When you think of the greatest athletes of all time, it’s impossible not to think of Serena and Venus Williams. Since bursting onto the tennis scene as kids, the pair has consistently dominated the sport while making history along the way.
Rocking their signature beaded hair, the pair competed against each other as teenagers in 1998’s Australian Open, 17-year-old Venus securing a win over her 16-year-old sister.
Since then, the sisters have met in nine Grand Slam final matches. They made history when they became the first players to meet in all four major tennis championship finals consecutively. After winning the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, the breathtaking feat was famously dubbed the “Serena Slam.” You know you’re the greatest of all time when being the greatest is synonymous with your name!
Together, the Williams sisters have knocked out 30 individual Grand Slam titles and 14 titles in doubles competition. In 2002, they became the first pair of sisters to hold both first and second place world rankings, Venus being the first black woman to reach number one in the Open era.
During this year’s Australian Open, Serena once again faced her sister as she won her 23rd career Grand Slam title surpassing Steffi Graf for the most all time.
“My first Grand Slam started here, and getting to 23 here, but playing Venus, it’s stuff that legends are made of,” Serena said in her post-game interview. “I couldn’t have written a better story.”
If you think the pair’s sibling rivalry is awkward, think again. Perhaps no one was prouder of Serena’s historic win than her sister Venus. “Your win has always been my win. I think you know that I’m enormously proud of you. You mean the world to me,” Venus told reporters after her sister’s performance.
Only time will tell what new barriers these history-makers will break on the court next.
