Williams sisters rivalry


and Serena Williams are professional tennis players and sisters who have faced off 30 times in professional tournaments, most recently in the 2018 U.S. Open event. Serena leads their head-to-head 18–12.
Both Williams sisters have been ranked World No. 1: Venus for a total of 11 weeks, beginning in February 2002; Serena for a total of 316 weeks, beginning in July 2002.
The Williams sisters are the only two women during the open era to play each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals: from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open. Serena won all four of these finals.
Venus has won 49 singles titles over the course of her career, and Serena has won 72.
The two sisters remain personally very close. They have won 22 titles when playing doubles together, including 14 Grand Slam titles and 3 Olympic gold medals.

History

1998–2000

Serena and Venus Williams played their first professional match against each other in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open. Venus won 7–6, 6–1. The match was described as "subpar". They played again in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open, the first clay court tournament of Serena's career, which Venus won 6–4, 6–2. Together they won two doubles titles.
Their next match was almost a year later in the final of the 1999 Lipton International Players Championships in Key Biscayne, Florida. Serena was coming off her first two tournament titles, but Venus won the match 6–1, 4–6, 6–4. The match was the first singles final between sisters on the WTA tour and was described by their father as a "bullfight". Serena won her first professional singles match against Venus later that year in the final of the Grand Slam Cup. Serena was coming off her first Grand Slam championship at the US Open and defeated her elder sister, and defending champion, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3. Venus was the only top player up to this point that Serena had not yet defeated. Together, they won three doubles titles, two of them being majors; French Open & U.S Open.
Entering their next match in the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2000, Serena was the favorite. However, the victory went to Venus 6–2, 7–6, who would go on to win the Wimbledon trophy for her first Grand Slam singles title. They teamed up to win the Wimbledon doubles title and later the Olympic gold medal. Venus's career advantage now stood at 4–1.

2001

They started out the year by winning the Australian Open doubles title.
In the spring at the Tennis Masters Series in Indian Wells, California, amid controversy Venus withdrew before her scheduled semifinal match against Serena. The Williams family was accused of match-fixing, but the accusation was dismissed by most, including Andre Agassi who called it "ridiculous". Serena won the final against Kim Clijsters amid boos, during both the match and the subsequent trophy presentation.
The only match between the Williams sisters during 2001 occurred in the final of the US Open, where they had never met but where both had previously won singles titles. This was the first final involving sisters at a Grand Slam tournament during the open era and the first since the Watson sisters played in the 1884 Wimbledon final. This match has been described as arguably "the most-anticipated tennis final in years". However, nerves seem to have played a factor in the match, which was won easily by Venus 6–2, 6–4. Noted journalist Peter Bodo has said that this first Grand Slam final played between the Williams sisters was "really a pretty lousy match,... even though it was a great performance by the winner." With the victory, Venus now led their rivalry 5–1 and in Grand Slam singles titles 4–1.

2002

Venus and Serena would play each other four times in 2002. In addition to being the most times they had met in a single year, this would also mark the first time that Serena would end the season with a leading head-to-head, 4–0.
Their first meeting of the year occurred in the semifinals at the NASDAQ-100 Open. Serena won the match 6–2, 6–2, only the second victory over her sister in her career and the first since 1999. Venus's loss was described as "listless" and it ended her streak of 22 consecutive matches and three consecutive titles at the event.
Their next meeting was their second in a Grand Slam final, and their second on clay courts. At Roland Garros Serena beat Venus in a "tight" match 7–5, 6–3. The Grand Slam was the first for Serena in three years, and it was the first final at the French Open ever played by sisters. By reaching the final, Venus and Serena assured themselves of moving up to first and second in the world rankings, respectively.
One month later, the Williams sisters again met in a Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon. Again, Serena was the victor 7–6, 6–3 and the win moved Serena past her sister to the top of the rankings. Venus still led 5–4 in their head-to-head and 4–3 in Grand Slams, but it was now Serena who was seen as the player "now setting the agenda for women's tennis". They won the doubles title together.
Their fourth and last match of the year occurred in the final at the US Open, in a match where the victor would take not only the trophy but the No.1 ranking as well. Serena won the match 6–4, 6–3 with a "blistering" display of tennis.

2003

2003 would be a year of injuries and loss for Venus and Serena Williams, with the two highlights being the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals.
The first match of 2003 contested between the Williams sisters was the first final between the two players at the Australian Open but the fourth consecutive at the majors. Serena won the match 7–6, 3–6, 6–4, the closest contested match between them since 1999. The win completed what has become popularly known as the "Serena Slam"; Serena Williams became the first player since Steffi Graf to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time. In addition Venus Williams became the first player since Martina Hingis in 1997 to make four consecutive Grand Slam finals, and the sisters together became the first players in the open era to contest four consecutive finals at the majors. Together they won the doubles title.
This consistent play at recent Grand Slams led some to remark that the Williams sisters had a stranglehold on women's tennis.
The Williams sisters next met in the 2003 Wimbledon final, a repeat of the 2002 final in the same tournament. Again the match was close but Serena, aided by an abdominal injury that negatively impacted Venus's speed, won 4–6, 6–4, 6–2. The win was the second consecutive at Wimbledon for Serena and her fifth out the last six. Additionally, the Williams sisters collectively had now won the last four Wimbledon titles and seven of the last nine Grand Slams. Serena Williams had now won their last six consecutive meetings, and led the head-to-head 7–5.
The Wimbledon final was the last Grand Slam final contested between the two for five years. Both sisters would be knocked off the tour by injuries, and then have to contend with the death of Yetunde Price, their half sister.

2004–2005

Venus and Serena Williams did not meet in a professional tennis match during 2004, a year which saw neither sister win a Grand Slam for the first time since 1998. 2005 would be a return to Grand Slam victory for both of the Williams sisters, but in perhaps a sign of the increased competition neither of their championships were decided against each other.
Their first match of 2005 was in the quarterfinals of the NASDAQ-100 Open, their third career meeting at the tournament. The match was won by Venus Williams 6–1, 7–6; it was the first meeting outside of a final between the two in three years and was the first win by the elder Williams sister in four years.
The Williams sisters next met on one of the largest stages in tennis, the US Open, though much earlier in the tournament than they were accustomed to. Venus, as the recent Wimbledon champion and after three "magnificent efforts" to reach this round was perhaps favored in a Williams head-to-head for the first time in a few years. In the fourth round Venus Williams won 7–6, 6–2. Venus would lose in the quarterfinals 4–6 7–5 6–1 to eventual champion Kim Clijsters, the first time since the 1998 Rome meeting that the winner of a Williams sisters match-up did not win the title.
At the close of the year, after the first year since 2000 in which Serena was unable to win a match against her older sister, Venus Williams had now tied the head-to-head 7–7.

2008–2009

The first meeting in 2008 between the sisters occurred at the Canara Bank Bangalore Open, their first meeting in a Tier II event. The only match between the sisters to end in a third-set tiebreak, both Venus and Serena were, according to commentator and former player Tracy Austin "busting a gut to win". The match end in a 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 victory for Serena.
Venus and Serena next met on a familiar stage, Wimbledon; the match was their fourth meeting on the grass courts and their third final. The match featured "big hitting and big serving" as well as "some wonderful defense and court coverage". Testament to the fact that this was arguably the best Williams sisters match to date, former player and commentator John McEnroe has called the match "borderline classic". Venus won the match 7–5, 6–4. They teamed up to win the doubles title and later a second Olympic Gold Medal together.
At the US Open, fourth seeded Serena defeated seventh seeded Venus in the quarterfinals 7–6, 7–6 and eventually won the tournament. Tennis Magazine proclaimed the match the best women's singles match of 2008. The final match-up of the year between the Williams sisters was during the round robin phase of the year-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, with Venus winning 5–7, 6–1, 6–0. This was the first 6–0 set in their matchups.
At the end of 2008, their career head-to-head record was tied 9–9.
The Williams' first match of year 2009 was at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, where they met in the semifinals. In a match that was described as a "thriller" by CNN, Venus prevailed 6–1, 2–6, 7–6. Serena was dogged by a knee injury in the third set, but did not excuse herself because of this, and Venus said that the match had been worthy of a final. Simon Reed, writing for Eurosport, said that the rivalry had become "greater now than it ever has been" in the previous three or four matches, due to the increased emotional intensity that the matches appeared to stir up in the players, which he believed had been lacking in the earlier part of their careers. Venus and Serena next played in the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in April. Serena won the match 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, temporarily secured her World No. 1 ranking, and tied their head-to-head record at ten wins apiece. The two reached the final of the 2009 Wimbledon Championships for both singles and doubles. Serena won the singles title for the first time in six years, beating Venus 7–6, 6–2. They met for the fourth time in the year during the round robin phase of the year-ending 2009 Sony Ericsson Championships, with Serena winning 5–7, 6–4, 7–6 saving match point. They met again in the final of the tournament with Serena winning again by a score of 6–2, 7–6. The head-to-head now stood at 13–10 in favor of Serena, who has also won the last four meetings.

2013–2015

Due to a mixture of injury and illness the pair did not face each other again until the 2013 Family Circle Cup. It was their first matchup on clay since the 2002 French Open final. Serena won her fifth consecutive match against Venus. Venus and Serena's 25th encounter came in the semi-finals of the 2014 Rogers Cup. Serena went into the match with a five consecutive match winning streak against her older sister. However, Venus won the match 6-7, 6–2, 6–3, making the sisters' head to head record at 14–11 in favor of Serena. Venus increased her Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 record against Serena to 5–2 and her semi-final record against her sister to 3–4.
After a period of six years, the pair met in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2015 - their first meeting in a grand slam event since Wimbledon 2009. It was the pair's sixth meeting at Wimbledon. Serena won the match by a score of 6–4, 6–3, making the sisters' head to head record 15–11 in Serena's favor and 4–2 in Wimbledon again in favor of Serena. They met again in the quarterfinals of the US Open, where Serena won, taking the head to head to 16–11 in her favor.

2017

The sisters renewed their grand slam rivalry in the Australian Open final. Serena won her seventh Australian Open title, and 23rd Grand Slam title overall, defeating Venus 6–4, 6–4. The win also allowed Serena to pass Steffi Graf's 22 grand slam singles titles.

2018

Venus and Serena met twice during 2018. They met in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open. Venus won the encounter 6-3 6-4. They met for the second time in the year in the 3rd round of the US Open, with Serena winning 6-1 6-2.

Analysis

Relationship and competitive dynamic

The professional relationship and dynamic between Venus and Serena Williams is deeply affected by their close personal relationship. The notion of two top professionals emerging from the same family to compete against one another is unprecedented, and is a scenario which has been described as being "as improbable as one set of parents raising Picasso and Monet." After Serena's big wins over Venus' only finals at the 2003 Australian Open and the 2002 French Open, journalists said "Clearly Venus has a 'big sister complex' towards Serena". Peter Bodo, further speaking to the unlikeliness of siblings contesting Grand Slam finals, states "It's a common occurrence that will cease to be possible, perhaps ever again, the moment they set the sticks aside."

Legacy

The all-Williams final at the 2001 US Open drew a larger television audience than the Notre Dame-Nebraska college football game being broadcast at the same time. In fact, part of the reason that the women's final at the US Open was moved to its "prime time" spot was because of the positive effect that the Williams sisters had on television ratings. CBS's four highest-rated US Open women's finals of the last decade all involved the Williams sisters.
The Williams legacy can also arguably be seen in the increased representation of African Americans among tennis professionals and new players, though their representation among professionals still remains small. A third of all new players at the grass-roots level are either African American or Hispanic, a fact to which the USTA's president Jane Brown Grimes says, "I can't help but think that Venus and Serena are drivers behind that".

List of all matches

WTA, Grand Slam, and Grand Slam Cup main draw results included.

Singles

Serena Williams–Venus Williams
No.YearTournamentSeriesSurfaceRoundWinnerScoreLengthSetsSerenaVenus
1.1998Australian OpenMajorHardRound of 64Venus7–6, 6–11:262/301
2.1998Italian OpenTier IClayQuarterfinalsVenus6–4, 6–21:112/302
3.1999Miami OpenTier IHardFinalVenus6–1, 4–6, 6–41:583/303
4.1999Grand Slam CupGS CupCarpet FinalSerena6–1, 3–6, 6–31:453/313
5.2000WimbledonMajorGrassSemifinalsVenus6–2, 7–61:262/314
—2001Indian Wells MastersTier IHardSemifinalsSerenaWalkover14
6.2001US OpenMajorHardFinalVenus6–2, 6–41:092/315
7.2002Miami OpenTier IHardSemifinalsSerena6–2, 6–20:492/325
8.2002Roland GarrosMajorClayFinalSerena7–5, 6–31:312/335
9.2002WimbledonMajorGrassFinalSerena7–6, 6–31:182/345
10.2002US OpenMajorHardFinalSerena6–4, 6–31:122/355
11.2003Australian OpenMajorHardFinalSerena7–6, 3–6, 6–42:223/365
12.2003WimbledonMajorGrassFinalSerena4–6, 6–4, 6–22:043/375
13.2005Miami OpenTier IHardQuarterfinalsVenus6–1, 7–61:442/376
14.2005US OpenMajorHardRound of 16Venus7–6, 6–21:282/377
15.2008Bangalore OpenTier IIHardSemifinalsSerena6–3, 3–6, 7–62:103/387
16.2008WimbledonMajorGrassFinalVenus7–5, 6–41:512/388
17.2008US OpenMajorHardQuarterfinalsSerena7–6, 7–62:252/398
18.2008WTA Tour ChampionshipsTour FinalsHardRound RobinVenus5–7, 6–1, 6–01:483/399
19.2009Dubai ChampionshipsPremier 5HardSemifinalsVenus6–1, 2–6, 7–62:023/3910
20.2009Miami OpenPremier MandatoryHardSemifinalsSerena6–4, 3–6, 6–31:553/31010
21.2009WimbledonMajorGrassFinalSerena7–6, 6–21:272/31110
22.2009WTA Tour ChampionshipsTour FinalsHardRound RobinSerena5–7, 6–4, 7–62:413/31210
23.2009WTA Tour ChampionshipsTour FinalsHardFinalSerena6–2, 7–61:252/31310
24.2013Charleston OpenPremierClaySemifinalsSerena6–1, 6–20:542/31410
25.2014Canadian OpenPremier 5HardSemifinalsVenus6–7, 6–2, 6–32:013/31411
26.2015WimbledonMajorGrassRound of 16Serena6–4, 6–31:082/31511
27.2015US OpenMajorHardQuarterfinalsSerena6–2, 1–6, 6–31:383/31611
28.2017Australian OpenMajorHardFinalSerena6–4, 6–41:212/31711
29.2018Indian Wells MastersPremier MandatoryHardRound of 32Venus6–3, 6–41:262/31712
30.2018US OpenMajorHardRound of 32Serena6–1, 6–21:122/31812
—2019Italian OpenPremier 5ClayRound of 32VenusWalkover1812

Breakdown of the rivalry

Serena Williams—Venus Williams
No.YearTournamentSeriesSurfaceRoundWinnerScoreOpponentsSerenaVenus
1.1998Roland GarrosMajorClayFinalVenus/Justin Gimelstob6–4, 6–4Serena/Luis Lobo01

Exhibitions

Singles

Serena Williams–Venus Williams
No.YearTournament NameTournament LocationSurfaceRoundWinnerScore
1.2001J.P. Morgan Chase Tennis ChallengeDelray Beach, Florida, U.S.Hard–Serena7–6, 6–4
2.2004McDonald's Williams Sisters TourChicago, Illinois, U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus6–3, 6–4
3.2004McDonald's Williams Sisters TourDetroit, Michigan, U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus6–4, 7–5
4.2004McDonald's Williams Sisters TourAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus6–3, 2–6, 6–3
5.2005McDonald's Williams Sisters TourSeattle, Washington, U.S.Hard Round RobinSerena6–4, 6–3
6.2005McDonald's Williams Sisters TourCleveland, Ohio, U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus6–4, 6–4
7.2005McDonald's Williams Sisters TourWashington, D.C., U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus6–3, 6–4
8.2006McDonald's Williams Sisters TourDenver, Colorado, U.S.Hard Round RobinSerena7–5, 6–3
9.2006McDonald's Williams Sisters TourNew Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus5–7, 6–4, 10–6
10.2006McDonald's Williams Sisters TourCharlotte, North Carolina, U.S.Hard Round RobinVenus6–3, 6–4
11.2009Billie Jean King CupMadison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Hard FinalSerena6–4, 6–3
12.2011Master Comcel Venus vs. Serena WilliamsMedellin, ColombiaClay–Venus6–4, 7–6
13.2012Breaking The MouldLagos, NigeriaHard–Venus6–4, 7–5
14.2012Breaking The MouldJohannesburg, South AfricaHard –Serena6–3, 6–4
15.2013Copa Ciudad de Buenos AiresBuenos Aires, ArgentinaClay–Venus7–6, 6–2
16.2018Greenbrier Champions Tennis ClassicWhite Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S.Hard –Venus6–3, 2–6, 10–8
17.2018Mubadala World Tennis ChampionshipAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesHard–Venus4–6, 6–3, 10–8

Doubles

Serena Williams–Venus Williams
No.YearTournament NameTournament LocationSurfaceRoundWinnersScoreOpponents
1.1999Super Power Challenge CupHong KongHardSemifinalSerena/Li Fang7–6, 3–6, 6–3Venus/Lillian Lin Ning
2.2002JP Morgan Tennis ChallengeDelray Beach, Florida, U.S.Hard–Venus/Alexandra Stevenson8–4Serena/Lori McNeil
3.2003JP Morgan Tennis ChallengeNaples, Florida, U.S.Hard–Serena/Jana Novotná8–7Venus/Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
4.2004Lexus Tennis ChallengeLexington, Kentucky, U.S.Hard–Venus/Brenda Schultz-McCarthy6–3Serena/Anna Kournikova

Grand Slam Performance timeline

Combined singles performance timeline (best result)

Won tournament: final contested by the Williams sisters.
Tournament1997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018
Aus. OpenAQFVQFVASFVQFVWS3RVWS3RSWSQFSVWSWS3RV4RSQFS4RSWSFSWS1RV
French Open2RVQFV4RVQFVQFSWSSFSQFSV3RVQFVQFS3RSVQFSQFSA2RVWS2RSVWSFS4RV4RS
Wimbledon1RVQFVQFVWVWVWSWSFSWV3RVWVWVWSWS4RSVWS4RS3RSVWSWSFVFS
US OpenFVSFVWSWVWVWSAQFSQFV4RSSFVWSSFSSFVFSWSWSWSSFSSFSSFVFS

Year-end WTA ranking timeline