Tennis Special Feature: The Rivalry between Serena and Venus Williams - Part II
This special tennis feature will pay homage to the legendary rivalry between the Williams sisters, and take the reader through a step-by-step account of the years and matches in which they have competed with each other.
The first part of the series gave an introduction to the two sisters, and to the competition between them. The two players are considered to have one of the greatest rivalries in the history of tennis, and that has a lot to do with their relationship with
each other.
1998: Australian Open and Italian Open
After both of them had turned professional, the first match played by the two sisters was the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, in 2008. Venus Williams won the match by defeating her sister in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-1. However, the match
was described by many critics as “subpar”. Their next match was at the Italian Open quarterfinals. This was the first clay court tournament ever played by Serena Williams. She was beaten in straight sets once again, losing to Venus in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
However, the two sisters also teamed up for doubles tournaments, and won two titles together in 1998.
1999: Lipton International Players Championships, US Open, Wimbledon
The two sisters didn't had the opportunity to play against each other until almost a year later, when they played in the final match of the Lipton International Players Championships which were held in Key Biscayne, Florida. Although, Serena had just won
her first two tournaments, she was still unable to defeat her sister. However, she finished the match with a score line of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. This was the first set which she won over Venus. The match was the first singles final which the pair played on the Women’s
Tennis Association tour, and their father Richard Williams described it as a “bullfight”.
Serena then managed her first professional singles victory over Venus the same year, in the final match of the Grand Slam Cup. She had just won her first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in New York by defeating her sister, who was also the defending champion,
in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. With this victory, Serena had beaten every top tennis player on the WTA in that time. The only player who stood in the way of that achievement before was Venus.
That year, the pair won three doubles titles together. Two of these titles were Grand Slam doubles awards, at the French Open and the US Open.
2000: Wimbledon
The Williams sisters played their next match in summer, in the semi-finals of Wimbledon. The millennium year also marked the first time the pair had a match against each other on a grass surface. Entering the match, Serena Williams was a heavy favourite.
Nonetheless, the match went to Venus in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(3) once again. She would then go on to take away the trophy at the All England Club, winning her first Grand Slam singles tournament.
The sisters paired up in the same tournament to win the doubles title, and they later achieved victory as a doubles team at the Olympics, where they won a Gold Medal.
Recap:
In total, the Williams sisters played five matches against each other in the years from 1999 to 2000. Their head to head record at this point was four to one, with the advantage going to Venus Williams. However, the one victory which Serena had taken from
her big sister was no doubt an important one – she had been able to win the 1999 US Open for her first Grand Slam tournament title with the victory.
Tags: