“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We should raise each other up,” said Serena Williams last October. True to world, the tennis world has been profoundly shaped by the legendary Williams sisters, Serena and Venus. Together, they have amassed an astonishing 48 Grand Slam titles, including 30 singles and 14 doubles championships. Now their legacy inspires a new generation of players like Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Madison Keys, who share a passion for the sport ignited by the Williams sisters.

As the 2025 season kicked off, Gauff is stealing the spotlight after helping Team USA clinch the United Cup and snagging the No. 3 ranking. Keys just celebrated her first Grand Slam title at the Adelaide International, while Osaka is making a strong comeback, reaching the ASB Classic finals. Tennis journalist Bastien Fachan highlighted an intriguing connection among these champions:

“Madison Keys started playing tennis after she saw Venus Williams wear a stylish dress at Wimbledon. Naomi Osaka’s dad taught his daughters tennis after seeing Venus & Serena at Roland-Garros. Coco Gauff had Venus & Serena as role models. Now all three are Grand Slam champions!”

Naomi Osaka is making waves this season, even without a title since her 2021 Australian Open victory. After a 15-month break to welcome her daughter Shai in July 2023, she returned in 2024 but faced challenges. Reflecting on Serena’s influence, Osaka said, “She’s introduced people that have never heard of tennis into the sport. I think I’m a product of what she’s done.” Inspired by the Williams sisters, Osaka’s father envisioned opportunities for his daughters, guiding them toward professional satellite tours instead of junior tournaments.

Coco Gauff, the youngest of the three, has long admired the Williams sisters. Her tennis journey began at the 2012 US Open, where she joyfully danced during Venus Williams’ match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Gauff’s father, Corey, revealed that her passion for tennis ignited after watching Serena’s epic 2010 Australian Open win when Coco was just five. He bought her a racket that day, and now she stands as a top player with a Grand Slam title from the 2023 US Open.

Now Keys also joined the Grand Slam winners’ circle after starting her tennis journey at just four years old, inspired by Venus Williams’ stunning Wimbledon dress. In a 2011 New York Times interview, her father Rick reminisced about her early playful attempts to hit balls into the next yard. Fast forward to 2025, and Keys proudly holds the title of Australian Open champion after 16 years of dedication. Venus’ influence on Keys extended beyond technique; it was about playing with flair and style, earning her a shoutout from Serena for her achievement.

Serena Williams tips her hat to Keys for her AO victory

Madison Keys has made history by claiming her first Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, battling through a tough draw that included victories over giants like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. In the thrilling final, Keys started strong, taking the first set 6-3, but Sabalenka fought back to win the second set 6-2. However, Keys showcased her resilience, bouncing back in the decider to win 7-5. This victory has left the tennis world buzzing, even catching the attention of tennis legend Serena Williams, who took to Instagram to celebrate Keys’ achievement while sharing a powerful message about self-investment.

In her Instagram video, Williams emphasized the importance of investing in oneself, saying, “A lot of people think ‘oh investing is about you have to invest in big companies.’ Investing in big companies is great, but also investing in yourself is really, really cool and important.” She praised Keys for her dedication and hard work: “We just saw Madison Keys, congrats to her, winning the Australian Open today. She invested in herself… and today she proved she is the best in the world.”

Though Keys and Williams have faced each other three times on the court with Serena winning all encounters, Williams has consistently recognized Keys’ potential. After defeating her in 2015, Williams predicted, “I think she can be the best in the world… I definitely think she has potential to be No. 1 and win Grand Slams.”

As the season progresses, fans are eager to see what these incredible players will bring to the court. Will they continue to rise through the ranks and clinch more titles just as the Williams sisters did? With Keys now a Grand Slam champion and her career trajectory looking bright, excitement is in the air for what’s next in women’s tennis!