When they were younger — when they were kids — it was about something much different than it is today.
It was about blood and egos then. This is how it is when young siblings battle each other for the same prize. There are fights, there are tears and there is resentment.
Supercharged emotions always existed when Venus and Serena Williams stared at each other from across the net in their youth. But now, with everything the two have accomplished — 30 Grand Slam titles between them (23 for Serena and seven for Venus) — it’s different.
Now it’s about respect.
The two met for the 30th time as professionals Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium in as highly anticipated a third-round U.S. Open match as you will find, and for the 30th time they rooted for each other as they played against each other.
The 29 previous meetings — 17 wins for Serena and 12 for Venus — were awkward for both sisters and this night before a packed house was no different.
“I never root against her, no matter what,” Serena said before the match. “That’s the toughest part for me: When you always want someone to win [and] to have to beat them. I know it’s the same thing for her.”
The end result Friday, a 6-1, 6-2 Serena rout in just 72 minutes, was anticlimactic — as these things so often are when they’re hyped so much.
“I think it’s the best match she’s ever played against me,’’ Venus said. “I don’t think I did a lot wrong, but she just did everything right.’’
When told of her sister’s assessment, Serena, who will play Kaia Kanepi in the fourth round, paused in thought for a moment.
“I don’t know,’’ she then said “I think it’s by far the best match I ever played against her in forever, but I don’t know about ever, ever. It probably was. I played much better tonight than I have since I started this journey on my way back [from giving birth to her first child].’’
Serena had 10 aces to Venus’ one. Serena won all eight of her service games and broke Venus four times. Venus managed just one break point and wasn’t able to convert it. Serena won 69 points to 44 for Venus. Serena had 34 winners to just 14 for Venus.
“She didn’t win that match tonight because I just rolled over,’’ Venus said. “She played untouchable tennis. Any shot that I hit great, she hit a greater shot. Obviously, I hope she doesn’t play that well against me every time because I don’t think anyone has a chance.’’
Throughout the match, Serena, the more muscular, harder ball striker, overpowered her older, more lithe sister.
Serena, in her first two matches in this U.S. Open, had not been tested. Conventional thinking was that this would be the first time she would be pushed in the second Slam she has played in since giving birth to her daughter.
The score will tell you that this was not much of a test for Serena. But, given the unusual emotions involved here, this was plenty of test for her.
As a competitor, even if you happen to like your opponent, you try to muster up some sort of disdain for your opponent. That, of course, is impossible in the case if these two sisters.
“It’s not easy. She’s my best friend,’’ Serena said. “For me, it takes more mental energy than physical. We started this journey, this journey a long time ago. We kind of knew what to expect. It feels good for the match to be over with. Win or lose, it just feels good that it’s done.
“There’s more to life than playing each other in tennis.’’
Serena, who is 36, conceded that “it’s definitely different now’’ playing her 38-year-old sister than it was when they were kids.
“I feel like we want it so bad now,’’ she said. “I mean, we wanted it really bad when we were younger, but we had a lot more years in our future. Now, we definitely want to continue to play, but it’s not like we’re 18 and 19 any more.’’
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