/ 2 April 1999

Serena looks set to eclipse Venus

Stephen Bierley Tennis

Richard Williams has no doubts: “Either Venus or Serena will win a Grand Slam this year. And after that there will be no stopping them.”

The nearest Venus Williams has come to capturing one of the four great titles in tennis was in 1997 when, at the first try, she reached the final of the US Open. Younger sister Serena Williams’s best is a place in the last 16 of the French Open in 1998.

However, the words of their father, a man given to presenting possibilities as if they were certainties, seemed conceivable after his two daughters produced a final of a strength and sinew seldom seem in the women’s game at the Lipton Championships last Sunday.

It was, of course, a very American affair, full of sound, fury and hype. And as such there was a strong temptation to believe that the Williams sisters alone represented the future.

Venus, who won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, thereby defending her title, caught the mood with: “Serena is a great player.” Her sister reciprocated: “Venus is a great player and I’m a great awesome player too.”

As yet they are not. Good, certainly, but not great. However there is no doubt that the senior players, initially sceptical of the Williams’s background and their lack of formal coaching (their dad has done that job), now realise that Venus (18) and Serena (17) are here to stay.

Steffi Graf, the holder of 21 Grand Slam titles, said: “Their athleticism is incredible. They’re taking risks, going for their shots, and they don’t have any specific weaknesses.”

Graf should know; she was beaten in the final of the Indian Wells event by Serena Williams recently, while Venus Williams gunned her down in the Lipton semi-final.

Of the two Serena Williams is the more approachable off the court; on court Venus Williams has the mental edge so far, having won all their three meetings. But the feeling is that Serena Williams will ultimately be the better player.

“Venus is more powerful on the serve and from the baseline, and she’s more aggressive,”‘ said Martina Hingis. “But Serena has the ability to change it up more, and has more variety.”

Hingis was hustled to defeat in the semis by Serena Williams but refuses to believe the sisters are invincible.

Tennis is similar to boxing in mixing the physical with the mental. Mentally Hingis is bruised although not beaten, certainly at Grand Slam level where she has won five of the last nine titles.

The French Open in May will be another almighty test. Hingis has never won the title at Roland Garros, while the French hope that their new teenage star, Amalie Mauresmo, will mount a serious challenge.

Venus Williams knows she has not played her best in the Slams, while Serena Williams claims she will return to win the French Open.

The one thing the sisters can do nothing about is the draw. Serena Williams was clearly not happy losing to Venus Williams on Sunday and the fascination of the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open will be to see what happens if they meet in the fourth round or quarter-finals.

“Tennis is extremely tough on a family and we wanted our girls to grow up with a bunch of love for each other,” said their father. This love is bound to be severely tested.