Venus and Serena Williams would rather save this for later
TENNIS
The Williams sisters' latest on-court meeting will be Wednesday in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. That's a couple of rounds too early for them.
NEW YORK -- Hidden in the 16-match history of Williams vs. Williams, there's an innocuous U.S. Open bout most people probably have forgotten and the rest probably have tried to forget.
It was the fourth-round match between Venus and Serena Williams in 2005, and it's their only Grand Slam meeting since 2000 that occurred before a final. Venus won, 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Serena said, "We were talking in the locker room afterward about just how horrible we played. I said, 'You played terrible.' She said, 'I know.' "
Venus then bowed to Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinals, the tournament churned on and Williams vs. Williams seemed trivial in general.
Yet as they find themselves sighing over another pre-final round with their U.S. Open quarterfinal Wednesday night, nobody suspects this one will end up being trivial. Far from coasting into tennis dotage since 2005, the Williams sisters have crested again in summer 2008. Their U.S. Opens have been so majestic that it's snarky fun to suggest the USTA should present this quarterfinal winner the trophy and stage the rest of the matches as exhibitions.
Serena has lost zero sets and 14 games in four matches so far, only one set thickening to 6-4. Venus has lost zero sets and 15 games in four matches, with 6-3 the hairiest. They're the only women left here who have won Grand Slam titles. They just played the Wimbledon final.
Venus, ranked No. 8, finds her current form the best of her life. Serena, ranked No. 3, could curtail a five-year absence from the No. 1 spot that once seemed her permanent residence.
"Just trying to be really serious about it," Serena said.
More than ever, that's the story at ages 28 (Venus) and 26 (Serena), two elite players trying to solve each other's game. After 15 combined Grand Slam singles titles, the amazing novelty of two people from the same household playing for major world titles has given way somewhat to the vagaries of form, strategy and tactics.
"How has it changed?" Venus said. "I would just say that more than anything I'm focusing on what her game is about and trying to get past that hurdle. I think if I had a sister and she wasn't very good, then it would be just not really a big deal because I would beat her. But she's very good, so I have to figure out, 'OK, how can I win this match?' "
At Wimbledon this year, when Venus Williams won the final, 7-5, 6-4, and demoralized her sister, some of the chat among tennis intellectuals centered on Venus' serves to the body.
