Serena Williams enjoyed a legendary rivalry with her sister on the WTA Tour.
The Williams sisters played 31 matches against one another across three different decades.
Serena Williams ‘won’ the rivalry, clinching the head-to-head 19-12.
Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images
They often met on the biggest of stages, contesting a remarkable nine Grand Slam finals throughout their careers.
However, it was the matches they played in the early rounds of tournaments that really bothered Serena Williams.
Serena Williams ‘hated’ meeting Venus Williams in the early rounds of tournaments
During the first episode of the ‘Stockton Street’ podcast, Venus Williams and Serena Williams discussed their WTA Tour rivalry.
“We played each other more than 20 times, and a lot of times in big finals. We played at least twice here [US Open], Wimbledon, I don’t know, three times?” said Venus Williams.
“Did we only play twice here? No. We played a lot here…” said Serena Williams in reply.
“Against each other in the final, but more than twice here,” Venus Williams clarified.
Serena Williams then explained what happened as their rivalry progressed, that she ‘really hated’.
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“I remember one year you beat me, it was in the fourth round, I think, and then we started meeting so early, I really just hated it,” she said.
“I hated every part of it.”
The Williams sisters often met before the quarterfinals of events, especially during the latter stages of their careers.
TournamentRoundWinnerLoserScore2015 WimbledonR16Serena WilliamsVenus Williams6-4, 6-32015 US OpenQFSerena WilliamsVenus Williams6-2, 1-6, 6-32017 Australian OpenFSerena WilliamsVenus Williams6-4, 6-42018 Indian Wells R32Venus WilliamsSerena Williams6-3, 6-42018 US Open R32Serena WilliamsVenus Williams6-1, 6-22020 Lexington OpenR16Serena WilliamsVenus Williams3-6, 6-3, 6-4Serena Williams and Venus Williams’ head-to-head record 2015-2020
Both sisters proceeded to share how they used to feel watching the draws unfold.
“When the draw came out, our hope was that we were on opposite sides of the draw, or at least in different brackets,” said Venus Williams.
“Most people are like, I hope I don’t play the number-one seed, whereas for me, I was like I hope my sister is in a different bracket.
“So we can make our way through and at least meet in the final. Even when we met in the finals, it still wasn’t easy, but at least it was the right place.”
“It was better, because that’s what we worked for, but it still sucked in the final,” said Serena Williams.
“I want you to win, but at the same time, I want me to win. So it becomes a moment where you have to become super selfish, for lack of a better word, and have to really fight.”
Venus Williams then commented on the common misconception fans had about her rivalry with Serena Williams.
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“That was a misconception I felt like I was getting into about us, that we probably secretly hated each other, when it could be nothing further,” she said.
“I felt like people felt like we secretly hated each other. People were always like ‘What’s it like playing your sister? Do you guys talk before?’ It’s like bore on, yes.”
They certainly played their fair share of matches against one another, but how did they approach things mentally and tactically?
Venus Williams claims Serena Williams was ‘invincible’ for two years
Coming up short against her younger sister on 19 occasions, Venus Williams struggled for periods of their rivalry.
“I always felt like if you had your best day, I could not win,” she said.
“I felt I could only beat you if you did not have a good day. I feel like there was a period where you were invincible, and I could not play better than you; it was a two-year period.
“During that period, I just could not beat you, and I would be close, and it was just two years of losing and losing for me.”
Interestingly, Serena Williams often felt the same way about the seven-time major winner.
“When I was playing you, it was like I don’t know if I can win. I might, I might not. If Venus is playing the way I know she can play. Serving and moving, I was like I have to wait for her to make a mistake and just outlast her,” she said.
“That became my strategy in some matches. It was like if I can just hang in there, and if she misses or something happens, I can maybe win. I never played any opponent like that. Ever.
“I knew every other opponent I could be more aggressive, I was stronger, I was faster, I could serve better. But it was like I was playing myself in a way, but you were taller and stronger. I always felt that.”
Fans who watched their matches won’t forget the many legendary battles between two of the greatest players in the history of American tennis.