Venus Williams has opened up about the emotional challenges of competing against her younger sister, Serena, on the tennis court.
Despite their legendary rivalry, Venus admitted to a deep-seated fear when facing Serena, describing her as “the Hulk” and acknowledging the difficulty of celebrating victories over her sibling.
In a candid interview at the 2022 Roland Garros, Venus shared her internal struggles during their matches. She revealed, “Yeah, we were just saying, like you hope Serena didn’t play well, right? Like in order to win, she had to play not her best, you had to play your best, and it was hard to walk on the court knowing that.”
The added complexity of their familial bond made these encounters even more challenging.
Venus further expressed the emotional difficulty of celebrating a win over Serena, stating, “And, then, of course, there’s a sister factor! That’s my sister, my baby sister. I want her to win, too.” This sentiment underscores the depth of their relationship beyond the competitive arena.
Serena’s competitive nature
Venus‘s reflections align with insights from other players who have faced Serena on the court. Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki once remarked, “I never wanted to anger her (Serena) on court because I knew if I angered her, you’re done.”
This observation highlights Serena’s intense focus and determination during matches.
Venus echoed this sentiment, cautioning against provoking her sister’s competitive spirit. She likened Serena‘s on-court demeanor to that of the Hulk, stating, “You don’t do that. You don’t wake the beast. It’s like you know, you don’t want to make Hulk angry. You don’t do that. She was the Hulk, you know. You just kept her sedated and hopefully, she would just beat you, not beat you like ten times in a row if you made her angry.”
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