It is a rivalry that in terms of importance and longevity compares with Chris Evert-Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf-Monica Seles. Venus and Serena Williams have met 26 times, 13 in Grand Slam events and eight in Grand Slam finals. The 13 Grand Slam meetings are the most of any pair save for Evert and Navratilova, who met 22 times.
The Williamses’ latest match, Tuesday night in the United States Open quarterfinals, may be the most important yet, as Serena is bidding for the first Grand Slam since Graf in 1988.
But it is also a rivalry between sisters, and that brings with it some ambiguity or even discomfort.