http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/co...nnie&id=2842080

I agree :bow:

They raise the bar in all areas of tennis and beyond. just icons of world sport :bow:

Whatever anyone thinks about either or both of them, you can't fault the words of BJK . The Williams' have lifted the bar that was raised by BJK, Casals, Turnbull, Evert, Nav, Steffi, Hingis et al. When all's said and done it's Venus & Serena that are keeping the interest and momentum going on the WTA tour right now. I for one am glad that they're around. Doesn't appear anyone else is.......(around I mean)

BJK makes a point of the importance of the williams' 'color' and within the context of tennis it's true there are few black players in the game, and it's great to see racial diversity in tennis and any sport for that matter. But to explicitly mention race, or 'color' which implies race is patronising and misplaced with regard to individuals.
The race of an athlete is either truly irrelevant or it isn't. As long as anyone can participate and enjoy the sport, and there is no prohibition on any human participating, the colour of an athlete, or any other trait of the athlete has to be academic.
Lets turn it around and imagine 100mtrs racing. If a white athlete had a fantastic track record, would we be required to laud his achievements on the basis of his colour, or say that his 'color is important'? We would not, nor should we explicitly mention colour, creed, religion, political allegiance, sexual orientation in relation to his or her success.

Another point, and i know we all do it, but the williams's aren't the same person. i'm as guilty as anyone as almost thinking of them as a double act, but yes they are sisters, but their achievements are entirely separate. If Serena is transcending tennis, Venus isn't. She's having an ok year by her standards but transcending absolutely nothing.
I sometimes wonder whether there's an extra pressure put on Venus at the moment having to live up to her sisters achievements, ok it's inevitable we lump them together, but we must remember how separate they are.

I agree with the second part but not so much the first.

I would say Venus has definitely been overshadowed by her sister of late. But she is definitely on the way up and out of injury. Give her a few more tournies :ok:

I think Justine Henin may have to disagree with that!!! :P :P

It is very very true that the Williams sisters have benefitted the sport of tennis for the better that is for sure.

Serena is amazing and proving people wrong (including me) time and time again. She is an amazing player. And Venus, although not the player she was....yet, is another example of the kind of player the WTA needs playing to lift interest in the game.

That's very true Gav, despite not pulling in the kind of results she's been used to in the last couple of years, Venus is still one of the WTA's biggest attractions. Plus she still inspires so many people in what she does and in what she has done. I believe last year she came first in sports persons in a popularity poll in the U.S.

I don't think anyone can underestimate Venus' legacy, which I believe like Serena's goes beyond tennis. They inspire african americans in a sport dominated by whites, they inspire young girls in a world infected by anorexia, they inspire female athletes in a world filled with male athletes. They inspire the poor who want to better themselves in life They BOTH do this.

True legends :bow:

I agree, they did raise the bar back then. troubel is ow, they are just so inconsistent and almost enigmatic. i mean Serena winnign the AO after what she'd been through and in some wasy allowed to happen? It's just crazy. briallint though, but still very odd to me. And ditto Venus in Wimby v Davenport. I'm nto idssing them, they are remarkable, but all this inconsistency makes me wonder coudl they have been greater? Have they tried hard enough like a toal pro would? I just find ti all very confusing ......

That's the huge question mark that will remain over their careers unfortunately. They could have both achieved more (and they still might) but the hype they were, and are under would always be denigrative to their accomplishments and their sojourns into other areas of the life that is available to them. I agree with the race thing B-T. It shouldn't be an issue and shouldn't be raised by anyone but the Williamses themselves. I'm just with BJK when she praises what they have brought to the sport, as many great names have brought in their time. If it wasn't for the two of them, their story yada, yada, yada... women's tennis would not be in the position that it currently enjoys. I wasn't a fan to begin with (a bit old school, me), not a major fan now but I admire and respect both of them for their place in the game. And strangely, every time that Venus plays, I want her to win :rolleyes:


Gav - I think Justine Henin may have to disagree with that!!!

We'll see mate.... :whistle: