Serena Williams Honored with Barbie Doll Commemorating 2005 Australian Open Victory

Tennis icon Serena Williams has been immortalized with a Barbie doll that pays tribute to her triumph at the 2005 Australian Open. The doll, priced at $45 (£34), features Williams in the distinctive green and white ensemble she wore during her championship run in Melbourne.

The outfit includes a top with a unique cutout and mesh details, paired with a white skirt, a matching sweatband, racket, tennis shoes, and a ball. The release coincides with the upcoming International Day of the Girl.

Williams' 2005 Australian Open victory was a hard-fought one. She saved match points in the semi-finals against Maria Sharapova, ultimately winning 2-6, 7-5, 8-6. She then defeated Lindsay Davenport 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the final.

"That slam meant so much to me, I was able to come back from so many downs, and even in the finals of that match, I was down so much," Williams told Today. "But I was somehow able to never give up. So when I'm playing with my daughters, I always want (to teach) them to never give up."

She explained that the chosen outfit stood out during the selection process due to its distinctive colors and the story it conveyed. Barbie stated that the doll honors Williams as a "tennis legend and global icon whose influence extends far beyond the court."

Nathan Baynard, vice president and head of Barbie at Mattel, commented, "As we celebrate International Day of the Girl, Barbie is proud to honor Serena Williams. Barbie has always inspired girls to believe they can be anything, from the sports stadium to the fashion runway to the boardroom. Serena Williams embodies that message through her extraordinary achievements as an athlete, entrepreneur, and advocate for equality. By honoring her with a Barbie Signature doll, we're celebrating a barrier-breaking icon whose legacy empowers fans everywhere to dream big and embrace their own potential."

This marks the second Barbie collaboration featuring Williams this year, following a doll released earlier for International Women's Day that depicted her in a suit.

Williams, who recently came out of retirement, has indicated that her daughters, Olympia and Adira, are her primary focus. She also emphasized that her business investments now take precedence over her tennis career.

"My main career is investing, so my tennis career is so little. I'm not playing anymore this year," she stated. "If I play next year, it'll be so very few tournaments. Because I am a full-time mom, and that's my main goal. That's what I want to do with them right now. Nothing trumps being with them."