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Venus and Serena: Sisters, Rivals, Icons, and a Lasting Legacy

By Brandon Daniels

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 31: Serena Williams of The United States is congratulated by her sister and opponant Venus Williams of The United States following their ladies singles third round match on Day Five of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 31: Serena Williams of The United States is congratulated by her sister and opponant Venus Williams of The United States following their ladies singles third round match on Day Five of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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FLUSHING, NY – SEPTEMBER 7: Serena Williams poses with her winning trophy after the finals at the US Open September 7, 2002 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Flushing, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
FLUSHING, NY – SEPTEMBER 7: Serena Williams poses with her winning trophy after the finals at the US Open September 7, 2002 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Flushing, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The Start of Pure Dominance

September 8th, 2001 – US Open – Final

Both Serena and Venus had begun to collect major championships at a fast rate. Venus had a quick start to her career and already collected 3 Grand Slams (2000 Wimbledon/US Open, 2001 Wimbledon). Serena, on the other hand, hadn’t gotten off to the start that her elder sister had but took home a major title before Venus did (1999 US Open).

Their first Grand Slam finals matchup was one of the most anticipated matchups of all-time. Both girls had already established themselves as two of the best in the game and there was no more room for nerves. Venus was seeded 4th and Serena 10th. After dismantling their opponents leading up to the finals, the stage was set for a showdown better than anything tennis had ever seen before.

The match, however, wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. It was Serena’s second-ever Grand Slam finals appearance and her nerves were kicking into high gear against her more experienced sister. Venus took the match 6-2, 6-4 to claim her sixth title of the year and 4th Grand Slam title.

Serena was falling behind in their rivalry and had only claimed one win (1999 Grand Slam Championship final) to Venus’ five.

2002 – The Year of Serena 

Many wondered when Serena was going to burst out as Venus did. Looking back, we know she of course did, given her 23 major championships to Venus’ 7, but at this point in their careers, Venus was regarded as the better player with more potential to collect Grand Slams.

Serena ended the year 4-0 against her sister, including 3-0 in Grand Slam finals. At Roland Garros, Serena took down her sister, 7-5, 6-3 to win just her second Grand Slam final and her first against Venus. The sisters now became No. 1 and 2 in the WTA World Rankings (Venus still held the top spot).

The Wimbledon final was their next bout and the third at a Grand Slam final. Venus was the two-time defending champion but ever since her loss in Paris, she’d begun to fall victim to the buzzsaw that would be her younger sister. Serena took it 7-6 (4), 6-3 and moved past her sister for the World #1 ranking. She had begun her move to take over tennis.

Serena cleaned up with a 4-0 sweep of Venus at the 2002 US Open final, winning it 6-4, 6-3 with missile after missile sailed past her elder. This also ended Venus’ two straight US Open titles with the loss.

Serena’s three consecutive major titles had her pounding at Venus’ door for the mantle of “next women’s great”. Fortunately for the two of them, they both would end up with that title.

2003 – Serena’s Dominance Continues

Serena’s meteoric rise to the top didn’t stop in 2002. After taking the last three major titles, she had the opportunity to become the first woman since Steffi Graf to hold all four major titles at one time. A  7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4 win over her sister at the Australian Open finals at their 11th career meeting gave Serena the “Serena Slam”, something Venus never accomplished in her career.

The pair failed to make the finals of the ’03 French Open, which marked the first time that one of the sisters didn’t reach a major final since the 2002 Australian Open. At Wimbledon, they met in their fifth career Grand Slam finals matchup, which Serena won yet again  7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4. It would be the last time they’d face each other in a Grand Slam final for five years.

2005 – The Venus Comeback

Venus hadn’t won a match against her sister since 2001 and quickly fell behind in all career categories, most importantly in the Grand Slam race (7-5 in favor of Serena). While they didn’t face each other in a major final, Venus was able to collect a 2-0 record against her younger sister (at the NASDAQ-100 quarterfinals and the 4th Round of the US Open). Venus also didn’t drop a set in her two victories but failed to win the US Open title. It was the first time the winner of a Venus-Serena match didn’t go on to win the title.

Rivalry Update (as of year-end 2005):

Serena and Venus tied at 7 wins apiece

Serena – 7 GS titles (5 wins over Venus)

Venus – 5 GS titles (1 win over Serena)

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