Venus Williams and Serena Williams were once the dominant forces on the WTA Tour, both in singles and doubles.

The Williams sisters have inspired Coco Gauff, who currently occupies third place in the WTA Tour rankings.

She already boasts one Grand Slam title at the age of 21, having won the 2023 US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka.

And that is a Grand Slam that Venus Williams and Serena Williams both enjoyed huge success at during their glittering careers.

The former won two of her seven Grand Slam titles at the US Open, a tournament in which the latter won six of her 23, with Justine Henin named as being the Williams sisters’ biggest threat during their dominance.

Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

Venus Williams wanted to protect Serena Williams after their 2001 US Open final

It was, incidentally, the site of the very first Grand Slam final between the Williams sisters, which would represent the first of nine such finals between the duo.

The first arrived in the 2001 US Open final, where Venus beat her little sister Serena 6-2, 6-4 to successfully defend her title.

READ MORE: The prediction Serena Williams made about herself and Venus Williams in 2004 that definitely came true

And while she was celebrating after the win, Serena was busy being asked what Venus said to her at the net in her post-match press conference.

“She said she didn’t feel like she really won because she always wanted to, you know, kind of protect me,” replied Serena.

“I told her, ‘Well, you won. Take it. You know, it’s your win. It’s your victory. If I would have won, I won. You won, you need it. It’s yours. Don’t feel that way because, honestly, there’s not enough time in one’s life. Time happens so fast’. I just told her, you know, ‘It’s yours. You won it’.”

Serena Williams had ‘zero difficulty’ with Venus Williams emotional ties during matches

It was a hugely significant match for more reasons than one, with the 2001 US Open final representing the first Grand Slam final involving two siblings in 117 years.

That was at Wimbledon all the way back in 1884, when Maud Watson defeated her sister Lillian in three sets.

Moving back to 2001, and it was also the first time women were showcased on Saturday evening in prime time.

It’s fair to say Serena certainly got her revenge on Venus in the years that followed, winning seven of their nine Grand Slam finals.

8 Sep 2001: Venus and Serena Williams of the USA pose at the net before playing in the women’s final match of the US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. Venus defeats Serena 6-2, 6-4. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/Allsport
Asked after losing their first final if she thought it would become easier to block out the fact Venus is her sister in potential future meetings, Serena said: “Yeah, for sure.

“It’s really not difficult now. Actually, I have zero difficulty in that. I have no problem with it. I’m sure she doesn’t.

Year
Tournament
Winner
Score

2001
US Open
Venus Williams
6–2, 6–4

2002
French Open
Serena Williams
5–7, 3–6

2002
Wimbledon
Serena Williams
6–7(4–7), 3–6

2002
US Open
Serena Williams
4–6, 3–6

2003
Australian Open
Serena Williams
6–7(4–7), 6–3, 4–6

2003
Wimbledon
Serena Williams
6–4, 4–6, 2–6

2008
Wimbledon
Venus Williams
7–5, 6–4

2009
Wimbledon
Serena Williams
6–7(3–7), 2–6

2017
Australian Open
Serena Williams
4–6, 4–6

Venus Williams vs Serena Williams Grand Slam finals
“Maybe after the matches, a lot of emotional ties involved. But during, you’re out there to compete. We both want to win. We both worked a long 15 years for this. Sisters are rivals.

“A lot of people in our family fight. Not our family, but just a lot of people in families fight. I guess our fighting is done on the court only because we never fight.”