is broadly recognized as the greatest women’s player ever, but the American thinks she would have had even more success had it not been for her sister, .
Serena and Venus’ rivalry was one of the greatest in tennis history. Their emergence in the 1990s changed the course of women’s tennis. as a 14-year-old in 1994.
The power and athleticism they brought at such a young age was incredible. Their powerful baseline hitting has become the style most players employ on the and ATP Tours.
Serena and Venus Williams played 31 professional matches against each other, with Serena finishing the head-to-head with a 19-12 lead. Their rivalry spanned from 1998 until the final meeting in 2020.
Although Serena finished her career as the more successful player, securing 23 Grand Slams to Venus’ 7, there were occasions when the sisters were the two best players in the world and felt like the most likely winners of each tournament they entered.
That was mainly the case on grass and hard courts when Venus was in her prime. Justine Henin, who won four French Open titles from 2003 until 2007, lessened the sisters’ success on clay.
Venus, despite being 44 years old and the older of the two sisters, is still not retired. In 2025, she plans to pick and choose her tournaments, something the five-time Wimbledon champion has earned the right to do.
Rick Macci, a hall-of-fame coach who used to coach Serena and Venus, recently suggested that Venus would have won between 15 and 20 Grand Slams had her younger sister not repeatedly stopped her
Serena, speaking at the agreed with Macci that Venus would have claimed a minimum of 15 Grand Slams without her presence. However, she also thinks Venus is the reason she did not win 30 Grand Slams.