A decade or so ago Serena and Venus Williams ruled tennis together swapping the No. 1 ranking and meeting in Grand Slam final after Grand Slam final.
Serena the younger of the two still holds a spot at the top of the game.
Venus has not been there for quite some time.
So there was a turn back the clock feel to Day 1 at the 2013 U.S. Open when both sisters were about as good as can be dropping a combined four games in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Venus now ranked 60th beat 12th seeded Kirsten Flipkens 6 1 6 2 Monday afternoon and then Serena reduced 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone to seeking comfort from a ball boy's hug during a 6 0 6 1 runaway under the lights at night.
Asked which meant more on this day her own victory or her sister's Serena replied They're equal. I definitely was happy to see Venus win. I really was happy for her. I know she's been working hard. I know she had a tough opponent. For her to come through was just awesome. Obviously I want to do well too.
For years and years a first round victory by Venus at a major tournament would hardly merit a mention. She has won seven Grand Slam titles and was the runner up another seven times (six against Serena).
And yet nowadays at age 33 two years removed from being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that saps energy hampered much of this season by a bad lower back Venus entered this U.S. Open having won a total of three matches over the past five major tournaments. Plus in Flipkens she was facing a semifinalist at Wimbledon last month who beat Venus on a hard court this month.
Looking very much like the player she used to be Venus smacked serves at up to 120 mph returned superbly and covered the court well enough to hit a handful of swinging volley winners.
If Venus is there if she's fit if she's focused she's a top 10 player Flipkens said. Everybody who knows a little bit of the game of tennis can see that. Today she was like a top 10 player.
There were bumpy patches early in the second set when Venus faced eight break points but she saved seven. At 2 all Venus faced her final significant test a 16 point 12 minute game with three break chances for Flipkens that were erased this way 113 mph ace 115 mph service winner 116 mph serve that set up an errant forehand. As that shot from Flipkens sailed long Venus shouted Come on Venus won the next point a 15 stroke exchange with a volley winner and shook her left fist.
On a day that began with a retirement announcement by James Blake a former top five player who also is 33 Venus showed she's still capable of big shots at big moments.
I stay positive because I know I can play great tennis. Sometimes you just have to go through more than what you want to go through the American said after winning the first four games and the last four games against Belgium's Flipkens. Sometimes you have to have losses.
She was No. 1 in 2002 but hasn't cracked the top 10 since she was No. 9 in March 2011. She hasn't been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament since a fourth round exit at Wimbledon later that year. Indeed Venus lost in the first round in two of her previous four appearances at majors.
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