Venus on the brink of history

Power play

Venus Williams holds the record for second fastest serve in the history of women’s tennis at 178km/h in the 2007 US Open. Only German Sabine Lisicki has hit a faster delivery, while Serena, regarded as the best female server of all time, is in fourth place. By the age of 10, Venus’ serve topped 160km/h.

Rankings regret

Although Venus held the world No 1 position on several occasions in her most dominant period over a decade ago, the seven-time Grand Slam champion has never yet finished a calender year in pole position. She first went to No 1 in February 2002, the first African-American woman to do so in the Open Era.

Fashion passion

As well as sparkling on court, Williams cuts a dash off it. She received her fashion degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and designs much of the clothing for her fashion line EleVen.

Sister act

With six titles and eight final appearances, Serena has been virtually untouchable at the US Open, except when she faces Venus. The elder Williams is the only person to beat Serena twice in New York. She first did it in 2001 in the first Grand Slam singles final contested by two sisters during the Open era. Four years later, she won when the sisters met in the fouth round.

Changing places

Although the story of Venus and Serena being taught to play tennis by their father Richard on bullet-scarred courts in the tough Compton district of Los Angeles is well known, the family actually moved to West Palm Beach, Florida when Venus was 10, so the sisters could attend the tennis academy of Rick Macci.