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

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

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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.

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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.

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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?