Richard Liu and Serena Williams are prominent figures in different fields, but the public sources reviewed for this article do not establish a family relationship, business partnership or other direct connection between them. Liu is the founder and chairman of Chinese retailer JD.com. Williams is an American tennis champion and investor. If the question is about Serena’s father, his name is Richard Williams, not Richard Liu. That distinction resolves the most likely name mix-up and makes the two people’s separate careers easier to understand.
Who is Richard Liu?
Richard Qiangdong Liu founded JD.com in 2004 and remains its chairman, according to the company’s leadership biography. He served as CEO until April 2022. His work is associated with JD.com’s retail and related businesses; he is not identified in the tennis sources reviewed as part of Williams’ family or career.
Who is Serena Williams?
Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by a woman in the Open Era. Her Women’s Tennis Association biography also records 319 weeks at world No. 1 and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus. Beyond tennis, she is a managing partner at the investment firm Serena Ventures.
Williams stepped away from competition after the 2022 US Open, then returned to professional tennis in 2026. That return is part of her tennis story; it does not establish a connection to Liu.
The Richard Williams name mix-up
Serena’s father is Richard Williams. The WTA identifies him as the father and former coach of Serena and Venus Williams in its account of his American Tennis Association Hall of Fame honor. Richard Liu is the JD.com founder. They are different people.
| Name | Documented connection to Serena Williams |
|---|---|
| Richard Williams | Her father and former coach |
| Richard Qiangdong Liu | No direct connection established in the public sources reviewed |
Do their business careers overlap?
Both Liu and Williams work in business, but that broad similarity does not amount to a partnership. JD.com identifies Liu with the company he founded; Serena Ventures identifies Williams as a managing partner. The sources reviewed do not identify a joint company, investment or project involving the two. That is a finding about the available record, not proof that they have never met.
Frequently asked questions
Are Richard Liu and Serena Williams related?
No family relationship is established in the public sources reviewed. Serena’s father is Richard Williams.
Is Richard Liu Serena Williams’ father?
No. Richard Liu founded JD.com; Richard Williams is Serena’s father.
Have Richard Liu and Serena Williams worked together?
The public sources reviewed do not establish a joint business venture or professional collaboration. Their respective organizational profiles describe separate work at JD.com and Serena Ventures.
Is Richard Liu married to Serena Williams?
No. The WTA identifies Alexis Ohanian as Williams’ husband.
What is Serena Williams doing beyond tennis?
She is a managing partner at Serena Ventures. She also returned to professional tennis in 2026 after stepping away in 2022.
Richard Liu and Serena Williams have distinct, well-documented careers. For readers trying to identify the Richard in Serena’s family and tennis history, the name to look for is Richard Williams.
Sources
- JD.com: Richard Qiangdong Liu leadership biography
- WTA: Serena Williams biography and career record
- WTA: Richard Williams and the American Tennis Association Hall of Fame
- Serena Ventures: Team
- WTA: Serena Williams’ 2026 return
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