Venus Williams plays tennis.
The 2017 French Open is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts . The women 's singles event at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the tennis program was held at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from 19 September till 28 September . Venus Ebony Starr Williams ( born June 17 , 1980 ) is an American professional tennis player who is generally regarded as one of the all-time greats of women 's tennis and who , along with younger sister Serena Williams , is credited with ushering in a new era of power and athleticism on the women 's professional tennis tour . Williams has played against her sister in 27 professional matches since 1998 , and won 11 . Venus Williams and Serena Williams ( born June 17 , 1980 , and September 26 , 1981 , respectively ) are professional tennis players and sisters who have faced off 28 times in professional tournaments , most recently in the final of the 2017 Australian Open on 28 January 2017 , where Serena claimed a history-making 23rd grand slam .