing at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in 1999
Getty / John G. Mabanglo
Serena Williams Competing at the Fed Cup in 1999
Getty / William Stevens
Venus Williams at the French Open in 1999
Getty / Mike Nelson
Serena Williams Competing at the Evert Cup in 1999
Getty / Al Bello
Venus Williams Competing at the US Open in 1999
Getty / Clive Brunskill
Serena Williams Competing at the US Open in 1999
Getty / Matt Campbell
Serena Williams Celebrating a Win at the US Open in 1999
Getty / Jamie Squire
Serena Williams With Her Trophy at the US Open in 1999
Getty / Hector Mata
Richard Williams Congratulating Serena at the Evert Cup in 1999
Getty / Clive Brunskill
Venus and Serena Williams With Their Trophies at the Grand Slam Cup in 1999
Getty / Bernie Nunez
Venus and Serena Williams at the US Open in 1999
Getty / Al Bello
Venus and Serena Williams With Their Doubles Trophy at the US Open in 1999
