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

The Makings of an All-Time Great Rivalry

Venus and Serena had played each other 14 times up to this point and had split the series, 7-7. Venus had claimed 6 Grand Slam titles (1 against Serena), whereas Serena had won 5 of her 8 titles against her sister. They were virtually neck and neck; Serena had dominated women’s tennis since 2002 but Venus had been the more consistent player since coming on tour.

Their rivalry wasn’t much more than a media-frenzy sprinkled in with some powerful tennis. In 2008-2009, their rivalry matured into one right up with the likes of the greatest of all-time.

After Serena emerged victorious at the 2008  Canara Bank Bangalore Open in a 3-set slugfest, they met in their third Wimbledon Final in what was known as one of the greatest matches of their rivalry. Venus won it 7-5, 6-4, but it was the overwhelming serving ability, sheer power, and remarkable defense of the sisters that left one thought in the heads of all watching: wow.

September 3rd, 2008 – US Open – Quarterfinal

Their Wimbledon bout might have been the greatest final the two have ever played against each other, however, the 2008 US Open quarterfinal was nothing sort of an instant classic. Serena prevailed 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) after coming back from 5-3 down in bth sets. She faced 10 total set points, including an astonishing 8 of them in the second but was able to fight off every single one of them was outstanding defense and punishing groundstrokes. She won the final four points of the first point tiebreak after being down 6-4 to take the set and followed that up with an even-better comeback in the second. Down 6-3, Serena won 6 of the next 7 points to squander Venus’ 10 total opportunities to close a set.

"“I can’t say I was disappointed,” Serena said. “You want the best for her, but in that situation you want to win, too.”"

Serena won only 3 more total points than her elder (101-98) but it was those three that proved to be the crucial ones. It was a far cry from their nerve-filled 1998 matchup. Two sisters, easily the two best players in the world and two of the greatest ever, battled it out in a match fit for a Grand Slam final.

It was the peak of women’s tennis. Rankings didn’t matter. Neither did the stage. It was among the best women’s matches ever, pure and simple. From the trademark Serena fist pumps to the famous Williams grunts that filled the muggy air of Flushing Meadows, it had everything.

Serena later took home the Wimbledon title for the first time in six years over her sister Venus, 7–6(3), 6–2.

Rivalry Update (as of year-end 2009):

Serena leads Venus 13-10

Serena – 11 GS titles (7 wins over Venus)

Venus – 7 GS titles (2 wins over Serena)