Venus or Serena: Who truly reigns supreme in Olympic tennis history?
Venus and Serena Williams have long been synonymous with power, grace, and dominance in the world of tennis. What makes their story so compelling isn’t just the trophies they’ve collected or the records they’ve shattered. Every time they faced off, it was more than just a match—it was a masterclass in determination, strategy, and raw talent. As two of the most legendary figures the sport has ever seen, the Williams sisters have graced the courts with not just their incredible skills but also with a rivalry that has captivated fans for decades.
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Serena and Venus have faced each other 31 times on the WTA circuit. But the masterclass rivalry has been well dominated by Serena over the years with the star player winning 19 matches as against Venus’ 12. However, there is one tournament where Serena has failed to match the excellence of her sister, and it’s the Summer Olympics.
The 42-year-old has accumulated 4 medals over her tennis career in the Summer Olympics. Her first victory came in the doubles segment at the Sydney Olympics held in 2000. She clinched yet another Gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, alongside her sister Venus. The star player continued her trajectory in the subsequent Olympic Games of 2012 in London, which can be regarded as one of her best runs in the Olympics. She clinched the gold medal in both, singles and doubles categories. However, her impeccable Olympic record is overshadowed by her sister Venus.
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Double gold in women’s doubles! 🥇🥇
At London 2012, Venus and Serena Williams were #StrongerTogether 🎾 pic.twitter.com/F5YyKdlDNa
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 19, 2021
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The 44-year-old has won the doubles medal in the same years as her sister, provided the duo partnered for the Olympic Games. But one of her best Olympic runs came in 2000. Besides clinching the Gold in the doubles category, she also managed to outshine her opponents in singles. While both Serena and Venus won 4 Olympic medals each till 2012, the elder sister received an opportunity to showcase her mettle in 2016, and she perfectly bagged that. While she lost to compatriots Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock in the mixed doubles final alongside Rajeev Ram, she ensured to return home with a medal, even though it was not the shiny Gold. This also helped her create new records in tennis.
After winning silver in mixed doubles at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Williams became the first tennis player to win a medal at four Olympic Games. She also became the first player in the Open Era to win an Olympic medal in all three events. And Venus has revealed the importance of the event for herself.
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In an interview with Forbes ahead of the 2016 Olympics, Venus revealed that participating in the mega tournament is like a “dream come true” for her. “It’s a wonderful experience to be part of something so amazing. For me, the Olympics was beyond my dreams to participate and to actually have success there was something I had never dreamed of it, and I didn’t realize how wonderful it will be.” But, while their rivalry has continued to remain relevant for their fans, the younger sister never really liked the concept of it.
When Serena revealed the pain of playing against her big sister
Serena and Venus Williams’ rivalry was not just a spectacle for their fans, but also for the television broadcasters who gained immense profit during their matches. But despite the lead that Serena had over her sister, she did not like playing against Venus on the Tour.
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In an interview with PEOPLE at the Tribeca Film Festival this year, the 23-time grand slam champion said, “I didn’t really like it.” Continuing further about playing against Venus, she added, “I didn’t like to compete with (my) best friend. It’s very difficult.” “You’ll see that in episode two,” she said, dropping a major moment for fans to be on the lookout for. While Venus has won 49 titles over her career, Serena clinched 73.
With their stories of rivalry continuing to resonate strongly within the tennis corridors, the fans must be asking for one more such encounter. Will Serena come out of retirement to do the same? Only time will tell.
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Written by
Rupam Shukla
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Rupam Shukla is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports. Having pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Rupam’s passion for sports is immense. A vigilant follower of Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic since a young age, Rupam brings a unique perspective to his writing.
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Edited by
Arunima Bhanot
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