I watch tennis for a total of four weeks per year – two weeks in the middle of summer for Wimbledon, and two weeks in September for the U.Ss Open. So I was watching last night with great interest as sisters Venus and Serena Williams played each other for a trip to the women’s semifinals. I much prefer to watch women’s tennis compared to men’s. I like longer rallies and like to see players set up a point with a series of shots aimed at putting their opponent in an increasing disadvantage. Having said that, I have not been a big fan of the Williams sisters. There are a dozen reasons why, but as I watched the two play last night in Armstrong Stadium, none of those reasons seemed to matter that much. These two have provided us with the proof that hard work can lead you to pretty much wherever you want to go. Think about it: in a sport almost exclusively played by people who are white and well-to-do, these two African-American ladies have earned their way to the top out of Compton, Calif., one of the poorest and most crime-infested places in America. Plus, while they don’t talk much about it, can you imagine the reaction these two outspoken, brash, girls who were not ‘normal’ got when they played in the city and junior tournaments? It must have been ugly. So for not one but BOTH of them to spend time simultaneously at the top of women’s tennis is quite incredible. But as I watched them slug it out on the hardcourts of Queens last night, it got me to thinking: “How hard it must have been to be these two, on a quest to be the best ever, and constantly having to battle your own sister to get there.” I am a competitive person from the standpoint of I love to compete. I like to play cards, corn hole – about anything like that. And I like to play people of my own skill level or better. One thing I don’t enjoy as much is competing against family. It’s awkward and uncomfortable and I just steer clear from it. Imagine Serena Williams, on a quest for tennis immortality by winning the 2015 Grand Slam (winning all four major tournaments in the same year) but having to defeat her sister to do it. Or Venus, knowing that her career has been scuffling along since she became sick in 2011 with an autoimmune disease that forced her out of tennis for a time, with a moment to recapture her own personal glory (maybe for the last time) but having to do it at the expense of robbing Serena of a feat only five people have ever achieved before. That is a pressure that goes way beyond sports. That person on the other side of the net is not a rival … it’s your sister! Right now, Serena is the best in tennis. She’s on the verge of a 22nd major title, which would tie her with Steffi Graf for No. 2 on the all-time list. Frankly, there is no one even close to her on a competitive scale – including Venus. Serena’s power, shot-making ability and mental toughness make her unbeatable against all comers. Which then leads to the question: “Is Serena Williams the best ever?” I don’t know the answer to that, but I would have loved to see her go head-to-head against Graf, or Martina Navratilova or Chris Evert. Williams’ power vs. the style and finesse of the 1980s legends would be a fascinating contrast. But that will have to play out only in our minds. The Williams sisters had a dream, and a dad who was willing to do whatever it took to help them be the best they could be. Then they set out to do it, and they have done it. It all started because two sisters asked “why not us?” Got a dream? Maybe you should ask yourself the same question.
