It is virtually unimaginable think about tennis with out Venus and Serena Williams. The 2 sisters started their skilled careers in 1994 and 1999, respectively, profitable many majors and profoundly impacting the game.
However because the saying goes, all good issues should come to an finish.
Serena introduced in August by way of a first-person essay on Vogue.com that her enjoying profession is winding down. She did not use the phrase “retirement,” as a substitute choosing “evolution” when describing her eventual exit from skilled tennis. She stated her need to develop her household was a purpose for strolling away and urged the 2022 US Open might be her ultimate match.
Venus, nonetheless, hasn’t revealed a lot about her tennis future. After dropping to Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck within the first spherical of the US Open, Venus stated in a postmatch information convention that she is “simply targeted on the doubles,” the place she is going to play with Serena.
On Thursday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN), the Williams sisters will face the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova and Lucie Hradecka within the first spherical of the doubles match. It is the primary doubles evening session at Arthur Ashe since Mike and Bob Bryan defeated Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray within the males’s doubles quarterfinals in 2013. It is also the primary girls’s doubles evening session there because the Williams sisters misplaced to Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko within the third spherical in 2012.
If Serena and Venus lose, it might be the ultimate doubles match they play collectively professionally. Whatever the final result, the Williams sisters’ legacies as tennis legends are ironclad. And we’ve the stats to show it.
Listed below are some numbers behind Venus’ and Serena’s Corridor of Fame-worthy careers:
The Williams sisters
14: Coming into the 2022 US Open, Venus and Serena have received 14 girls’s doubles Grand Slams as companions. The one duo with extra within the Open Period are Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova (20). There’s a chance for the Williams sisters so as to add yet one more doubles Grand Slam with a win at this yr’s US Open.
3: The Williams sisters have received three Olympic gold medals as doubles teammates (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, London 2012).
2002: After the 2002 French Open, the place Serena defeated Venus 7-5, 6-3, the sisters ranked Nos. 1 and a pair of within the WTA rankings. It was the primary time in WTA historical past that sisters occupied the highest two spots. Serena ended the yr as No. 1 and Venus No. 2.
136,930,533: As of Thursday, The Williams sisters have earned a mixed $136,930,533 in prize cash of their careers. Serena has acquired $94,618,080 and Venus $42,312,453.
31: Serena and Venus have confronted one another 31 instances in singles matches. Serena holds the benefit with a 19-12 file. 9 of these video games have occurred in a Grand Slam ultimate. Serena once more has the sting with a 7-2 file.
Serena Williams
23: Coming into the 2022 US Open, Serena has received 23 Grand Slam singles championships. That is probably the most by any participant within the Open Period (since 1968) and is second-most all time. Margaret Courtroom is first with 24.
Serena may tie Courtroom’s file if she wins the US Open. She has received the match six instances.
367 and 73: Serena has received 367 main matches, probably the most by a girl in tennis historical past. She has additionally received 73 profession singles titles, the fifth-most amongst girls within the Open Period.
4: Profitable all 4 Grand Slam occasions in tennis isn’t a straightforward process, not to mention consecutively. However Serena has proved in any other case. She has received 4 straight majors twice in her profession (2002-03 and 2014-15). Steffi Graf is the one different tennis participant to realize that feat.
4 can also be the variety of Olympic medals Serena has received, all gold. She earned her {hardware} in doubles on the 2000 Video games, singles and doubles on the 2008 Video games and doubles on the 2012 Video games.
30: Serena’s dominance after 30 years outdated is a testomony to her longevity and ability. These are some notable feats Williams has achieved since she turned 30:
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She has received 10 Grand Slams, seven greater than another lady within the Open Period.
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Williams received the 2017 Australian Open at 35 years, 124 days outdated, turning into the oldest lady to win a title within the Open Period. She did not drop a set all through the occasion and performed whereas pregnant along with her daughter, Olympia. After her Australian Open win in 2017, Serena was ranked No. 1 within the WTA rankings, turning into the oldest particular person to carry the highest spot.
319: How dominant is Serena? She spent 319 weeks because the ATP or WTA’s No. 1-ranked participant throughout her profession. To place this into perspective, solely 4 different gamers have spent 300-plus weeks because the ATP or WTA No. 1 participant (Graf, Navratilova, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer).
186: Serena spent 186 consecutive weeks because the WTA’s No. 1 participant from Feb. 2013 to Sept. 2016. That is tied for the longest streak at No.1 since WTA rankings have been launched (1975).
Venus Williams
91: With a wild-card entry into this yr’s US Open, Venus has appeared in 91 main singles occasions. That is probably the most by any participant within the Open Period.
7: Venus is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, trailing her sister for many amongst energetic gamers. It is also tied for eighth-most amongst girls tennis gamers within the Open Period.
2/25/2002: On this date, Venus reached No. 1 within the WTA rankings and spent 11 weeks there. She turned the primary Black male or feminine to carry the No.1 spot since ATP (1973) and WTA (1975) rankings started.
1: Opponents should not doubt Venus, even when she is a double-digit seed. She is the one lady within the Open Period to win a number of Grand Slam singles titles as a double-digit seed. Venus received Wimbledon in 2005 as a No. 14 seed and in 2007 as a No. 23 seed.
5: Wimbledon has handled Venus effectively. She has received the match 5 instances, fourth-most amongst girls within the Open Period. She trails Navratilova (9), Serena (7) and Graf (7).
Additionally, Venus is a five-time Olympic medalist. She received gold in singles and doubles on the 2000 Video games, doubles on the 2008 Video games and doubles on the 2012 Video games. Venus additionally received silver in combined doubles on the 2016 Video games. Her 5 medals are tied with Kathleen McKane Godfree for many by a tennis athlete.
ESPN Stats and Data contributed to this story
