In 2015, the tennis world was captivated by Serena Williams’s historic pursuit of the calendar-year Grand Slam. With each victory, she moved closer to being hailed as the greatest tennis player of all time. Yet amid the global chorus of praise, one voice carried a weight unlike any other—that of her older sister, Venus Williams.

Venus, herself a trailblazer with seven Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, was asked how she felt about her sister being celebrated as the greatest the sport had ever seen. Her response was not one of rivalry, nor comparison, but of love, pride, and profound humility.

“I always feel proud,” Venus said at the 2015 US Open. “I mean, she’s been my little sister my whole life. So to see her reach this level, I think she’s definitely the greatest. But I’ve always felt that way.”

Her words captured not just the essence of sibling love, but the deeper truth of their journey. Venus had been Serena’s first rival, first supporter, and first inspiration. Long before the world crowned Serena as the GOAT, Venus had already recognized her sister’s greatness, not only in skill but in spirit.

Venus never showed bitterness at the spotlight shifting toward Serena as the younger Williams surpassed her in titles and accolades. Instead, she embraced it with grace, acknowledging Serena’s relentless hard work and resilience in the face of adversity. For Venus, every one of Serena’s victories was personal. They were victories born from shared battles, grueling practices, and the unwavering belief that two sisters from Compton could redefine tennis.

That moment in 2015 revealed more than just Venus’s respect for Serena—it revealed a sisterhood built on unshakable love and mutual strength. While fans and commentators debated statistics and records, Venus reminded the world that greatness is not just measured in trophies, but in the character and humanity of those who achieve it.

Serena’s historic run was made even more powerful because behind her stood Venus, a sister who had paved the way, cheered the loudest, and celebrated every milestone as if it were her own.

It was a reminder that while Serena’s name will forever be etched in history as one of the greatest athletes of all time, her story cannot be told without Venus—the sister who believed in her from the very beginning, and who never needed headlines to know that Serena was, and always had been, the greatest.

In that heartfelt response, Venus Williams gave the world a glimpse of what true love and pride look like: not in competition, but in celebration of a bond stronger than sport, stronger than fame, stronger than history itself.