Serena v. Venus: Williams dominate Wimbledon

Serena (L) and older sister Venus Williams at Wimbledon

Since the beginning of the new millennium, Serena and Venus Williams have been one of the most dominant pairs in tennis. The siblings have won 22 of the last 50 Grand Slam titles, one Olympic singles gold medal, three Olympic doubles gold medals, and three WTA Tour Championship titles among them.

They have played numerous Grand Slam finals. The sisters have faced each other 25 times, with Serena leading 14-11. Their fiery, intense sibling rivalry is legendary and one of the most iconic in the sport.

The sisters have met in 8 Grand Slam finals, with Serena leading 6-2, with their most recent Grand Slam at the 2009 Wimbledon final. They are the only two women in the Open Era to have played each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals.

Although their rivalry is considered to be very competitive, the sisters are known to be very close and have won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles together. They have also won 3 Olympic doubles gold medals together as a team.

Their gameplay is quite similar as well. They depend on their power, booming aces and winners to dominate their opponents over the years. They are definitive crowd-pullers, and fans turn out in multitudes to watch matches involving both siblings. However, it is the younger sibling who seems to have dominated her older sister.

The sisters will face each other in the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, something they have done numerous times before.

They played their first match at Wimbledon in 2000 in a semi-final encounter. Venus won that match 6-2 7-6(3) and went on to win the title, which was also her first Grand Slam singles title. They later teamed up to win the doubles title as well. This was just the beginning of their stellar achievements, and the message was loud and clear: the Williams sisters had arrived.

2002 was a brilliant year for the sisters, especially Serena. The siblings played in 3 of the 4 Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning all of them. They faced each other in the Wimbledon final, with the younger Williams winning the match 7-6(4) 6-3 to clinch the title. They would again win the Wimbledon doubles title together.

The sisters met again in the Wimbledon final the following year as well. Despite an abdominal injury, Serena went on to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to take the title yet again. This win gave her a second consecutive Wimbledon title. Collectively, the sisters had now won the last four Wimbledon titles and seven of the last nine Grand Slams.

The Wimbledon final of 2003 would be the last Grand Slam final between the two for the next five years. Venus was the Wimbledon Champion in 2007 and Serena was the Australian Open Champion that year. The older Williams had also won the Wimbledon title two years prior. In 2008, the sisters met for the fourth time in Wimbledon, in what was their third match competing in the final for the title.

The match was emotional and dramatic, rife with big serves and returns, and brilliant court coverage and defence. It was considered by many to be the best match between the siblings and labelled a ‘borderline classic’ by American tennis legend John McEnroe, who was commentating at the time. Venus won that match and took the title, with the score reading 7-5 6-4.

Yet again, the siblings also took home the Doubles title together.

They met in the finals of the Wimbledon in 2009 again, with Serena winning the match 7-6(3), 6-2. She won the Wimbledon title for the first time in six years. They had also qualified for the finals in the doubles category. The sisters were both plagued by injury and loss of form and did not face each other at Wimbledon after that year.

Their legacy at Wimbledon will always be remembered and cherished by tennis enthusiasts. They have won 5 doubles titles and 10 singles titles in Wimbledon over the last 15 years, a record that seems, for now, insurmountable.

There is no doubt that the Williams sisters are the greatest pair of siblings to have ever graced a tennis court. They have dominated the game and given spectators and enthusiasts some amazing performances over the years. Although their rivalry remains the stuff of legend, so does the incredibly close bond they share.