Over the last 20 years, Serena and Venus Williams have played against each other 30 times. Fifteen of those matchups have been in one of tennis' four Grand Slams. On Friday, the rivalry between two of the biggest stars in tennis – who just happen to be sisters – will continue in the third round of the US Open.
The first time they faced one another in a tournament of any scale was the 1998 Australian Open, where Venus took the victory in two straight sets. Venus won the sisters’ first three major matchups before Serena began to gain steam.
In 2002 and 2003, Venus and Serena competed against one another at five straight Grand Slam finals. Serena, who had previously not beaten her sister at this high of a level, won them all. Through the years, Serena and Venus have met each other at eight total Grand Slam finals. Serena has won seven of them.
Venus’ most recent major victory over her sister was in 2008 when they faced off at Wimbledon. Serena has won five consecutive Grand Slam matchups against her sister going into Friday night.
The sisters did face off in a premier mandatory tournament earlier this year. At the Indian Wells Masters on March 12, Venus defeated her sister in two straight sets. The match was part of Serena’s first tournament since returning to singles tennis following her year-long maternity leave.
Serena and Venus go into Friday’s US Open match ranked 17th and 16th, respectively. Serena has a 10-5 advantage over her sister in Grand Slam tournaments. In all matchups, the score is a bit closer; Serena holds a 17-12 lead.
Let’s relive the 15 major matchups between two of the greatest players in women’s tennis history: the Williams sisters.
