U.S. Open spotlight shows
- Filed under: Alternative Lifestyle, Entertainment, Famous, Pleasure, Society, Sports
- Date: Aug 28,2007
Only one active player owns more major singles titles than Venus Williams’ six: Serena Williams, with eight.
Each Williams took home one of this year’s first three Grand Slam trophies: Serena at the Australian Open, Venus at Wimbledon.
They are the primary reason the U.S. Open’s women’s championship shifted to prime time in 2001, when they met in the first of six all-Williams major finals.
And they are featured in the two matches under the lights Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day 1 of this year’s U.S. Open. Top-seeded Justine Henin, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 5 Ana Ivanovic are in action during the day, as is three-time defending men’s champion Roger Federer.
It’s quite clear: Regardless of what the rankings or recent form say, any conversation about women’s tennis, where it’s been and where it is, begins with the two big-hitting siblings.
“Growing up, we dreamed of that, of us being on top of women’s tennis, playing Slam finals, being (ranked) 1 and 2. That’s what we worked for,” said Venus, who faces 137th-ranked qualifier Kira Nagy of Hungary. “So when that happens, it’s incredible, it’s amazing. I think for us there’s no doubt that we can achieve these things.”
And still, in so many ways, the Williams sisters are about so much more than women’s tennis, from their clothing deals to various outside interests.
“Their passions get inflamed for tennis at times,” said CBS analyst Mary Carillo, a former player, “and at times it seems the only place they want to be is away from the sport.”
That’s particularly so when it comes to Serena, the younger, more extroverted, more everywhere-you-turn-there-she-is of the pair.
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