The Williams sisters are the daughters of Oracene Price and Richard Williams. The couple married in 1980, shortly after Venus was born. The marriage lasted for about 22 years and ended in 2002. Serena Williams was born on 26 September 1981, so she is 30 year old as of 25 June 2012. Born on 17 June 1980, Venus Williams is one year and three month older than Serena.

At the age of 5, Williams sisters started playing tennis and were coached by their father Richard. Serena attended the tennis academy of Rick Macci at the age of 9 while Venus attended at the age of 10 for additional coaching. In 1995, both sisters were pulled out of the academy by their father because he wanted to coach them fully from home.