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24 Years After Snubbing Serena Williams’ Wisdom, Venus Williams Recalls ‘Battle of the Ages’ at US Open

Published 08/19/2023, 7:14 AM EDT

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No duo ruled the tennis world like the Williams sisters did. Serena Williams‘ and Venus Williams made tennis their Kingdom for almost two decades. Be it doubles or singles, the sisters are everywhere. It all started in 1999 when Serena won her first Grand Slam at the US Open, and never looked back till the last game she played, at the US Open itself.

The power sisters played both doubles and singles in 1999. Teenage Serena offered her wise insight to Queen Vee before her semi-final, but the latter ignored it and admits it herself.

Venus Williams recalls her 3rd semi-final at the US Open

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The 7 times Grand Slam champion faced the youngest player ever to win a Slam, Martina Hingis, in her 1999 home Slam. Venus came close to winning her home Slam twice at that point. She was a finalist in 1997 and a semi-finalist in 1998. This made her hungrier to win the Slam in 1999, but that did not happen, and Venus reveals why.

The 43-year-old dropped a new video titled, ‘What I learned from my biggest loss with Venus Wiliams,’ on her YouTube. Talking about the clash with Hingis, Venus said, “So we get to this match. It’s push, and it’s pull, and I was pushing, and she was pushing, and we’re fighting, and it’s daytime. It becomes nighttime. The night starts, the lights come on.”

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The 2 times US Open winner continued, “I..when I lost the first set, then I win the 2nd set. We’re in a 3rd set. She wins again, I win a game, then lose serve, and in tennis, you never wanna lose when you’re serving. …Then I break her, and then she breaks back, and I win, and it was just a battle of the ages. But, uh, (sighs deeply), I did not take Serena’s advice, ‘Since you have to show up, why not compete!?’ I did not take advice, unfortunately.” But the elder sister reveals one thing that made her happy after her loss.

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Queen Vee reveals her happiness for her sister Serena Williams’

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The Swiss legend defeated Venus in the semi-final, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Venus felt that she did not want the title enough. Rather, she hoped the title to come to her. Since Hingis fought with more determination, the American legend said the former tennis professional deserved the Slam. The tennis Queen got her lesson right and won her first career major in singles on her home turf the following year.

On the other hand, the Williams sisters lifted their first doubles title of home Slam that year. Serena and Venus started winning doubles with their 1998 French Open and were undefeated pair to date. The 23 times Slam champion won her first majors against Hingis by defeating her in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(4).

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Her little sister winning her maiden Slam at 17 years old against the youngest Slam champion made Queen Vee happy. This became the foundation for the legends that tennis rarely witnesses. Venus will take on the teenager Mirra Andreeva in her next match in Cleveland at the ‘Tennis in the Land’ tournament.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘What A Class Act’- Serena Williams Sends Love As Roger Federer Hangs His Tennis Racket

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Written by:

Krishna Priya

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Vadlamani Krishna Priya is a tennis writer at Essentially Sports. Pursuing her passion for storytelling, she has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Helped by her cousin who introduced her to the rules and regulations of the game during her childhood, Roger Federer matches became Priya's gateway to the world of tennis.
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Edited by:

Bhavani Singh