The Rivalry between Serena and Venus Williams Part VIII
The eighth part of this nine-part series focuses on the Williams Sisters and their progress in 2009. They had not performed well since the loss of their sister, Yetunde Price, but that seemed to change this year when both players
made a comeback. The parts before this highlighted the professional rivalry of the Williams sisters, as well as their careers from 1999 to 2008.
2009: Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships, Sony Ericsson Open, Wimbledon Championships, Sony Ericsson Championships
The first match which Serena and Venus Williams played against each other in 2009 took place at the Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships. The sisters reached the semi-finals to fight against each other for a spot in the final of
the event. Venus Williams ousted her little sister in three sets, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(3). The match was described by CNN as a “thriller”, and Venus called it “worthy of a final.”
Serena’s loss had been a consequence of a knee injury she sustained in the third set of the match. However, she had not excused herself from the tournament and opted to keep playing in hopes of beating her sister. Eurosport writer,
Simon Reed observed that the rivalry between the two sisters was “greater now that it has ever been”. This may have been because their last three or four matches had showed excitement and emotional intensity from the audience, which in turn pumped up the players
as well. Reed stated that he believed these were the elements that had been missing in the first few years of their career.
After the 2009 Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships, the Williams sisters took away their first doubles Grand Slam of the year at the Aussie Open. Serena also won the singles tournament in Melbourne and seized the Australian Open
crown for the fourth time in her career. She also regained her position as World Number 1.
The Williams sister met again in April, at the Sony Ericsson Open (formerly called the NASDAQ-100 Open). They played against each other in the semi final, where Serena ousted Venus to reach the finals with a score line of 6-4,
3-6, 6-3. With this victory, Serena Williams seized the position of World No. 1 again, although for a short period of time. The sisters now had a head to head record of ten wins each against each other.
Their third meeting was on the grass courts of Wimbledon. The sisters reached both the doubles and singles finals at the All England Club. For the first time in six years, Serena Williams won the title at Wimbledon by defeating
Venus in two sets 7-6(3), 6-2.
Their fourth meeting of the year was once again at the prestigious end of year Women’s Tennis Association tournament, the 2009 Sony Ericsson Championships. Serena Williams won the pair’s Round Robin match by defeating her sister
5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4). Both Williams made it to the semi-finals, and then the finals of the event to compete against each other. Once again, Serena defeated Venus in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(4).
Recap:
In 2009, the Williams sisters made a recovery from their comparatively less successful years. They played four matches against each other, taking part in two semi-finals and two finals, as well as one Round Robin match. The head
to head record for the two players is now thirteen wins to ten losses, with the advantage going to Serena. She has won four consecutive matches against her sister.
In addition to this, the two sisters doubled up at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open to win three out of four possible Grand Slam doubles titles. They also played doubles at the Bank of the West Classic tournament,
and took away yet another victory for the year.
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