Serena Williams turned 42 on Tuesday, but the multiple Grand Slam champion didn’t celebrate her birthday.

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Serena Williams does not celebrate her birthday: this is a tradition of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Having retired from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open, Serena did not celebrate her birthday as her family does not believe in this tradition.

Where does this idea come from?

Serena explained that both she and sister Venus were raised in the spirit of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and an important aspect of this faith is that those who practice this religion do not celebrate birthdays.

Serena and Venus followed their mother, Orasen Price, and embraced the religion in the early 80s.

“Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me,” Serena Williams once said.

In addition, the ex-WTA leader stated at the press conference that she did not celebrate the first birthday of her daughter Olympia (she has two young daughters: Alexis Olympia and Adira River Ohanyan). “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we don’t do things like that.” – Serena Williams.

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Serena Williams and the Grand Slam titles

During an impressive career, Serena collected 23 major titles. One less than Margaret Court, but also one more than the legendary Steffi Graf.

The American won seven times at the Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017), three times at Roland Garros (2002, 2013, 2015), seven times at Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) and six times at the US Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014).

He also won Olympic gold four times: Sydney 2000 (doubles), Beijing 2008 (doubles), London 2012 (singles) and London 2012 (doubles).

Ranking of Grand Slam titles

1 24 Margaret Court

2 Serena Williams 23

3 Steffi Graf 22

4 Helen Wills Moody 19

5 Chris Evert / Martina Navratilova 18 etc