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 A win by Venus would keep the 35-year-old on track for a first grand
slam title since 2008 Wimbledon and a possible return to the U.S.
Open final where she first made the final in her debut in 1997.
But a victory would end little sister Serena's quest for the rarest
of tennis feats - a calendar-year grand slam.
After wins at the Australian, French and Wimbledon, Serena will
enter the Arthur Ashe Stadium court just three victories from
joining the exclusive club whose short membership list includes
Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf.
"Pretty clear what's up for grabs here," said Venus following her
fourth-round win over Estonian Anett Kontaveit on Sunday. "I think
people love to see history being made.
"No one is out to be a spoiler, but at the same time, you're focused
on winning your match."
Certainly there are no secrets between the sisters who will know
exactly what to expect having played each other since they were
first handed rackets growing up in the hard-scrabble Los Angeles
Compton neighborhood and began an unlikely and inspiring journey to
the top of their sport.
As professionals they have clashed 26 times with Serena holding the
advantage 15-11.
Serena won their last meeting in July at Wimbledon while Venus came
out on top when they last met on a hardcourt last August in
Montreal.
In grand slams Serena also holds the advantage 8-5 and 6-2 when they
have met in the final.
Serena maintains Venus has always been her toughest opponent and
with 11 losses to older sister, nobody has beaten the 21-times grand
slam winner more.
Retired Jennifer Captriati comes the next closet with a 10-7 record
while Justine Henin (8-6) and Martina Hingis (7-6) each had six
wins.
Only a handful of players can claim more than one career win over
the muscular American and only two, Belinda Bencic and Petra
Kvitova, have beaten her this season.
"I mean, I'm playing, for me, the best player (Venus) in the
tournament and that's never easy," said Serena, 33, who is two years
younger than Venus.
"She's beaten me so many times. I've taken a lot of losses off of
her -- more than anybody.
"She's a player that knows how to win, knows how to beat me, and
knows my weaknesses better than anyone ... the only player in the
draw I don't want to play, not only because she's my sister, but for
me she's the best player."
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It was 18 years ago that Venus reached the U.S. Open final for the
first time but Serena lifted the family's first grand slam trophy
when she won two years later at Flushing Meadows.
While Serena has long looked up to big sister and credits her with
much of her own success she long ago stepped out from Venus's shadow
to become one of the sport's all-time greats.
Whenever the Williams sisters clash on court it is a major tennis
event and Tuesday's meeting is ripe with drama and suspense.
Two of the sport's dominant figures, the sisters long ago accepted
the inevitable that they would stand across the net blocking each
other's path to a title.
The matches have not always produced riveting tennis but over the
years the angst has eased, at least making the contests more
enjoyable for the sisters if not the fans.
"Nowadays, I would agree, I think it's more fun than it used to be,"
said Serena following her fourth-round win over Madison Keys. "We
really relish the opportunity. We're both happy to still be involved
in getting so far.
"And it's still super intense. She's doing well and she wants to win
this. So do I. It's not easy.
"I think it's been an amazing rivalry. I think it's meant a lot.
We've done a lot for the sport. I think, you know, hopefully it can
continue as long as we play."
Venus and Serena remain best of friends off the court, sharing a
love for fashion and other interests while building separate lives.
"I feel like Venus and I have definitely proven that you can be
friends and you can be sisters, you can be enemies on the court, and
you can be friends and sisters off the court," summed up Serena.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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