Grand Slam Year is still alive for Serena and Venus Williams, as they go for their third Grand Slam of the year and 13th doubles major in their stellar careers.
Undoubtedly the most versatile tennis players in their generation, the Williamses also aim to repeat as champions in the tournament they dominated for the last 10 years.
Venus and Serena Williams may not have made it to the finals of the singles match at the Roland Garros but they sure did remind people why they are the world’s top two.
Looking Back To The Great Doubles Run At Rolland Garros
The Williams sisters recently gained their fourth consecutive major doubles title at the Roland Garros. Serena Williams referred to their victory as the “Williams slam”.
It was their victory over Katarina Srebotnik and Kveta Peschke which secured the 12th Grand Slam title for the famed siblings. They won over their doubles opponents with a 6-2, 6-3 score.
Venus Williams further pointed out that having to beat one Williams is already a tough job; going up against two should be an extremely difficult thing to do.
She was definitely right as their sibling tandem proved to be indefeatable on the doubles court of the Roland Garros. For the first time, the Williams tandem will earn their No. 1 ranking.
The partnership of the two sisters started back in the 1980s. In a span of more than two decades, both sisters have raked in awards and tournament titles. Both sisters found it quite laughable as they try to remember how they started to play doubles.
It was their father who first started to teach them how doubles playing should be done. At an early age, it was quite natural for the Williams to be at their rebellious and impatient nature.
For some parts of their doubles tennis play, the Williams sister still had that similar form and style that they used to have when they were just beginning to play. The Williams sisters, just like they have individually made a mark for themselves, have also made history as siblings.
They came in as the third ever doubles pair to gain four doubles championship consecutively. Among the doubles lineup that the Williams sisters share this recognition with includes:
Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova back in 1983-84 and Natasha Zvereva and Gigi Fernandez back in 1992-1993.
Their doubles win at the Roland Garros is the second French Open title for the siblings. The last doubles French Open title they won was back in 1999.
Previously, the sisters have only participated in little doubles matches but after their successive wins in the doubles division, the Williams sisters are planning to continue their doubles bid along with their singles bid at major tournaments like the Grand Slam events.
Venus Williams further pointed out that winning a major title is something that can be addicting. Certainly, having your own name beside a major title is a dream that many would like to achieve.
Serena Williams emphasized that playing out on the court in a singles match is definitely a one of kind experience but to play doubles with someone as close as her sister is an even better experience.
Certainly, the experience became even more worth it as the two sisters won another major title under their names. Suffice to say, their victory in doubles division serves as compensation for what they lost in the singles category.
World number two Venus Williams was defeated in the fourth round whereas world number one Serena Williams was ousted in the quarterfinals.
Though they are not planning on regularly playing doubles during the women’s tour, the sisters are once again set to conquer the Wimbledon Open for the fifth time in their careers.
Chances of Winning
With their superb record and sheer individual skills, the Williamses are the early favorite to win the most prestigious tournament in tennis.
However, they are going to be hard pressed by their opponents, who are aiming to dethrone the sisters from the top spot of the women’s ranking.
The doubles tandems of Samantha Stosur/Nadia Petrova and María José Martínez Sánchez/ Nuria Llagostera Vives are expected to give the sisters some fight.
Still, the odds are great for the Williams sister to have their third consecutive title on the bank at All-England Club early July.
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