Serena and Venus Williams (Wikimedia)
After almost eight years, Venus and Serena Williams are about to duke it out again in a Grand Slam singles final and Twitter is beside itself with gleeful anticipation.
The sisters will play for the Australian Open title early Saturday, Jan. 28. (EST) in what will be their first match against each other for a Grand Slam title since 2009, when Serena bested big sis at Wimbledon. Thirty-six-year-old Venus is hoping to add to her seven Grand Slam crowns, while Serena, 35, is seeking her 23rd to break the open-era Grand Slam record she currently shares with Steffi Graf.
Reaching the final caps a comeback by Venus that is nothing short of remarkable. The athlete was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes fatigue and joint, in 2011 and has struggled to come back to form, having competed in her last Australian Open final in 2003.
At her press conference Thursday after defeating 25-year-old American CoCo Vandeweghe, Venus said she knows she’ll have her hands full facing her dominant baby sister.
“When I’m playing on the court with her, I think I’m playing the best competitor in the game,” Venus said. “I don’t think I’m chump change either, you know. I can compete against any odds. No matter what, I get out there and I compete.
“[It] won’t be an easy match. I know that it won’t be easy,” she said. “You have to control yourself, then you also have to hopefully put your opponent in a box. This opponent is your sister, and she’s super awesome.”
Serena expressed similar thoughts about Venus after dismissing another resurrected thirtysomething in Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 34, who was in her first Grand Slam semifinal since 1999 at Wimbledon.
“She’s basically my world and my life, so she means everything to me,” the recently engaged world No. 2 said to an on-court reporter of her sister. “And I was so happy for her and I just couldn’t be happier. For us both to be in the final is the biggest dream come true for us.
“No matter what happens, we’ve won. A Williams is going to win this tournament.”
Twitter shared its excitement over the matchup after the news broke.
Serena and Venus are so important to sport culture its crazy
— Abdul Wasiu (@twmb4K) January 26, 2017
It's the WILLIAMS Women Grand Slam again @ Australia Open 2017. Serena and Venus rolls the dice again and turn 2003 into 2017. #blackpower
— Ben Gafar (@bengaffy83) January 26, 2017
"These new girls hit harder"
"Venus and Serena are past their prime"
"They can't stay on top"
"They should they retire" #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/yBM8DhNBWs
— janie jimplin (@landyklk) January 26, 2017
So happy Venus and serena are in the final, 💃🏾💃🏾 #AusOpen
— Wig 🌈 (@Silverlink_) January 26, 2017
The super bowl will be great and all but have y'all heard that SERENA AND VENUS ARE PLAYING EACH OTHER FOR A TITLE
— sav (@savswavylife) January 26, 2017
