diff --git "a/89665561-4bde-4afa-a442-0d4d16efa56b.json" "b/89665561-4bde-4afa-a442-0d4d16efa56b.json" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/89665561-4bde-4afa-a442-0d4d16efa56b.json" @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +{ + "interaction_id": "89665561-4bde-4afa-a442-0d4d16efa56b", + "search_results": [ + { + "page_name": "Who has won more tennis grand slam titles, Venus Williams or Serena ...", + "page_url": "https://www.quora.com/Who-has-won-more-tennis-grand-slam-titles-Venus-Williams-or-Serena-Williams", + "page_snippet": "", + "page_result": "", + "page_last_modified": "" + }, + { + "page_name": "Serena Williams vs Venus Williams: Who is the better tennis player?", + "page_url": "https://sportsbrief.com/tennis/19923-serena-williams-venus-williams-who-tennis-player/", + "page_snippet": "Venus Williams (L) congratulates her sister and opponent Serena Williams, after winning the ladies' singles third-round match at the 2018 US Open, on 31 August 2018. Photo: Julian Finney Source: Getty Images \u00b7 The beautiful sisters are known for their dominance in tennis.So, why is Serena more famous than Venus? Diogo Dalot's net worth, salary, age, stats, house, cars, contractFootball \u00b7 Serena's numbers speak for themselves. She is the most decorated female tennis star and one of the wealthiest and most influential female athletes globally. In addition, the 40-year-old has more titles and a better head-to-head record than her older sister. The talented siblings have won several career titles, but the younger one boasts of more tennis accolades. Serena's awards include TIME Magazine World's 100 Most Influential People, WTA Player of the Year and the BET Award for Female Athlete of the Year. Venus has also collected dozens of awards, including winning the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the world, the WTA Player of the Year and the BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year award. Follow Sports Brief on Twitter for more trending and breaking news! Venus Williams (L) congratulates her sister and opponent Serena Williams, after winning the ladies' singles third-round match at the 2018 US Open, on 31 August 2018. Photo: Julian Finney Source: Getty Images \u00b7 The beautiful sisters are known for their dominance in tennis. They have won dozens of titles between them. Venus emerged victorious with a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over her sister. She then went on to win the Wimbledon trophy and her first Grand Slam singles title. Nicolo Barella: Net worth, salary, contract, house, cars, age, stats, latest newsFootball \u00b7 The talented siblings have won several career titles, but the younger one boasts of more tennis accolades. Serena's awards include TIME Magazine World's 100 Most Influential People, WTA Player of the Year and the BET Award for Female Athlete of the Year.", + "page_result": "Serena Williams vs Venus Williams: Who is the better tennis player?
\"SportsBrief
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\"Serena

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams: Who is the better tennis player?

Helix Odhiambo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:06 PM

Serena and Venus Williams are not new names to the world. You probably have either heard of them or watched them play tennis. They are regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. One of the most heated debates about them is who is better than the other. This article brings you Serena Williams vs Venus Williams comparisons, including achievements, head-to-head stats, and more.

\"Serena
Venus Williams (L) congratulates her sister and opponent Serena Williams, after winning the ladies' singles third-round match at the 2018 US Open, on 31 August 2018. Photo: Julian Finney
Source: Getty Images

The beautiful sisters are known for their dominance in tennis. They have won dozens of titles between them. But, who is older, Venus or Serena Williams? Below is a profile summary of the talented siblings and other fascinating details about them.

Profile summary

Full name

Serena Jameka Williams

Venus Ebone Starr Williams

Date of birth

26 September 1981

17 June 1980

Age (as of July 2022)

40

42

Place of Birth

Saginaw, Michigan, US

Lynwood, California

Height

1.75 m

1.85 m

Weight

70.3 kg

72.5 kg

Parents

Richard, Oracene Price

Richard, Oracene Price

Husband

Alexis Ohanian

Single

Kids

Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

None

Career

Professional tennis player

Professional tennis player

Plays

Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Turned pro

1995

1994

Highest ranking in Singles

No. 1 (8 July 2002)

No. 1 (7 June 2010)

WTA Singles

73

49

Doubles titles

23

22

Grand Slam Singles titles

23

7

Grand Slam Doubles titles

14

14

Olympic Gold Medals

4

4

Net worth

$250 Million

$95 Million

Social media

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Early life

The tennis duo are the daughters of Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Richard was married three times to Betty Johnson (1965-1973), Oracene (1980-2002), and Lakeisha Graham (2010-2017). He has other children, including Richard Williams III and Dylan Starr. Meanwhile, Oracene also had three daughters before marrying Richard: Yetunde Price, Lyndrea Price and Isha Price.

Exciting feature: Check out news exactly for YOU \u27a1\ufe0f find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

\"Venus
The two tennis sisters, Venus Williams and Serena Williams, alongside their father Richard, during a tennis camp in Florida in 1992. Photo: Ken Levine
Source: Getty Images

Venus is the oldest of the two sisters. She began playing tennis at four and turned professional on 31 October 1994. Her younger sister started playing tennis in California at five and was home-schooled and coached by her parents. She started her professional career in September 1995. Both sisters trained at Rick Macci's tennis academy.

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams, who is the best?

Venus is one of the ladies hailed for changing the landscape of women's tennis. She has accomplished much in her career, including setting the pace for black women. However, her sister Serena has made much more impact on the sport. So, why is Serena more famous than Venus?

Serena's numbers speak for themselves. She is the most decorated female tennis star and one of the wealthiest and most influential female athletes globally. In addition, the 40-year-old has more titles and a better head-to-head record than her older sister.

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams wins and stats

\"Who
The Williams sisters in action during a tennis match. They are among the most successful female tennis stars globally. Photo: Sarah Stier, Elsa (modified by author).
Source: Getty Images

The talented siblings have had their share of victories. Serena has a win-loss record of 365-54 in the majors, while her sister has a 271-82 record. Therefore, Serena stands out as the most successful of the two.

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams head to head

The sisters first played against each other in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open. Venus won 7-6(4), 6-1 to advance into the tournament's third round. Since then, they have met 30 times. The last time they faced each other was at the 2020 Top Seed Open, where Serena beat her sister 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the last 16.

Serena enjoys a 19-12 lead over her sister in the WTA head-to-head series. She also boasts a 7-2 lead in the major finals and 9-3 in all-time finals over Venus. Here is a breakdown of their victories per event.

Event

Serena (wins)

Venus (wins)

Grand Slams

11

5

WTA Finals

2

1

WTA 1000

2

6

WTA 500

2

0

WTA 250

1

0

Grand Slam Cup

1

0

Total

19

12

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams trophies

\"Serena
Serena (R) poses with the winner's trophy alongside her sister, Venus who finished as runners-up in the 2017 Australian Open singles tennis match in Melbourne on 28 January 2017. Photo: Greg Wood
Source: Getty Images

In terms of trophies, Serena beats her sister by a big margin. The 40-year-old has 73 singles titles in her career compared to 49 won by her sister. Venus has 22 titles in WTA doubles, while her younger sister has 22 titles. In Grand Slam Singles, Venus has seven against her sister's 23. Meanwhile, both have four Olympic Gold medals.

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams in Wimbledon

The Williams sisters played their first match on grass against each other in the 2000 Wimbledon semi-finals. Venus emerged victorious with a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over her sister. She then went on to win the Wimbledon trophy and her first Grand Slam singles title.

Awards

The talented siblings have won several career titles, but the younger one boasts of more tennis accolades. Serena's awards include TIME Magazine World's 100 Most Influential People, WTA Player of the Year and the BET Award for Female Athlete of the Year.

Venus has also collected dozens of awards, including winning the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the world, the WTA Player of the Year and the BET's Best Female Athlete of the Year award.

Venus Williams vs Serena Williams' net worth

The legendary tennis sisters have made a lot of money from their careers. Venus has an estimated net worth of $95 million, while her younger sister's estimated net worth is $250 Million. Serena is also the highest-earning female player. In 2016, she was named the world's highest-paid female athlete after making almost $29 million in the past 12 months.

Prize money

Serena is unsurprisingly ranked as the highest earner among female tennis stars globally because of her achievements. She has earned $85.5 million in prize money in her career, more than any other lady in the sport. She is followed by her elder sister, who has earned $38 million, and Maria Sharapova, with $34.5 million.

Serena Williams vs Venus Williams games have always lived up to their expectations. Their healthy competition has often helped push one another to the limit. Besides, they have inspired many young ladies to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

READ ALSO: Men's tennis rankings as of 2022: Who is the best male tennis player now?

Sportsbrief.com also ranked the best male tennis players in 2022 based on the trophies they won. The sport has produced many top talents who have displayed exceptional performance on the court.

The famous male stars include Novak Djokovic, Rodger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They have won dozens of titles in their remarkable careers. So, click on the link above to discover why they are the best in the sport.

Authors
\"Helix
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.
Trending news
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", + "page_last_modified": "" + }, + { + "page_name": "US Open 2022 - Numbers behind Venus and Serena Williams' remarkable ...", + "page_url": "https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34490799/us-open-2022-numbers-venus-serena-williams-remarkable-careers", + "page_snippet": "She has won 10 Grand Slams, seven more than any other woman in the Open Era. Williams won the 2017 Australian Open at 35 years, 124 days old, becoming the oldest woman to win a title in the Open Era. She didn't drop a set throughout the event and played while pregnant with her daughter, Olympia.She is the only woman in the Open Era to win multiple Grand Slam singles titles as a double-digit seed. Venus won Wimbledon in 2005 as a No. 14 seed and in 2007 as a No. 23 seed. 5: Wimbledon has treated Venus well. She has won the tournament five times, fourth-most among women in the Open Era. She trails Navratilova (9), Serena (7) and Graf (7). As Venus and Serena's tennis careers are winding down, let's check the stats on how sensational they are in singles and as partners. She has won 10 Grand Slams, seven more than any other woman in the Open Era. Williams won the 2017 Australian Open at 35 years, 124 days old, becoming the oldest woman to win a title in the Open Era. She didn't drop a set throughout the event and played while pregnant with her daughter, Olympia. After her Australian Open win in 2017, Serena was ranked No. 1 in the WTA rankings, becoming the oldest person to hold the top spot. 319: How dominant is Serena? The only duo with more in the Open Era is the pairing of Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova (20). 3: The Williams sisters have won three Olympic gold medals as doubles teammates (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, London 2012). 2002: After the 2002 French Open, where Serena defeated Venus 7-5, 6-3, the sisters ranked Nos.", + "page_result": "\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\nUS Open 2022 - Numbers behind Venus and Serena Williams' remarkable careers - ESPN\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t
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          US Open 2022: Numbers behind Venus and Serena Williams' remarkable careers

          play
          Serena, Venus receive standing ovation after being ousted in first round (1:14)

          Venus and Serena Williams fall to Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova in the first round of the US Open and are cheered by the fans as they walk off the court. (1:14)

          • William E. Ricks
          Sep 3, 2022, 12:05 AM ET

          It's almost impossible to imagine tennis without Venus and Serena Williams. The two sisters began their professional careers in 1994 and 1995, respectively, winning many majors and profoundly impacting the sport.

          But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

          Serena announced in August via a first-person essay on Vogue.com that her playing career is winding down. She didn't use the word \"retirement,\" instead opting for \"evolution\" when describing her eventual exit from professional tennis. She said her desire to grow her family was a reason for walking away and suggested the 2022 US Open could be her final tournament.

          Venus, however, hasn't revealed much about her tennis future. After losing to Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round of the US Open, Venus said in a postmatch news conference that she was \"just focused on the doubles,\" which she played with Serena.

          On Thursday, the Williams sisters lost their first-round doubles match against the Czech Republic's Linda Noskova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6, 6-4. It was the first doubles night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium since Mike and Bob Bryan defeated Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray in the men's doubles quarterfinals in 2013 and the first women's doubles night session there since the Williams sisters lost to Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko in the third round in 2012. Thursday's match was possibly the last time we will see Serena and Venus take the court as doubles teammates.

          Serena was eliminated by Ajla Tomljanovic in the singles third round on Friday. No matter where their careers take them next, the Williams sisters' legacies as tennis legends are ironclad. And we have the stats to prove it.

          Here are some numbers behind Venus' and Serena's Hall of Fame-worthy careers:

          The Williams sisters

          14: Venus and Serena have won 14 women's doubles Grand Slams as partners. The only duo with more in the Open Era is the pairing of Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova (20).

          3: The Williams sisters have won three Olympic gold medals as doubles teammates (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, London 2012).

          2002: After the 2002 French Open, where Serena defeated Venus 7-5, 6-3, the sisters ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the WTA rankings. It was the first time in WTA history that sisters occupied the top two spots. Serena ended the year as No. 1 and Venus No. 2.

          136,930,533: As of Thursday, The Williams sisters have earned a combined $136,930,533 in prize money in their careers. Serena has received $94,618,080 and Venus $42,312,453.

          31: Serena and Venus have faced each other 31 times in singles matches. Serena holds the advantage with a 19-12 record. Nine of those games have occurred in a Grand Slam final. Serena again has the edge with a 7-2 record.

          Serena Williams

          23: Serena has won 23 Grand Slam singles championships. That's the most by any player in the Open Era (since 1968) and is second-most all time. Margaret Court is first with 24.

          367 and 73: Serena has won 367 major matches, the most by a woman in tennis history. She has also won 73 career singles titles, the fifth-most among women in the Open Era.

          4: Winning all four Grand Slam events in tennis is not an easy task, let alone consecutively. But Serena has proved otherwise. She has won four straight majors twice in her career (2002-03 and 2014-15). Steffi Graf is the only other tennis player to achieve that feat.

          Four is also the number of Olympic medals Serena has won, all gold. She earned her hardware in doubles at the 2000 Games, singles and doubles at the 2008 Games and doubles at the 2012 Games.

          30: Serena's dominance after 30 years old is a testament to her longevity and skill. These are some notable feats Williams has achieved since she turned 30:

          • She has won 10 Grand Slams, seven more than any other woman in the Open Era.

          • Williams won the 2017 Australian Open at 35 years, 124 days old, becoming the oldest woman to win a title in the Open Era. She didn't drop a set throughout the event and played while pregnant with her daughter, Olympia. After her Australian Open win in 2017, Serena was ranked No. 1 in the WTA rankings, becoming the oldest person to hold the top spot.

          319: How dominant is Serena? She spent 319 weeks as the ATP or WTA's No. 1-ranked player during her career. To put this into perspective, only four other players have spent 300-plus weeks as the ATP or WTA No. 1 player (Graf, Navratilova, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer).

          186: Serena spent 186 consecutive weeks as the WTA's No. 1 player from February 2013 to September 2016. That's tied for the longest streak at No.1 since WTA rankings were introduced (1975).

          Venus Williams

          91: With a wild-card entry into this year's US Open, Venus has appeared in 91 major singles events. That's the most by any player in the Open Era.

          7: Venus is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, trailing her sister for most among active players. It's also tied for eighth-most among women tennis players in the Open Era.

          Feb. 25, 2002: On this date, Venus reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings and spent 11 weeks there. She became the first Black man or woman to hold the No.1 spot since ATP (1973) and WTA (1975) rankings began.

          1: Opponents shouldn't doubt Venus, even if she is a double-digit seed. She is the only woman in the Open Era to win multiple Grand Slam singles titles as a double-digit seed. Venus won Wimbledon in 2005 as a No. 14 seed and in 2007 as a No. 23 seed.

          5: Wimbledon has treated Venus well. She has won the tournament five times, fourth-most among women in the Open Era. She trails Navratilova (9), Serena (7) and Graf (7).

          Also, Venus is a five-time Olympic medalist. She won gold in singles and doubles at the 2000 Games, doubles at the 2008 Games and doubles at the 2012 Games. Venus also won silver in mixed doubles at the 2016 Games. Her five medals are tied with Kathleen McKane Godfree for most by a tennis athlete.

          ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this story.

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          \n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\n \n\n\t\t\n\n\t\n", + "page_last_modified": "" + }, + { + "page_name": "Who has won more tennis grand slam titles, Venus Williams or Serena ...", + "page_url": "https://www.quora.com/Who-has-won-more-tennis-grand-slam-titles-Venus-Williams-or-Serena-Williams", + "page_snippet": "", + "page_result": "", + "page_last_modified": "" + }, + { + "page_name": "Venus and Serena Williams became great through unity. A shared ...", + "page_url": "https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/02/venus-serena-williams-sisters-us-open-tennis-relationship", + "page_snippet": "Black women \u2013 Serena (23), Venus (seven) and Osaka (four) \u2013 hold the top three spots on the list of most major titles among active female players. There were more black women in the main draw at the 2022 US Open than there were African Americans in last year\u2019s World Series.Venus has five Olympic medals (one silver, four gold), the most won by any tennis player, male or female, in the Open era. Serena ranks second, with four gold medals. They are a perfect 14-0 in grand slam doubles finals. Black women \u2013 Serena (23), Venus (seven) and Osaka (four) \u2013 hold the top three spots on the list of most major titles among active female players. There were more black women in the main draw at the 2022 US Open than there were African Americans in last year\u2019s World Series. Black women \u2013 Serena (23), Venus (seven) and Osaka (four) \u2013 hold the top three spots on the list of most major titles among active female players. There were more black women in the main draw at the 2022 US Open than there were African Americans in last year\u2019s World Series. Venus and Serena have reshaped the tennis landscape to such an extent that it\u2019s easy to forget what it looked like before they arrived. Forty-one years passed between Althea Gibson winning her last grand slam title and Serena winning her first. Today, four black women playing at this year\u2019s US Open have a combined 35 grand slam singles titles. Venus has five Olympic medals (one silver, four gold), the most won by any tennis player, male or female, in the Open era. Today, four black women playing at this year\u2019s US Open have a combined 35 grand slam singles titles. Venus has five Olympic medals (one silver, four gold), the most won by any tennis player, male or female, in the Open era. Serena ranks second, with four gold medals.", + "page_result": "\n \n \n\t\t\t \n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n Venus and Serena Williams became great through unity. A shared farewell was perfect | Tennis | The Guardian\n \n\t\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
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          The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian
          \"Serena
          Serena and Venus Williams embrace after their loss to Linda Noskov\u00e1 and Lucie Hradeck\u00e1 at the US Open on Thursday night. Photograph: Charles Krupa/AP
          Serena and Venus Williams embrace after their loss to Linda Noskov\u00e1 and Lucie Hradeck\u00e1 at the US Open on Thursday night. Photograph: Charles Krupa/AP
          This article is more than 1 year old

          Venus and Serena Williams became great through unity. A shared farewell was perfect

          This article is more than 1 year old

          Serena is still alive in the singles draw but the siblings\u2019 appearance in the doubles was a reminder of what they achieved together as a team

          Serena Williams often says there would be no her without Venus. So if this was indeed their last tournament together, it is fitting that they went out in the doubles on Thursday night in the same manner as they arrived more than two decades ago: as a team \u2013 The Williams sisters.

          After they retire officially, you\u2019ll find them on the pages of sports, business, health, fitness and fashion magazines. The Williams sisters transcend sports. They\u2019ve obliterated records, broken barriers and precedents to the point that little is left for proteges like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka. The chance to become the first black woman to win a career grand slam? Gone. The first black woman to win Olympic golds in singles and doubles? Gone. The first black women to win grand slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles? Gone. The first black women ranked No 1? Gone.

          \u2018Sorry we beat them\u2019: Czech pair send Williamses into probable doubles retirement
          Read more

          What\u2019s left is a sports legacy unequalled in its impact and cultural significance. The Williams sisters changed how the game is played and who is playing the game. Forty-one years passed between Althea Gibson winning her last grand slam title and Serena winning her first. Today, four black women playing at this year\u2019s US Open have a combined 35 grand slam singles titles.

          Venus has five Olympic medals (one silver, four gold), the most won by any tennis player, male or female, in the Open era. Serena ranks second, with four gold medals. They are a perfect 14-0 in grand slam doubles finals. Black women \u2013 Serena (23), Venus (seven) and Osaka (four) \u2013 hold the top three spots on the list of most major titles among active female players. There were more black women in the main draw at the 2022 US Open than there were African Americans in last year\u2019s World Series.

          Venus and Serena have reshaped the tennis landscape to such an extent that it\u2019s easy to forget what it looked like before they arrived. Women\u2019s tennis matches were rarely played in US primetime before Venus and Serena. Billie Jean King fought hard for equal prize money at the majors. But that didn\u2019t happen at all four grand slam events, until Venus and Serena started drawing mega television ratings.

          Indeed, Venus and Serena may be the greatest sports story ever told. Who could write something so improbable? Their father, Richard Williams.

          Before Venus and Serena were born, Richard developed a 75-page business plan for \u2018The Richard Williams Tennis Association\u2019\u2019, a blueprint for raising champions. He acted as architect and promoter of the Williams sisters and used the \u201cstraight out of Compton\u201d story to hype his girls.

          Like any good promoter, Richard leveraged a narrative the media bought and sold: poor black girls making it in a lily-white world. The reality was a little different. Things certainly weren\u2019t easy for the Williams family. But their mother, Oracene Price, had a steady income as a nurse, and Richard, a serial entrepreneur, claims he made $52,000 a year in the early 1980s. Even in southern California, a dual-income household bringing in $52,000 to $80,000 a year in that era was far from impoverished.

          Venus and Serena Williams as teenagers. Their talent had been talked about for years before their professional debuts. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Allsport

          Yet braided and beaded sisters from \u201cthe hood\u201d made a more compelling story. King Richard seized the narrative and promoted his racket-wielding princesses as \u201cGhetto Cinderellas\u201d. Like a production company rolling out a potential blockbuster, Richard gave sports journalists and fans a preview of the upcoming entertainment. He teased greatness in interviews while keeping his daughters off the junior circuit, concealing their games like a plotline for a Marvel movie. As anticipation grew, Richard promised that the Williams sisters would be coming soon to a tournament near you. He had his act. All he needed was for Venus and Serena to put on a show.

          They did not disappoint.

          Early in their careers, they were as packaged a sibling sensation as the Bee Gees. They appeared on the cover of magazines, together. On Oprah, together. In \u201cGot Milk\u201d ads, together. In major finals, together. At the top of the WTA rankings, together.

          They also endured racism and heartbreak together.

          When Venus withdrew from the Indian Wells tournament in 2001, fans took their frustrations out on Serena, booing her winners and applauding unforced errors.

          This disproportionate disdain for Serena and Venus is matched only by the revisionist reverence bestowed on them today. This week\u2019s Williams worship is reminiscent of how baseball fans celebrated another black sports star, Hank Aaron, in his retirement. While chasing Babe Ruth\u2019s home run record, Aaron received death threats for simply rounding bases in white spaces.

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          Richard and Oracene prepared Venus and Serena for the disingenuous admiration, imploring them not to measure their success or failure by what people gave them. Their parents taught the sisters to tap into their competitive spirit while rejecting a natural inclination to compete against each other. Instead, togetherness had to survive celebrity, fame and fortune.

          \u201cTheir mother is their ultimate role model in terms of focus. She taught them to stay focused and she never allowed them to let anything get in the way of their relationship,\u201d Cora Masters Barry, a close friend of Oracene, once told me. \u201cOne of the many times when they ended up playing each other in a final, as soon as the match was over, before I could even look up, Oracene was running back to the locker room to make sure that everybody was OK, but also to make sure that the sister bond survived.\u201d

          In the early 2010s, Serena\u2019s superlative play \u2013 and a few outside factors \u2013 meant the Williams sisters as a unit were no longer the hottest ticket on the women\u2019s tour. In 2011, Venus was diagnosed with Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s syndrome, a disorder in which the body\u2019s immune system attacks healthy cells. The illness left Venus weak and tired.

          \u201cI know that her career might have been different if she had had my health,\u201d Serena once told Vogue.

          In 2012, Serena brought on Patrick Mouratoglou, who would help her to new heights, as a coach. He first appeared in Serena\u2019s player\u2019s box at Wimbledon that year. That was also Richard\u2019s last appearance in the player\u2019s box of either of his daughters in a grand slam final. In 2013, Serena went 78-4, cementing her status as a single entity atop women\u2019s tennis.

          Venus enjoyed a resurgence in 2015. First, she reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open. It was her first time in the last eight of a major since 2010. Then, she made the quarter-finals at the US Open, where she lost to her sister. But that year was all about Serena, who narrowly missed out on a calendar grand slam after losing in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.

          The beginning of this tournament was all about Serena. Then the US Open announced another first that Venus and Serena could add to their seemingly endless accolades: the first-round doubles match was featured in primetime, on Ashe. It was a fitting honor for Venus and Serena, the Williams sisters, the greatest sibling act in sports history.

          Merlisa Lawrence Corbett is author of Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend and Cultural Heroine

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