2005 NASDAQ-100 Open News
By Alix Ramsay |  March 29, 2005

All good things come to those who wait. Venus Williams knows that better than most. For three and a half years she had waited - sometime patiently, sometimes not - for the chance to get the better of her kid sister and for three and a half years she had been upstaged by her younger, more powerful and more extroverted sibling.

It had been an almost unbearable trial but, on Tuesday night, in the Quarterfinals of the Nasdaq-100 Open, Venus got her wish. She beat Serena 6-1, 7-6 and, oh my, did she look happy.

A meeting of the sisters seldom raises the pulse rate. There have been many of them in that past and, whatever the outcome, both women have looked vaguely embarrassed. According to Williams family etiquette, it matters not who wins or loses because the result will always be marked down as an overall win for the family. It has not made for entertaining viewing.

They had met 13 times before with Venus just keeping her nose in front 7-5. Serena, though, has won the last six encounters in a winning streak that stretched back to this event in 2002. Then, finally, she managed to oust her sister from the top spot and gain some sort of revenge for losing the 2001 US Open final. From then on Serena was always in charge and Venus seemed content to accept her role as second fiddle to baby sis.

This time, though, the balance of power had shifted. Serena had struggled as she had come through the draw, allowing herself to be rattled by the likes of Shahar Peer and Elena Likhovtseva. For all that she was the No. 3 seed, she looked less than fit and desperate for form. Venus, on the other hand, had been training her socks off on her way to Miami and had sailed through the draw with little trouble. Venus was ready and waiting for Serena and from the moment she stepped on court, she was determined to show baby sis who was boss.

The first set sped by in a flurry of belting groundstrokes (Venus's) and barely suppressed expletives (Serena's). In no time Venus was 5-0 to the good and Serena could hardly bear it, smashing her racket and earning a code violation as well. It was like the Venus of old and she was enjoying every minute of it.

"I think the first set for me was fantastic," Venus said. "The second set I feel like I definitely lost some opportunities, but that was okay with me because I just felt it was good to have those tests at the same time. But, you know, of course credit to Serena. It's not like she gave me that many points. I definitely had my hands full."

Having heaped praise on her little sister, Venus had done her duty and could now concentrate on her own achievements. And she was mightily impressed with them.

"I'm definitely feeling a lot more comfortable, better rhythm now," she said. "I'm just really dedicated to doing the right thing on the court. When I make a mistake, I'm just trying to correct them. If I don't move forward, then the next one I make sure I move forward whether I win or lose the point. Just little things like that."

The hard work has finally paid off for Venus. She looks fitter and faster than she has in almost two years but, at last, the confidence that took her to four grand slam titles is beginning to return. After all the work she has put in with Kerrie Brooks, her fitness trainer, a loss to Serena last night would have been devastating but, with that win under her belt, she is ready for anyone. It all comes down to how Venus is feeling about Venus and, at the moment, she is feeling rather good about herself.

Now she must test her newfound confidence against Maria Sharapova, the 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 winner over Justine Henin-Hardenne. Not that Venus seemed too worried whoever she plays.

"When I get out there, I tell you what, I'm gonna do me," she said. "That's all I'm gonna do. Just keep it real."

As for Serena, she was not taking the defeat too well. "A loss is a loss, there is no difference who it is against," she said, sharply. "The only shame is that we met in the quarterfinal and not the final.

"I think I made some errors at the wrong time. Some points here and there. Who knows what would have happened in a third set. It's been a while since I had opportunities and not taken them."

If it took every ounce of mental strength Venus had to beat her sister, she will now have to drag up every ounce of physical stamina to beat Sharapova. The Russian may have a slightly dodgy back but she will not roll over for anyone. Even though she let the second set slip away from her yesterday, she simply dug in for a scrap in the third.

"My back has been sore for a little bit," Sharapova said. "Today there were a lot of long points and a lot of moving going on, so it was getting tighter as the match went on. I couldn't serve. I felt it more on the serve while I was landing. But I got some treatment and I just try to forget about it."

It did not really matter to Sharapova which of the Williams sisters she played - they were both going to be a handful. But having beaten Serena at both Wimbledon and the WTA Tour Championships, Sharapova was not going to lose sleep over either sister.

"Either way it's not going to be an easy match," she said. "I'm expecting a tough one either way. I've had great matches with Serena. Played Venus before a few times as well. You know, both are going to be difficult."

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