Serena Williams Signed Nike x Off-White Blazer Mid "Queen" by Virgil Abloh | Size 6

Serena Williams is undeniably at the forefront of the tennis world. With 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena ranks among the top of the sport's winningest players.

The youngest of five girls, Serena Williams was born in Michigan in 1981. Raised in Compton, California, Serena and her sister Venus began training under their father, Richard. With signs of promise in their games from a young age, the Williams family moved to Florida in 1991 so the sisters could train under legendary coach Rick Macci. The move would prove to be a fortuitous one as Serena turned professional in 1995, just one year after Venus made the jump. 

In 1999, Serena became a Grand Slam champion by taking home the US Open title. It would be the first of 23 career Grand Slam titles, the most during the open era by any man or woman.

These Nike x Off-White Blazer Mids were designed by Virgil Abloh for the 2018 “QUEEN” Collection,  celebrating Serena Williams and the 50th anniversary of the US Open.  

This specific pair has been signed by Serena Williams. The pair comes with a letter from James Spence Authentication in regards to the signature. Due to the unusual signature, Sotheby’s was provided visual evidence of Serena signing the sneaker.

Going Deeper | Serena Williams

The Williams sisters completely dominated tennis in the early 2000s. Though they faced each other 31 times in professional tournaments (Serena won 19 times), the duo also played as doubles partners, rolling through the competition to secure 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles.

By 2003, at the top of her sport, Serena had won every Grand Slam title at least once, and signed an endorsement deal with Nike. The deal paved the way for the brand’s presence in the women’s sportswear market. 

A highlight of the Nike endorsement came in 2018 with the help of Virgil Abloh. In celebration of Serena Williams and the 50th anniversary of the US Open, Nike tapped Virgil to design a collection centered around one of the sport’s greatest athletes. 

The “QUEEN” Collection featured Nike Court tennis apparel and footwear designed by Abloh and inspired by Serena, including a statement shoulder ballerina-esque dress that she debuted at the 2018 US Open, and the coveted Nike x Off-White Blazer Mid “Queen” on offer.   

Through her achievements both on and off the court, in 2016, Serena became the highest paid athlete in women’s sports. An icon for her play and her continuous knack for pushing the boundaries of her sport, she is, as Roger Federer would agree, “one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis player of all time.”