Serena Williams’ newest Barbie comes with a racket, a tennis ball and a story about refusing to give up.
The Barbie Signature Serena Williams Doll recreates her look from the 2005 Australian Open, where she overcame a difficult start in the championship match to claim her seventh Grand Slam singles title.
For Williams, the doll is more than a celebration of a memorable outfit. It offers a way to share the determination behind that victory with her daughters, Olympia, 9, and Adira, 3.
“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.com. “But I was somehow able to never give up.”
Williams lost the first set to Lindsay Davenport before rallying to win the final 2–6, 6–3, 6–0. That comeback helped make the outfit her choice for the new doll.
“So when I’m playing with my daughters, I always want (to teach) them to never give up,” she said.
The doll wears a lime green and white cutout top with mesh detailing, a white skirt, and coordinating shoes, socks and sweatband. A racket and ball complete the championship look.
The doll also reflects Williams’ athletic build, with fuller thighs than the familiar slim Barbie silhouette. Mattel describes it as an ‘Athletic Made-to-Move’ body, with movable joints that let fans pose the miniature champion in action on the court.
Williams said she and the design team considered several outfits, but kept returning to the Australian Open ensemble for its striking colors and the story it represented.
Released Oct. 8 ahead of International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, the doll is available at Target stores and through online retailers, including Mattel Creations, for about $45.
At home, Williams’ daughters have already put the miniature tennis star into their playtime rotation. They have also tried the tennis outfit on their other dolls.
“My doll is the mom doll, so it’s kind of funny,” Williams told TODAY.com.
The new release follows a one-of-a-kind Barbie unveiled in March that highlighted Williams’ business career. This version brings her tennis legacy to shoppers and fans.
Across her career, Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, becoming one of the most accomplished athletes in sports history. She hopes the doll helps girls imagine possibilities beyond any single profession.
“Growing up, I didn’t see many girls who looked like me being told there was no limit to who they could become,” Williams said in a statement announcing the release.
“I want every girl who plays with this doll to see possibility — not just in me, but in herself.”
The collaboration also includes a charitable contribution. Through its Dream Gap Project, Barbie is donating to Mrs. Rina’s House of Blessings, a cause close to Williams’ heart that supports children and struggling families in Martin County, Florida.
The donation will fund programming focused on education, training and helping children become compassionate leaders.
For Williams, the message behind the doll extends well beyond the tennis court: Girls can dream big, work hard, change direction and keep pursuing their goals.
