Sibling showdown No. 30 is locked in.
The matchup that everyone in the tennis world treasures — except for the two women involved — will take place Friday in Flushing as Serena and Venus Williams face off in the third round of the U.S. Open after both won in straight sets Wednesday. It will be the earliest they have met in a major tournament since their first meeting in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open.
“Unfortunately and fortunately we have to play each other,” said Serena, 36. “We make each other better. We bring out the best when we play each other.”
Serena, the No. 17 seed, ensured Friday’s headliner by making quick work of Carina Witthoeft 6-2, 6-2 under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The younger sister, on the hunt for her record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, delivered a strong serve and finished off the young German behind 13 aces and 30 winners.
No. 16-seed Venus punched her ticket to the duel earlier in the day by fending off Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5 at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The 38-year-old, who suffers from Sjogrens Syndrome — an autoimmune disorder that can cause joint pain and sap energy levels — labored through the afternoon heat to help set up the anticipated rematch.
Friday will mark the sixth time the Williams have met in Flushing. Serena leads the U.S. Open series 3-2, winning in the 2002 final, 2008 quarterfinals and 2015 quarterfinals. Venus claimed the upper hand in the 2001 final — the last time she won the tournament — and the 2005 round of 16.
Venus and Serena Williams hold hands after playing each other for the first time at the 1998 Australian Open.AP“I know when I play her, I have to play some of my best tennis,” Serena said. “She does, too. It propels us to continue to play that for the tournament. It sets a tone for us.”
Serena also leads the all-time series 17-12, with 10 of those wins coming in Grand Slam matches to Venus’ five — the most recent coming in the 2017 Australian Open final, when a pregnant Serena swept Venus 6-4, 6-4. Venus joked Wednesday in her on-court interview that it was “two against one … so at least this time it will be fair.”
They have faced each other since then, squaring off in March at the BNP Paribas Open. Venus won 6-3, 6-4 in Serena’s first WTA tournament since giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, in September.
“Obviously it’s early in the tournament, so both of us are going to be looking forward to continuing to play better,” Venus said before Serena took the court for her match. “It’s definitely a tough draw.”
Venus was not interested in reminiscing about past battles with her sister when asked about their most memorable match, describing herself as “the kind of person that looks forward.”
After a third question about facing Serena, Venus had had enough.
“You’re beating it up now,” the elder sister said. “Any other questions about anything else?”
Serena said that if they could have their own accomplishments without ever playing each other, she would take that deal, even though tennis would be robbed of 29 dramatic showdowns.
“I never root against her, no matter what,” Serena said. “So I think that’s the toughest part for me, when you always want someone to win, to have to beat them. I know the same thing is for her.”
Serena could root without conflict during last year’s U.S. Open — the first without her since 2010 — when Venus reached the semifinals for the first time since 2010, only to be ousted in three sets by eventual champion Sloane Stephens.
But 20 years since the sisters’ first collision course in the Australian Open, which Venus won 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, another chapter awaits Friday.
“I think that part is really remarkable,” Serena said. “I never would have thought that we would still be playing professional.”
