For Sisters, Now Is When Things Get Complicated

By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 5, 2008

WIMBLEDON, England, July 4 -- Venus and Serena Williams planned to spend Friday evening as they have nearly every night for the past two weeks: talking about everything except tennis, having dinner together and retiring to their rooms to read (in Venus's case) or watch a movie (in Serena's).

Saturday's schedule included breakfast together, followed by the arrival of two cars -- one to take each sister to the All England club, where they will walk onto Centre Court, one behind the other, and compete for the greatest prize in tennis.

It will be the third time the sisters have battled for Wimbledon's championship. Serena won the previous meetings, in 2002 and 2003. And it comes at a time when women's tennis needs a heroine, with interest in the sport waning among American fans since the sisters pared back their playing schedules.

The all-Williams finals in Grand Slam events have never lacked for drama. But they haven't always produced great tennis.

That's not because of a lack of ability or preparation, but more a consequence of the complex dynamic when siblings compete.

Some former pros, such as Patrick McEnroe, know firsthand the confounding swirl of emotions. He never beat his famous older brother John for a title. He came close, forcing a third set in an all-McEnroe final when John's career was winding down and Patrick's was at its peak. But the all-consuming hunger to win deserted him.

"I didn't have that drive and desire because I had so much respect for my brother and love for my brother," said Patrick, seven years younger. "It was a weird kind of feeling. It was like, 'How badly do I want this?' And I didn't really want it that badly."

Sports psychologist Bob Rotella has worked with sporting siblings and believes that when sisters are involved, the younger one has the edge.

"In my experience the older sister always has it tougher because the older sister from birth has got to look out for the little sister, be her friend and help her along," Rotella says.

Professional tennis has seen plenty of siblings compete. But Pam Shriver argues that none can fully understand what it's like to be a Williams, so close in age and ability and competing for a title as coveted as Wimbledon.

"It's one of the most miraculous things that's ever happened in our sport: having two sisters go through the emotions of not only preparing for what is our biggest stage, but then to have to walk out on court with somebody you have grown up with," said Shriver, now a commentator for ESPN. "It's incredible."

Serena, who holds an 8-7 career edge over Venus, insists it is easy.

"I personally want everything that Venus has," Serena said last week. "She wins a trophy? I would desperately want it. This is the finals of Wimbledon. Who doesn't want it?"

Never have Wimbledon finalists known each other better.

In terms of family dynamics, Serena, 26, is the baby who always gets what she wants. Venus, 28, is the older sister who comforts her when she doesn't.

But on the court, they are as equal now as they have ever been. Both swept into Wimbledon's final without losing a set, overpowering opponents with booming serves, thunderous groundstrokes and aggressive tactics.

It's the game their father taught them on the public courts of Compton, Calif., defying convention in this most conventional sport. Richard Williams's younger daughters didn't compete in the junior ranks but practiced against each other. Six Wimbledon titles later, the sisters still practice together and list their parents as their co-coaches.

Luke Jensen, who teamed with his brother Murphy to win the 1993 French Open doubles title, believes the sisters' pioneering route created an "us against them" mind-set that served them well in their early charge up the rankings. But that got turned on its head, he suspects, when they realized their childhood dream of becoming the world's best and found themselves facing each other for the sport's major trophies.

"What happens when 'us versus them' becomes 'us versus us'?" Jensen mused. "What happens when your greatest victory will be at the expense of the person who has been on your side?"

Richard Williams finds it so awkward that he flew home from Wimbledon on Friday, unwilling to sit through Saturday's championship.

"It's like watching your family fight each other, to me," Richard Williams said.

But their mother, Oracene Price, will be in the stands. So will their sister Isha, who predicts it will be one of their most competitive Grand Slam finals yet.

"In the beginning it was a lot more difficult because they were younger and obviously they both wanted it," Isha Price said. "They still want it. But there is a level of maturity now that maybe they didn't have before. They have both won here. Both of their names are on [Wimbledon's] Venus Rosewater dish. Both of them will go down in history."