In photos: 9 matches that made Venus vs Serena the best rivalry in tennis

The Williams sisters have faced off 31 times (and counting) to become this era's most prolific WTA rivalry: relive their most unforgettable encounters from the past quarter century.

ByDavid Kane

Published Aug 16, 2022

The Break: Venus & Serena to present at the Oscars

WATCH: The Break—Venus and Serena present at the Oscars.

Advertising

Match #1, 1998 Australian Open 2R (Venus d. Serena): In a moment of fantastic foreshadowing, the sisters played their first official match on Rod Laver Arena, where they would face off in two of their nine major finals.

Match #3, Miami Open Final (Venus d. Serena): 14 months later, they would play the first of their of 12 championship matches at their home tournament and "Fifth Slam," with Venus defeating Lil' Sis in three sets.

Match #6, 2001 US Open Final (Venus d. Serena): The Williams sisters proved ready for primetime in New York when they played their first Grand Slam final. Venus won her fourth major under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Advertising

Match #11, 2003 Australian Open Final (Serena d. Venus): Serena would avenge that defeat in five subsequent major finals, including here in Melbourne to complete her first "Serena Slam."

Match #17: 2008 US Open QF (Serena d. Venus): Though Venus would win that year's all-Williams Wimbledon final, Serena got her back in Flushing Meadows, edging through one of their highest-quality encounters in two tiebreakers.

Match #22, 2009 WTA Finals RR (Serena d. Venus): The Williams sisters dominated their week in Doha, facing off twice—including the final—but it was their round-robin thriller that proved iconic, requiring a Sudden Death final-set.

Advertising

Match #27, 2015 US Open QF (Serena d. Venus): Celebrities from Oprah to Jamie Foxx descended the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as Serena kept her quest for a Calendar Year Grand Slam alive after a blockbuster night match against Big Sis.

Match #28, 2017 Australian Open Final (Serena d. Venus): In a full-circle twist, the Williams' most recent major final featured a cameo from Serena's soon-to-be-born daughter Olympia as she won her Open Era-record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title.

Match #31, 2020 Top Seed Open 2R (Serena d. Venus): In what hopefully won't be their final match, the sisters met in a surreal post-pandemic encounter that featured minimal crowds and none of the gravitas this rivalry deserves. Might we get a more fitting final bow at the US Open?