What are the “odds” of two kids from Crompton acting as trailblazers for women’s sports? Perhaps impossibly low. Yet Serena and Venus Williams have defied all expectations, rising to dominate in tennis, with their father, Richard, standing as a rock behind them. Although it is a story of the past now, we are still wonder-struck by it. The former American tennis pro, John McEnroe, is also not immune to it!

In the July 29 episode of Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast, the 65-year-old player, McEnroe and the 29-year-old Kyrgios discussed the inspiring stories of the women tennis players. Inevitably, the first names that occupied McEnroe’s mind were the Williams sisters. Emphasizing how women’s tennis offers a blueprint for various athletes to follow, he began by saying,

“You have the most unusual and greatest story in the history of our sport with the Williams sisters, two kids from the equivalent of Harlem, Compton, California. That father never played, looked at videos, and how to play tennis. You get to that, which would turn out to be Serena Williams and Venus Williams. What are the odds of that?” 

Besides, female participation in sports was seen as something unusual too, with few clubs denying the entry of female players in the U.S.A. However, as the Williams sisters went on to achieve success, they also paved the way for other athletes to follow, opening various closed gates.

Despite never playing tennis himself, Richard took on the role of his daughters’ primary coach for most of their childhood. This decision came after struggling to find the perfect fit from external coaches. And it worked out for the best for Serena and Venus, as they later went on to achieve the World No. 1 ranking in tennis, earning a total of 30 Grand Slams (combined)!

Apart from that, when Venus first played at a Wimbledon match, the disparity of prize money was a common thing, similar to other sports like basketball, baseball, and soccer. However, unlike other sports, change soon followed in tennis, with their powerful voices pointing at the same.

Currently, many Grand Slam tournaments, like the Australian Open, the U.S. Open, and Wimbledon, offer equal prize money to both men and women, intriguing more interest and increasing female players’ participation in the sport. McEnroe, aptly puts it by saying, “So the playing field is more level in tennis, women’s tennis than any other sport. Equal prize money, they have more opportunities, guess what the best athletes are playing. That’s what we need.”

Serena and Venus are certainly the role models who have illuminated the path for many potential future athletes in the world. The job is not done yet and Serena is hopeful about continuing with her work to “change” the mindset of many people.

Serena’s fight for the “question of resilience”!

The 42-year-old former tennis player has remained absent from the sport since 2022. However, the queen of tennis still reigns in all our hearts! You’ll either find her appearing in a Met Gala event, setting new fashion trends, launching her own makeup line (Wyn Beauty), or debuting as a host on an award show (ESPYs 2024). Her relevance and dominating presence in the tennis world are, otherwise, something one can never take their eyes away from. But what is the secret to this?

In her own words, “Too often women are not supported enough or are discouraged from choosing their path. I hope together we can change that. For me, it was a question of resilience. What others marked as flaws or disadvantages about myself – my race, my gender – I embraced as fuel for my success. I never let anything or anyone define me or my potential. I controlled my future.”

Serena Williams and her sister have pushed the boundaries of athleticism and skills to an unimaginable level. What they have left in tennis is a legacy that will remain forever!

Serena Willams’ journey in tennis has been nothing short of fierce battles and competitive fire. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has tackled 423 matches in her career, has won 367 of them! Be it playing against her sister, Venus Williams, or other top rivals, the 42-year-old former tennis pro has weathered all storms on-court. Now, as she reflects on her two-decade-long career, Williams is nothing but grateful to all her on-court rivals for helping her elevate her game.

Serena Williams recently appeared for a post-screen Q&A session after the premiere of her upcoming docuseries. The former World No. 1’s eight-part docuseries In the Arena: Serena Williams tells the story of her triumphs and challenges, shedding light on her remarkable pathway to success. A short clip of that interview session has surfaced on X, where she shared her insightful comments on how she and sister Venus faced intense competition from their WTA rivals.

“Listen you gotta win. It was like, they literally wanted to take us down. It’s a sport it’s a game. What do you expect? They want you to win? But I think that the fact that they played us so much harder than they played each other was the reason why we were so much better,” said the American. Further explaining the reasons, Williams added, “Because at some point, playing, giving your best every single time and fighting so hard when it’s just you and they go lighter on the next person makes you better.”

Although both sisters played against a lot of WTA players, the notable ones among them are Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin, Jennifer Capriati, and Martina Hingis. While Davenport, with her powerful groundstrokes, gave Williams a hard time, Serena fought back and won 10 times against her with her skills on-court. Justine Hennin, a former World No. 1, was also not an exception in this regard.

With her one-handed backhand approach, the Belgian tennis pro challenged the power game of Serena Williams. However, Williams persisted and ultimately acquired a lead over her by 8-6. Not to forget, Jennifer Capriati as well, whose resurgence during the early 2000s added another layer of competition for the Williams sisters. But Williams’ power did not waver, as she went on to achieve 10/17 victories against her as well.

Last but not least, even against the Swiss tennis pro, Martina Hingis, Williams’ finesse proved to be useful as she ended up with a 7-6 lead over her. According to Serena Williams, “If I did not have that target on my back, if it wasn’t for them, I would never be me.” Apart from playing against the top players in the world, Serena Williams, who retired in 2022, also once revealed how playing against her sister brings out the “best” in her.

Serena Williams reveals how playing with her sister pushed her to be a better player

Serena Williams and Venus Williams have together achieved a total of 30 Grand Slams. On-court, they encountered each other 31 times! Interestingly, Serena Williams has won 19 times among them. However, according to the 42-year-old former player, “The best part is (that) we bring out the best in each other.”

Illustrating her point, she added, “I know when I play her, I have to play some of my best tennis. She does, too. I feel like throughout our career, we have pushed each other to be the best that we can be and be Venus and Serena Williams.” Both the sisters have stayed at the top of the sport for several weeks, but when it came to battling against each other, the Williams sisters gave their best.

The maestro who launched Venus and Serena Williams to tennis prominence, Coach Rick Macci recently came out with a new tweet. Macci made a suggestion that the Williams sisters’ success wasn’t solely due to him and Richard. He mentioned their mother, Oracene Price, who played a significant role in the expedition.

Price has played a significant role at every stage of the process, from intense practice sessions to crucial times on the Grand Slam stage.

The players are frequently the center of attention in the complex dance that is tennis success. There is a key character in the story of Venus and Serena Williams and their incredible tennis adventure. Someone who was a coach as well as a mother. Macci’s tweet raises questions, but what really reveals the unsung hero of this tale is the discovery that lies beneath.

When Serena Williams wasn’t receiving much recognition in the tennis world, her mother Price gave her the confidence boost she needed. Price once remarked, “Her dad’s court was Venus.” I had Serena on mine. He said Serena was wild and he couldn’t handle her. I gave her a slightly different story and gave her self-confidence. I got her to believe that she could go to any ball.

Oracene Price had a significant influence on many aspects of sports, from the demanding training regimens to the high-stakes Grand Slam events. Macci’s tweet emphasizes that strategy and technique aren’t the only factors that contribute to tennis success. It’s also about the intangible factors that mold champions, like parental support.

Although the players are frequently in the spotlight, the story of the Williams sisters is not unique. Other tennis greats like Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, and Novak Djokovic have something in common outside of the court. What becomes a recurring thread is the steadfast support and crucial roles that their families perform.

Like Venus and Serena Williams, these celebrities have been transparent about the tremendous efforts made by their loved ones. Family ties do have a lot of power; in fact, world tennis champion Novak Djokovic feels that his desire to spend more time with his family will be the reason he departs from the game.

Rick Macci’s tweet showcases a broader narrative of parents as unsung heroes. The support of these parents has shaped the destinies of tennis’s brightest stars.

Holding the door open for someone is one of the few gestures that will put a smile on someone’s face. However, often, this gesture can cause someone to awkwardly hustle through the door because they aren’t close. Serena Williams is no stranger to the latter situation and recently shared a post talking about the awkwardness of someone holding the door open for her when she’s far away.

Serena’s post, as usual, saw much engagement by fans. Her elder sister, Venus Williams, also decided to talk about the post and joked about hustling through it.

Serena Williams is someone who undoubtedly encounters several nice gestures throughout the day. She is a personality who has brought a smile to many faces and continues to do so. Holding the door open for her would be a minor gesture in someone’s eyes. But even that can become awkward for her. Sometimes, Serena has to rush to get through an open door because she’s far away. She recently shared a post on her ‘X’ page regarding the situation.

It read, “Thank you for holding the door open for me…. But if I’m a football field away please go ahead and go in… I don’t wanna rush- by the time I get there I’m sweating like crazy and stressed 🙈. Anyone feel me?”.

Venus Williams was captured by Serena’s words as she encountered a similar situation many times. To her post, she replied, “Gosh I’ve been making the mistake to be hustling all this time?!”.

Venus realized she could’ve shared a post on her social media like Serena and discouraged people from putting her in such a situation. The seven-time grand slam champion has found herself in a few awkward situations, including an incident with her mother in Moscow.

Oracene Price and Venus Williams find themselves in a ditch

The story takes place when Venus Williams is much younger. She went for a night out with her mother, Oracene Price. Price would not usually step into a nightclub but made an exception on that day. The elder Williams’ sister recalled that they didn’t have much money, but they went out, made some friends, and ate in the middle of the night.

Over the years, Venus Williams has enriched her image as a tennis legend with many more contours from outside the world of sports. She has not only conquered the business world but her style and sense of fashion are always in the news. In her latest avatar, she becomes an Art Advisor—for Miami Art Week and interestingly, also for her younger sister Serena Williams.

Venus recently shared how she helped her younger sister pick out the best artworks she came across during Miami Art Week, though eventually, she missed out on buying something for herself amidst the chaos. In fact, she cheekily mentioned not getting paid for her expertise.

The tennis superstar recently co-hosted the Miami Art Week at the Pace Gallery. During the art week, she picked out a few art pieces for her sister Serena Williams as well. Given that Serena Williams has just started collecting art, she asked for help from Venus Williams.

In fact, she also added how getting busy with helping Serena out, she could not get the artists’ works for herself. In the end, she was left with limited options. Not just that, Venus Williams also shared how she got introduced to the world of art in the first place.

Venus Williams shares what caught her attention in art

The senior Williams shared that ever since she was 18 years old, she wanted to go to design school. She was even approached by one of the schools in Florida where she could go to study design. She added that she always loved design but it could never materialize. At the time she had already become a professional tennis player and was in no place to switch careers.

However, later she started fashion school and learned more about painting and other forms of art. This eventually led to her aiming to be an art connoisseur and she started collecting artworks with the help of a friend.

Under the tutelage of many prominent coaches, Venus Williams and Serena Williams carved an illustrious legacy on the women’s tour. One such name is Eric Hechtman, who has accompanied the Williams sisters during the twilight of their competitive journeys. Having coached both the American tennis icons, the 39-year-old coach recently had a tough choice to make.

The iconic sister duo of the Williams sisters is a treat to watch on court for everyone. It has been a while since both sisters have played with each other or against each other professionally on the court. After Serena Williams‘ retirement last year, fans might have given up on seeing the iconic sisters take to the court together. But today, this changed, as a video surfaced on the internet where the two sisters, Venus and Serena, played their hearts out against each other in a friendly practice session.

Tennis fans have always been holding a smidgen of hope of seeing Serena Williams making a comeback to professional tennis. They always have expressed how they want to see her play more since Venus Williams, despite being the elder one, has not retired yet. It can be safely assumed that her ardent fans are definitely not over Serena’s retirement.

Now, with the video that Serena Williams posted, the hope for her comeback has definitely increased even more. She posted a video on her TikTok which was reposted by an Instagram fan page of hers. In the video, both sisters can be seen playing a friendly match against one another. They stretch right before starting the game and hit a few shots, rekindling their iconic rivalry on the court.

Serena Williams during the video also comes close to the camera to show how her racquet is dated 2022, the year she evolved away from tennis. And this is what makes the whole moment even more iconic. This also reminds us of the last match the sisters played together.

After the video was shared on social media, in which Serena showed the racquet from last year, it certainly reminded everyone of the last match they played together. It was at the US Open in 2022. The Williams sisters played against Linda Noskova and Lucie Hradecka in the first round of the doubles event in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Even though they lost the match, it was still iconic as it was certain that they would not be playing like this together for a long time now, as Serena was about to retire. Now that the sisters have again taken to the court together, is there a chance we could see the iconic sister duo on the professional tour again? Although it is a distant possibility, given Serena’s commitment to her family, her die-hard fans would certainly keep their hopes high.