We are only a few hours away from the Women’s Singles final at this year’s Australian Open and the title clash will be something which every 90s born kid would want to watch- Venus Williams vs Serena Williams. Both the Williams sisters have been in exceptional form this year and the battle will be expected to be a tightly contested one.While Serena had a cakewalk semi-final against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Venus was pushed to three sets by 36th ranked Coco Vandeweghe before eventually prevailing to reach her first Grand Slam final since the 2009 edition of Wimbledon.Both sisters are already in their mid-30s but have not shown any signs of slowing down and with the kind of tennis the two are playing, there’s no denying that they still have a lot of tennis left in them. Both the Williams sisters share a fierce rivalry and have met each other a total of 27 times with Serena leading 16-11
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Over the years, both sisters have played some scintillating tennis –and here are five of the most exciting Venus-Serena matches that have ever been played.#5. 2009 Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals
Both the Williams sisters were in terrific form during the 2009 Dubai Tennis Championships as they had an easy passage to the semi-finals. Serena, who was the top seed, had dropped only one set prior to the semis while sixth seeded Venus lost only 12 games prior to the semi-finals.Both Venus and Serena locked horns in the semis and for a time, it looked that Venus would have a very convincing victory over Serena as she took the first set 6-1. However, Serena had no plans to back and unleashed a relentless attack on her sister during the second set as levelled the match by taking the second set 6-2, which was the first set that Venus had dropped throughout the entire tournament. What followed was a nail-biting third set as both players held their nerve to take the set to a tiebreak.Venus eventually won the match by winning the third set tiebreak 7-3 and eventually went on to win the tournament by defeating Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano in straight sets.
#4. 2008 US Open quarter-finals
Prior to the US Open, the Williams sisters had played an exciting final at Wimbledon a couple of months back with Venus winning in straight sets. Venus and Serena would meet again, this time in the quarter-finals of the US Open. Both sisters had been in brilliant form throughout the tournament and were yet to drop a set. While 7th seeded Venus dropped only 15 games en route to the quarters, Serena dropped 14.The match was expected to be a very exciting encounter and it did turn out to be one. Both sisters began the match well but it was Venus who broke first and was up a break at 5-3 in the first set. However, Serena held her nerve, saved two set points and took the first set to a tiebreak which she went on to win 8-6.The second set was an exact carbon copy of the first set as Venus was once again up 5-3 before Serena once again took the set to the tiebreak.
The tiebreak was another nail-biting one with Serena eventually winning the tiebreak 9-7 to take the match but not before saving a total of 10 set points (two in the first and eight in the second) throughout the match. She went on to win the title after defeating Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic in the semis and final respectively.
#3. 2003 Wimbledon final
The early 2000s was the time when both the Williams were at their very best with five of the six Grand Slam finals from the 2001 US Open till the 2003 Australian Open were contested by them. After both sisters failed to reach the French Open final (Serena losing in the semis and Venus in the fourth round), they locked horns at the Wimbledon final.Serena was the top seed and Venus, the fourth seed and both sisters had a simple passage to the quarter-finals without losing a single set en route. Both Venus and Serena were pushed to three sets in their quarter-final victories over compatriots Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati respectively.
Both sisters defeated the Belgian duo of Justine Henin (Serena) and Kim Clijsters (Venus) to set up a title clash. Venus drew first blood by taking the first set 6-4 but reigning champion Serena was in no mood to throw in the towel and she rebounded well by taking the second set 6-4 before taking the third set 6-2 to defend her title.
#2. 2003 Australian Open final
Barring the Australian Open, all the Grand Slam finals of 2002 were contested between the Williams sisters. Coming into the 2003 Australian Open, both sisters were the top two seeds (Serena 1st and Venus 2nd) and were firm favorites to win the title.Both sisters had an easy passage to the semi-finals where they beat the Belgian duo of Justine Henin (Venus) and Kim Clijsters (Serena) to set up a fourth consecutive Grand Slam final between them. The match was an exciting affair from the very first minute as both players were firm and resilient, taking the first set to a tiebreak.Serena took the first set by winning the tiebreak 7-4. However, Venus rebounded well by taking the set 6-3 to take the match to the third set. The third was looking to go either way before Serena made the decisive break to win the set 6-4 and clinch her maiden Australian Open title.
#1. 2009 WTA Tour Championships Round-Robin
Both the Williams sisters had been in brilliant from during the 2009 WTA Tour and both qualified for the year-ending championships at Doha, Serena as the second seed, and Venus as the seventh seed. Both sisters were drawn in the Maroon Group along with Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva.Both Venus and Serena were coming into their clash at the back of contrasting results. While Serena won her opening match against Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets, Venus was beaten in her opener by Elena Dementieva in three sets. However, both sisters would go on to play the match of the tournament.Both sisters began the match well but it was Venus who held her nerve and took the first set 7-5 before Serena rebounded by taking the second set 6-4. The third set was a very exciting one as both players put up a fabulous show.Serena saved a match point and the set went to a tiebreak! Serena eventually won the tiebreak 7-4 to confirm her place in the semi-finals. Venus managed to win her final round-robin game to reach the semi-finals and eventually made it to the final where she was beaten by Serena in straight sets.
Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that 7-time Grand Slam champion "should have won"
