The "exchange" of the images, especially "Venus, age 10...," the tonality searing the mutual love and endearment, and the story, "burst my heart."
3
Venus Williams essay -- quoted near the end of the article -- might have overlooked Althea Gibson. I'm not certain but I think she also may have been ranked #1 in the 50s. (I think Venus has elsewhere paid fitting tribute to Althea.)
2
Serena Williams is a great tennis player but Venus Williams represents pure grace and class on the court and has done so much to advance the women's game. I have never seen her lose her temper on the court. What a wonderful article, which is long past due.
8
We have always enjoyed watching Venus more than Serena. Her game is based on her athleticism and calmness. There is no "drama queen" element to Venus. Even in the last few years she has exhibited her no quit philosophy. It has been a pleasure watching her all these years. I am not surprised that she is a loyal person, also.
7
Loved the article, but why no mention of her private life, except for the dog?
4
As an older sibling I've always had an affinity and empathy for Venus. I admire Serena too but I've always had a lot of respect for Venus, who continually carries herself with maturity and grace. As the article points out, just by being older, it's Venus who had to be the real game-changer and groundbreaker. Serena was able, to a large extent, to ride the wave that Venus generated. And although Venus did win some of the big matches and finals that she and Serena played, I also sensed that she felt more of the emotional guilt of potentially defeating her little sister, which held her back somewhat, whereas Serena (like most younger siblings) seemed unencumbered by those emotions. I'm sure having Serena around was a great support to Venus behind the scenes, and certainly reduced the loneliness Venus would have felt without Serena there, but I also wonder just how many more Slams Venus might have been able to win if there hadn't been the added pressure of having to "beat her little sister" to win them.
9
I'm in agreement with most of the comments, and I so appreciate this article and fabulous photo. What I have to add is that I paid little attention to pro tennis until Venus showed up with the beaded braids. Following Venus and Serena, I came to thoroughly enjoy pro tennis--women's and men's. I came to love all of the players. Tennis is an amazing display of athleticism unrivaled by any other individual sport. Not to mention how their ascendancy helped ESPN and the commentators make tennis popular.
7
She’s an inspiration and even more so the way she doesn’t let her chronic illness become part of her narrative. I know Sjogren’s Syndrome can be debilitating, Venus is a true warrior.
10
You rightfullyemphasized Venus Williams' efforts on behalf of equality for non-whites and women. But that is not the whole story of her social activism. She also fought against discrimination that dids not affect her personally. Some years ago, one of the Persian Gulf states (Kuwait, if I am not mistaken) decided to hold an international invitation tournament for tennis stars. Venus Williams was, of course, among the first invited. The young Israeli tennis player, Shahar Peer, was invited, but as the date of the tournament approached, no visa was forthcoming. When it became apparent thaat she was being shunned by the authoeities as an Israeli, Vwnus sent a simple message:
: "If Shahar Peer is not admitted, I will not attend." Shahar Peer promptly received her visa and was tendered every courtesy by the tournament organizers. Venus is indeed a model personality for all of us.
16
A well written article, about an extraordinary woman!
9
Sophistication and singleminded focus. Game changer has a whole new measure. Thank you Venus.
6
Brilliant, thoughtful portrait of Venus. What a trailblazer she is. Thanks to the author for embracing the whole picture.
4
Thanks for a great article. I've always admired the Williams sisters, their work ethic, attitudes, success, and off-court presence. This helped me understand their careers and the differences between these two remarkable athletes.
7
This is the most stunning portrait of Venus - not just the gorgeous photo, but a portrait of a woman who has lived in the shadow of her "little" sister for years. While I appreciate and applaud the family's closeness and reluctance to display their lives in public, Venus appears to have the inner strength and fortitude to press ahead with her life. Serena may be the star, but Venus is the earth - grounded, willing to stay in the shadow of her sister's glam and power. You come away from this piece feeling like you really know her - only as much as she wants you to know her! Bravo, Venus!
12
Venus is a beautiful player, especially on grass and a beautiful person inside and out. I have greatly enjoyed watching her career these past 20+ years.
4
Beautiful piece about 2 beautiful women. I followed their tennis careers from the start and always wondered about their fitness regimens. Two women with very different bodies and medical issues must have to work at practice, overall fitness and diet in different ways. The two must have natural talent that is a bit different than the other. Would be great for younger girls to read.
4
“I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.” Brilliant, what a philosophy to go forward. Many minorities should learn from this poem. When life gives us lemons... let’s make lemonade. What a treat to read about the father and his dedication for the most impressive tennis players of my life time. Venus and Serena are two of the most amazing, beautiful human beings.
9
I love the picture of Venus at 10 years old. You can sense her dedication; the calm focus and intelligence are already showing.
6
Nice work, Ms. Weil!
2
Very nicely written.
1
Thanks so much, Venus, for allowing a glimpse of you as a person. I would just add third "i" word to your interviewer's "introvert" and "internalizer." Intelligent! I can't even begin to imagine the constant barrage of requests you recieve to represent this or that cause. But, even a few moments of your profound insight and star power, could add a powerful voice to the need to limit greenhouse gases. As a Florida resident as well, you're uniquely qualified to do so.
8
What an epic profile. I mean Venus's facial profile. Wow! Its breathtaking...
6
I do not follow tennis so I causally picked up this article. Wow so affirming. What grace, self knowledge. Touching and inspirational
9
Great photo.
Superior article .Venus is the queen ..Love her courage and Winning spirit ! She has taught other great champions to win based on her experience .
1
What a delightful piece. Venus is a true champion, full of grace. The writing of the piece also elegant and full of reverence for a shooting star, whose trail will continue long after she retires. Thank you.
1
Such as well written, perfect weekend read! How inspiring. I want my 10 year old to read it. Thank you NY Times!
1
And... it is not a minor accomplishment, that Venus does it all with Sjogren’s Syndrome. Sjogren’s which many people have never heard of., and most people can not pronounce can be debilitating .
It can effect vision , coordination and movement, as well as cause extreme fatigue and pain. Venus does not talk about it much, but there are many people who would like to know the name of her rheumatologist.
17
Ive been watching the Williams sisters since they first arrived at their first US Open. Their hair in long beaded braids...people were shocked, claiming they were too different to fit in. (code of course, for the very white crowd.)
I was in love!
I didn't miss a chance to watch them on the small courts and later on the big courts, as an amateur trainer/coach and always fan...could see their physical prowess was gonna rock the tennis world. Esp.Serena. She was like a young lioness to Venus's slightly older lioness. Time and maturity on the circuits would only improve them as players.
They never disappointed.
I await this years US Open...viva Venus and Serena!
7
Thanks so much, Ms. Williams, for sharing with us a glimpse of you as a person, an incredible person. To Ms. Weil's excellent choice of "introvert" and "internalizer," to describe you, I would lead with a third - "intelligent!"
I can only imagine the barrage of requests you get to support this or that cause. But, right about now, we could really use a bit of your Starr power and no-fear communication skills.
To help slow global warming. As a coastal Floridian, with proven business acumen, you're uniquely positioned to help the rest of better understand its consequences.
2
"Arthur Ashe kept his focus primarily on the court" -- what a silly statement.
Comparing Richard Williams, who did not play tennis professionally, with Arthur Ashe -- a champion of civil rights who remains the only black male player to win Wimbledon -- does the readers a great disservice. I had to read that statement several times to believe I saw it in print,
Please read up on your tennis history Ms Weil.
11
In the beginning was Althea Gibson in the middle was Arthur Ashe in the present are Venus and Serena Williams and in the future will be Naomi Osaka and Cori Gauff and ??
No amount of winning talent ever turned any of them into blonde blue eyed fair skinned Aryans nor Slavs.
Who knew that color aka race aka ethnicity aka national origin is and always has been separate and unequal in America?
Even in sports and entertainment.
3
The greatest one-two punch in World Tennis, ever!!!
9
This is a great article. A very inspiring story. Venus Williams has great on the court and off.
6
Althea Gibson, the first black player to cross the color line in professional tennis, was born of circumstances much more challenging than the Williams sisters? Gibson was the daughter to sharecroppers on a cotton farm in South Carolina (1927), and miraculously became the first African American to win a Grand Slam (French Open, 1956). Althea went on to win the U.S. Open (3 times- 1956 & 57 & 58), the Australian Open (1957), and Wimbledon (1957 & 58).
Althea Gibson was so much more courageous in the face of pre-Civil Rights America than any woman of color presently playing tennis on the professional circuit. Google her name, and learn something about how she broke through the racial barrier over 60 years ago, and excelled. In 1958 Gibson , who appreciated that doors were opened for her that never existed to a person of color before, said "I hope that I have accomplished just one thing, that I have been a credit to tennis, and to my country.
There were many, many women who played the sport of tennis, amateur and professional, who laid the groundwork that allowed for the era of the Williams sisters. They shouldn't be dismissed when cogitating over who changed the course of women's tennis.
15
True, Althea Gibson faced daunting odds and circumstances that most of us could never overcome. But the Williams sisters -with Venus in the lead- broke open the vault of women’s tennis and there’s no going back. V & S changed the women’s game into the supercharged power game with athleticism and technical superiority we see today. The William Sisters changed the game, not just the color of its players.
4
Venus is great. Venus was great. And Venus will continue to be great.
14
This is such an amazing, beautifully-written profile about an amazing and beautiful woman. Bravo and many thanks to Elizabeth Weil for giving Venus Williams her due in this piece.
11
This is one of the best articles I have read in ten years. What an incredibly well done deep dive into two of the most important women in sports in all of history. Telling stories of extraordinary disruptors is no small feat. We aren’t really worthy of Venus and Serena, so it is remarkable to write anything that does them justice. This was a great read about two of the biggest greats of my lifetime.
25
A favorite Venus Williams memory was as a lead-in to a years ago French Open tournament, the broadcast asked several tennis players if they knew who Roland Garros (the venue’s and tournament’s namesake) was. None did...until Venus who not only who he was (French WWl fighter pilot and hero), but she showed an appreciation and respect to his memory and the host country and even spoke some French. Pure grace and class.
33
Perhaps the best dividend Venus can receive is taking comfort in the long lasting and positive effect she has made on American women's tennis. And going beyond tennis, the great impact she has had as a role model, as an idol, as a hero to so many people. Every time I watch women play tennis I am always comparing them to either Venus or Serena Williams in my mind. I doubt in my lifetime I will ever see any one better.
8
Well written. Both sisters deserve solid recognition. Venus is brave and enduring and a fine player. Serena, now that she is involved with family and aging (although not much yet) will have great competition from the new and younger players. but like Venus, she will make her presence felt.
I wish them both good fortune.
6
I’ve always believed that Venus was the more powerful of the Williams sisters, not only because she was the forerunner, but because of her quieter resistance. Her presence and power never seemed intimidating enough to eclipse her relatable ness , her kindness and warmth. These latter attributes are not generally identified with strength or resistance to a tennis culture or resistance to the notion of black people’s presence within that culture. Yet Venus made those attributes apart of her singular Arsenal on and off the Court. Showing us that grace and poise are not incompatible with fight and zeal.
11
This a great article, worthy of its subject, who is beyond great. Pure class on and off the court, and in every sentence. Thanks
16
What a duo. And a father who nurtured their precious talents for years. An amazing American family, and this intimate piece shows why.
16
This is absolutely, beautifully written. What a gift to read from a truly gifted writer.
12
The horse has left the barn on this point, but why, at Wimbledon, should women, who play the best of three sets, be paid the same as men, who play best of five? (Is this difference in sets played consistent across professional tennis as a whole?) Isn't the idea supposed to be "equal work for equal pay?"
1
@john
A simple solution is an open competition. No more separate but equal, problem solved.
2
@john The tournaments are designed in such a way that it’s improbable that both men and women could play best of five, due to timing issues. What’s more, the players themselves don’t determine the lengths of their matches. Many female players have gone on the record saying they’d be happy to play best of five, but they don’t make the decisions. Should they be paid less because of this?
14
@john Because the money is made on tickets sold and on tv coverage—and the Williams sisters bring as much or more of that than the men do. Besides which, as Serena has said, it is not the decision of these top women to play best of three instead of best of five. Nor is it the decision of the men tennis players to play best of five instead of best of three. Many tennis players will tell you they would like to see the men play best of three, as they usually do, all of the time. Because best of five can really be damaging to the athletes.
2
Venus is awesome.
8
I certainly hope the field of players realize how great Venus is and take a knee at the start of each match to guarantee that Venus reaches the final. It’s the only way to show they have humanity. Trying to beat Venus would only be an act of defiance against all Venus has done for all Americans and the world.
4
Honestly, she is a great tennis player, and that should be honored. But many players play for the challenge, and of course, to do their best. To just let Venus win defeats the purpose, in my opinion.
5
@MW Exactly! She would not accept it, she goes out to play, not to be admired.
1
I haven't always been a big Venus fan, but over the past 10 years I have definitely been won over. Courage and grace and mind-boggling athleticism. Venus has not "gotten her due" for two main reasons- number 1 is her sister. Number 2. is her personality (she makes low-energy Jeb Bush seem like Rasputin.) You have to turn up the volume just to hear her whispery voice in an interview- and she's not exactly a charming raconteur or brilliant orator. But she's just soooooo much more appealing than her constantly insincere sibling.
26
This piece has all the ups, downs, twists, turns, excitement, amazement, disappointment, exhaustion, and, ultimately, satisfaction of a great tennis match.
First round or final.
It's just about the brilliance.
The subject, the people around her, the telling.
For a tennis fan, it's just wow.
Thanks for it all.
Pick a sister?
Ah, I won't bother.
They are who they are.
Take 'em or not… doesn't matter.
The dedication, the work, the mental toughness, the perseverance all speak to who they are. The excellence!
Their father? Family?
None of my business.
My family was quirky too.
Yours too.
They struggled, they had success in spite of so much. In spite of being female. In spite of being a different skin color than other Americans.
Wow, imagine people with different skin!
It blows the mind!
Ha.
Tennis.
If you don't know it you should.
One of the greatest sports.
Defense is offense and vis versa.
Every shot, every second.
Everything can turn on a dime, on a shot.
On one point.
The Williams. Venus, Serena, the entire family. They helped define a sport, an era.
They are all part of an amazing history in tennis.
Do yourself a favor.
Watch them next week in NYC.
Make some time for the sisters.
For a sport they helped define.
For tennis.
17
So much class and grace. And strength. And will.
The whole Williams family is an amazing and singularly American story.
No mention of Yetunde Price, the half-sister who was killed in a gang shooting.
Venus penetrated the "Whites Only" world of tennis and then dominated it for a generation while supporting with fierce love her greatest nemesis on the court -- Serena.
If this were fiction no one would believe it.
11
This was a really great read - thank you.
13
Venus Williams isn't just beautiful, she's magnificent.
16
Venus Williams’ career earnings are over $40 million, which is hardly chopped liver.
6
Richard Williams was always dead-on in his assessment of the role that race played/ plays in America and tennis (particularly American tennis). People, that is to say white people, found him obnoxious and abrasive because he was up-front about it.
He was also up-front about his own role in his daughters' development. Again, people didn't like that because in the world of tennis you're supposed to be modest about your achievements and say you're "lucky" or "blessed," which often referred to having enough money to afford elite coaches and tennis academies. Richard always made it clear who had done the work and who deserved the credit. Tennis doesn't like that.
(I've made this point regarding other players, e.g. Djokovic, who made it to the top coming out of financially difficult situations; he gives himself credit for his accomplishments, and as a result audiences don't find him as "likeable" as others who avoid doing so.)
Obnoxious or not, Richard Williams deserves a huge amount of credit for who, as well as what, his daughters have turned out to be.
15
Um... not to mention Chanda Rubin, a contemporary of the sisters, who had an exemplary career.
3
Venus Ebony Star Williams glides on court with the grace of a swam. She personifies the best of tennis and seldom loses her temper. It is amazing how seldom she even challenges a call. I remember the day when Serena won the first championship, and really felt bad for Venus, but that didn't distract her. People keep asking-when will she retire as she ignores them and continues to be a force on the court. It's funny, but they never ask the dozens of male players who have never one a single major, when they will retire. I almost cannot imagine tennis without Venus-but when that time comes, I'll travel to the Tennis Hall of Fame in Rhode Island for her induction ceremony. Love you V.........
11
I love this story -- but I wish the headline wasn't written in the past tense!
Better than the current "Did Venus Williams Ever Get Her Due?" would be something in the present perfect tense: "Has Venus Williams Ever Gotten Her Due?"
My answer: Not so far.
10
In the USA, mediocre women's tennis players such as Anna Kournikova and a cheating Maria Sharapova got larger endorsements and more attention simply because they were born white and in the US media market, blondes are superior. Of course Venus was better and fortunately slam titles are not subjective. This is another egregious example of how racism in the USA robs people of color of their dues.
115
At the same time, you've spoken like a true ignorant, biased American by lumping Kournikova and Sharapova together in the same sentence. A five time (career) slam winner who had to beat Serena Williams for her first slam is not a mediocre player, period.
16
@Curtis M So what? Likability has since the beginning of advertising been the primary criterion for winning endorsements. Just ask the non-white Tiger Woods, who was hired to endorse everything but air--until he rendered himself nowhere near as likable as he once was. Lots of people don't like the arrogant Williams sisters or their abrasive father, so they don't get hired to represent products.
Winning at professional sports doesn't make anything beyond a check and a trophy one's "due" .
12
@Sid: Maria Sharapova has been ranked #1 in the women's singles division a number of times. Her "cheating" consisted of taking a prescription medication she'd been on for many years. She was not aware that the medication under a different name, had been banned. Insulin is banned, too. The powers that be have gone overboard in banning medications that many people take for medical reasons.
By the way, I haven't followed tennis in years, am not a Sharapova fan and know little about her. I found the information on Wikipedia. I just don't like the idea that the officials in sports seem to have gone from one extreme to the other.
6
I’ve long said she’s the GOAT. Not necessarily because she’s the greatest player currently, but because she was the greatest at a time when she had to bear it all alone. This was just an awesome article. I smiled through each word.
16
She, Venus, is tall, I am too, 6 feet tall, I am, she is Black, I am too, she is talent, so am I, I swim, creative amazingl pieces of art, read, write she and I have skills which only increases or self-esteem, she is stylist, so am I but in a "different" way but we both love fashion, and she has a supportive, loving, family, I have loving supportive Nieces supportive friends, who are Family, and she is sure of herself, self-confidence, I have a ton of it! I too have a loving dog, and although I am years, years, years, older than Venus, I always considered her one of my role models. GOD bless her.
9
V was always my favorite sis.
Good article.
7
I've admired Venus for years. Don't know what impresses me more... her unwavering support of others around her, her entrepreneurship, or watching her on the court. Probably all three equally. Venus Williams is undoubtedly one of the best role models of our time, particularly for women. Here's hoping she does that "reality" TV show and we get to see and feel much, much more of this uplifting being.
4
Probably. Doesn't come close to Martina.
5
I've always felt that Venus was and continues to be both extraordinary and under appreciated. She had to face a blast of racism alone, endless picky criticism(the beads are a good example....women commentators discussing acceptable hair!), sexism and breaking every mold. The resentment of any new champion is palpable in the sport...and Venus has to be the trailblazer.
Her composure, eloquence, calm, her willingness to get involved in issues, and finally her exceptional regal beauty continue to amaze and delight. It's more than "about time" that tennis realized what an incredible pioneer she was ( and is)for women's tennis.
15
Perhaps not. And she only has her sister to blame. I loved her when first arrived on the scene and cheered her wins but then Serena arrived on the scene and Venus got a little too protective and defensive every time she played her little sister. Serena never had that problem and wanted everything that her big sister had and more. That shows up in the one sided record Venus has vs her sister. Her illness, which went undiagnosed for a long time, didn’t help either. So, you can’t just blame media and press for not giving her enough credit.
3
You are spot on. However I did not think part of the premise was to blame he media. I’ll reread again with pleasure. #ForeverTeamVenus
2
@Elisha Obviously I was wrong about the suspected role of the media in whether Venus has gotten her due. I was so enthralled by the account of the relationships that I didn't pay attention to that angle. #ForeverTeamVenus
3
Ahkiyrah Ramkissoon
The article that I chose for this week is tilted “Did Venus Williams ever get her due.” This article caught my attention because it talks about an African American female athlete changing the course of women’s tennis and being a young African American female who as well play a sport I always feel inspired to learn about their journey or what they accomplished. Becoming very successful at a young age and continuing to do so today she was always been level headed, I believe that’s a very important skill to have because not letting the success get to her head allowed her to continue to grow not as an athlete but just as a person. Venus always kept her head high and believed in herself. Being 4 times older than the women ranked in the top 100 and having Sjögren’s syndrome didn’t make her think less of herself or make her think anyone was superior to her, she focused on her main goal to change the game and break down barriers. Venus Williams took risks, she faced many ups and downs throughout her career as she has won many championships and beat her sister Serena many times allowing her to open doors for many other female athletes to come.
5
I love her.
10
Thank you for this article. Loved the Langston Hughes poem. I'm an old white guy who can barely move - these women motivate me to keep trying every day.
16
Thank you for a lovely article that captures the selflessness, elegance and grace that is Venus WIlliams. No. She has never gotten the support from the tennis media especially and then the larger press as a whole.
Venus was eclipsed by Serena because she does not crave the spotlight. She values her privacy and she is an introvert. Instead, she earned a college degree, learned to speak two more languages, opened two lines of business, is a shrewd investor, leads by example and keeps her personal opinions to herself. She is polite, bright, funny, and well read. She does not brag about herself, only about Serena. She allowed her little sister to shine because she is loyal and knows Serena is more competitive , insecure and needs the success and attention more. I usually root for Venus to win because she is too selfless. It would be good for Serena to lose once in a while to her older siblling.
I hope she plays well at this year's US Open, but even she doesn't, she will always be one of my favourite female tennis players. The embodiment of beauty and grace, on and off the tennis court.
40
"At 6 foot 1, with limbs that span time zones, she has self-containment that’s unexpected and beguiling, a stillness that seems to emerge not only from her muscles but also from a calm, unruffled space inside, a clarity about who she is."
A jewel of a description, Elizabeth Weil. And the unique prepositional metaphor: "with limbs that span time zones"...simply spectacular. Thank you for such an intelligent and gorgeous read.
27
I don't think Venus or Serena ever got their due. I've seen many a tournament in the United States where Venus and Serena were booed by their fellow American crowd. The commentators always feigned it was due to supporting the underdog foreigner at the expense of the favored American, but oddly enough that never seemed to be the case for Andre Agassi or Lindsay Davenport??? Perhaps time will be the great moderator in the life and times of two sisters who dominated women's tennis for over a decade. Can one imagine what life would've been like over the same period if Venus and Serena were white? They'd be feted as princesses and in daily lexicon on an hourly basis.
19
These young women don't need the accolades of others, they are comfortable in their own skin , is there a better praise one can give. Venus and Serena are walking through life feeling loved and accomplished.this is what we parents want for our own children,
7
@Mk
Maybe they don't "need" the accolades of others, but it sure would be nice if we bestowed it upon them for their impressive achievements anyways.
8
Did she get her due?
There are billions and billions and billions and billions of people on the planet.
We know who Venus Williams is. We know this one woman's name.
That is getting your due.
7
I have always admired the family and what they have achieved. This article confirms almost everything that I have been thinking about them. They are just almost perfect and full of confidence. They had a solid foundation with their parents and I just love the article. Venus made the path to be more tolerable for Serena. Venus should be given more credit on her achievements. Excellent article!!!
5
Beautifully written article about Venus and the first family of American tennis.
5
Mr. McEnroe threw tantrum after tantrum throughout his career. He never chose to be the larger person when speaking of his wife. He never faced one fleck of racism is his life, was top of the food chain and still couldn’t contain his rage.
Venus and Serena are legends. The story of their ascension breaks the racism racket machine.
39
Greatness, power, loyalty and grace. Inspiring...
6
Great article about a remarkable family. Thank you.
8
Are you kidding?! To even pose such a question as anything other than a rhetorical device is the height of willful ignorance of dishonesty. No, obviously no Black woman tennis player has got their due either in respect by the nearly all white and wealthy crowds, players or sponsors. It's become slightly less blatant but still grotesque. I'm nearly 60 and 'white' and that's tennis.
12
Venus Williams is a true champion, both on the court and off.
I am amazed and inspired by her persistence, her work ethic, her competitiveness and her good heart.
31
It seems like the author got very little from her interviews with Ms Venus Williams. But it didn’t matter. The end result was so beautifully
written it made me cry. Thank you.
Venus Williams - you were portrayed as an understated hero - and I think you are one. Thank you.
19
I do not understand why a person's skin color should matter so much when it comes to anything. Venus and Serena Williams are tremendously gifted athletes. I watched Venus playing and I thought she was great. Then I watched Serena and I thought the same thing. It's fitting that it was hard for them to play each other in a final. They are sisters. They love each other. They have a strong bond.
I'm thrilled to see that Venus can be successful outside of tennis. Too many athletes step off the stage and don't have the non-sports part of their lives planned. Venus played a smart game on and off the court. I wish her luck, happiness, love, and all the best. She's earned it.
19
@hen3ry Don't be silly Henry . Do you really think color doesn't matter when you walk into a tennis club? Do you really think it doesn't matter when it comes to endorsements? Do you really think that your opinion of a person is not affected even the slightest by their color.
1
Great story. I remember being struck by her royal profile and carriage when she first came up, and the joy with which she so brilliantly played the game. Dad Williams seemed like he might have been one of those toxic tennis dads, but that, of course, turned out to not be the case. What a unique personal and family saga. Hopefully, they will stay involved in tennis, for they will leave a good.
12
"Did Venus Williams ever get her due".
Yes!
Finally!!!
wonderful piece, Ms. Well. And long overdue.
Thank You.
14
Yeah she did.
4
Bravo to both Williams sisters for their many contributions to the game and to the world of women’s tennis. Thousands upon thousands of young girls took up the sport because of you.
Kudos to Serena for her power and athleticism.
Kudos to Venus for her dignity and grace.
6
I remember reading about Venus and Serena and their father in a skeptical article, before they were all proven right, so completely and undeniably right. And I've always appreciated Venus' elegance and skill. But what really got me was when several years ago, in a press conference, Venus was asked about another player's criticism of her. Usually an apparently cool professional, she showed real human disappointment and hurt. And with that, everyone (I think, I hope) felt total sympathy and an even deeper admiration for her.
16
@Reuel
Huh? When? Where? Whom? Perhaps you're confusing the questions that were asked during her post-match first-round press conference Wimbledon 2017; after having been in a car accident and being sued in Miami. Other than that moment, I couldn't begin to think of anything you could be referring to.
2
@Eric Wilson
And? if so? What is your point? (Trying your 'stye').
You seem to have (claim) a comprehensive knowledge of her pressers. I made abundantly clear that the details are not crystal clear (I would guess earlier than 2017). My reaction, my recollection, are crystal clear. To reiterate, Venus impressed me as a thoughtful person, adding substance to being an outstanding and elegant athlete.
6
Yes she did. She and her sister had good career. Amazing and great. It’s coming to an end
4
We will still see her play Shaparova screams and all.
1
Venus Williams learned how to play tennis and worked extremely hard to become a professional tennis player. Unlike many women tennis players she is not an extreme drama queen or excessively arrogant. She plays and either wins or loses. The quality of her achievement is accessible in the shots during the points that she plays.
Many young players will learn from her game.
She could take a hike from “the WTA Tour” at any time and retire as a champion of women’s tennis.
5
I am not certain why this woman merits this much attention from the media. Maybe it is that our standards are so low that no one cares when a player of her stature denigrates herself and the game with multiple fits of rage on the court.
I am a tennis player and have been an international lines person. I can attest that Williams has not conducted herself in a manner to does credit the sport of tennis.
While there is no denying that she is talented with a racket, the fact that her God given talents have enriched her in no way implies that she is absolved from governing herself on the court in a manner that does not harm others and even the court itself.
Williams has exhibited multiple violent outbursts and at no time accepted responsibility for her actions. Rather, in each instance, she has assigned blame for her outbursts to others, casting herself as a victim of imagined discrimination.
I wish her well and look forward to when she is no longer playing the game because she simply refuses to do credit to the game via showing the same courtesy and respect for others that she demands for herself.
5
@Alabama
I think you're talking about Serena, not Venus...
28
@Alabama
Wrong sister.
20
@Ala#bama
Oh, golly.. Was it ok when John McEnroe behaved in a manner unfitting the sport. Part of the problem some have with the Williams sisters is that they have never fit the sport of tennis, and tennis certainly was not changing in any way to fit them. They blazed their own path. Some will never appreciate that.. Or forgive them and their family for having the gall to think that they belonged anywhere in tennis, let alone at the pinnacle.
Serena does at times make her opponent's win about her loss.
Why she should she retire just because some think she should? Look at some of the now less than stellar performing sports figures who are still playing. Eventually the game and their body will tell them it is time to leave. Until one has been at the very top of their sport.. or chosen field, I can imagine that most of us will not know what the struggle to stay or go feels like.
In order to be the best, you have to have courage, self belief, arrogance, confidence. Sometimes those qualities make some people uncomfortable.. Especially when they bear fruit.
p.s. the comment does seem to be referring to Serena.. Not Venus.
23
Love V!
7
Venus Williams is a class act.
19
WHYYYYYYYY do sports writers insist on calling majors Grand Slams? What happened to that nice word "major"? The US Open is a major; it's not a grand slam. A grand slam is winning 4 majors in a row in a year or if you're Serena, 4 majors in a row over the months from August 2014 through June 2015. What is so hard about this concept?
11
Correct!
1
@jej
It is ONE OF FOUR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS, ergo, each equally contributes as a "slam-level" tournament. No one refers to single majors so recklessly as an entirety- nor individually- as grand slams. There's no such thing.
3
@ jej
The terms are used synonymously today but originally it meant four majors within a calendar year and ...
“Winning the four majors in consecutive tournaments but not in the same year is known as a Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam, while winning all four majors at any point during the course of a career is known as a Career Grand Slam.”
2
Such a wonderful tribute. Thank you for writing such a deservedly fulsome story.
7
I’ve watched these two from the beginning of their careers, and have loved learning from Venus — her tenacity, chasing every ball, not wanting to leave any openings for her opponents.
And her sense of responsibility to the larger community — if not her to speak, to act, to advocate, who?
I am 15 years older than she, but she has been my role model for two decades.
15
I remember reading The NY Times profile on the Williams sisters so many years ago. What I remember most is Venus saying something to the effect “ but wait for my baby sister “, implying that even at her young age, the older sister knew what a formidable opponent Serena would make. And it was sai with such love.
I have followed the Williams sisters ever since reading that article and I love watching them. They have done so much for women’s sports- I am grateful to them whenever I see and read about strong women athletes or whenever I have a chance to watch women competing in professional sports.
15
A beautiful story about athletes written on the human level. Life is not just about the statistics. It is also about the who you are and how you became what you are. It is gratifying to read how Venus transformed tennis when the world just wants to know who won the most grand slam tournaments.
25
Venus is a trail blazer with an elegance and behaviour that is to be admired. A privilege to watch her play over the years.
15
FINALLY.
We revel in the shinier, the louder, the flashier -- nothing wrong with that -- we rarely, ever, recognize those who fight quietly and with the kind of grit we see in Venus Williams.
When people ask who I got inspiration from as I built my business, it's not Jobs, Gates or Zuckerberg -- it's far, far better -- it's Venus Starr Williams. Love you, Ms. Williams.
40
Venue Ebony Staff Williams
1
The Williams sisters have both, most certainly received their "due", whatever that's suppose to mean, during their tenure as world class tennis professionals. Now it's time for them to leave the center court, no longer at the height of their games, with dignity and grace, as is the burden of the aged athlete.
I think that Althea Gibson, Billy Jean King, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and a host of other woman tennis champions would take issue with the idea that Venus Williams "changed the course of women's tennis." There would be no Williams sisters if not for their ground breaking female predecessors.
13
I've heard Chris Evert say, many times, that the power game that the WIlliams sisters brought to tennis forced the other women to try and improve in that area. It was one of the reasons Martina Hingis stopped playing--she couldn't defend against the power. So at least Evert thinks that Serena and Venus changed the course of women's tennis.
9
@Clkb Hingis retired due a hip injury in 2007...and she tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine during Wimbledon of the same year. Hingis had her demons, but they weren't the Williams sisters.
What you failed to mention is that Chris Evert (and John McEnroe) played during the era of wooden rackets, where the generation of power wasn't built into the tool of their trade, as it is with the composite racquets of today.
Martina Navratilova introduced elements of speed, power and athleticism to the women's game that were transformational...and she'd be the first to say so. The Williams sisters took that power game, and court dominance, to the next level.
5
@Stone Rubbish - the Williams sisters came out of circumstances far different than those players and certainly changed the perceptions of "who" could be a world class tennis player.
4
I am not a huge fan of tennis - never have been and never will be (I find it amusing how competitors competing for individual glory are somehow proxies for something greater - i.e. national champions), but I found myself drawn to the Williams sisters. I still don't watch much tennis, but do so whenever they are on the marquee.
5
Oh my goodness. The love that this family has for each other, and the fierce and undying love that the sisters have for each other is literally bringing tears to my eyes. I can feel it in my bones reading this great article. I wish that we all have the blessing of a family that "rides and dies" together (I think my family is the same, minus the sports geniuses of course). If they were my daughters, I would be so proud of them. Venus is the embodiment of a loyal daughter and a loyal sister. I wish her only the very best and much happiness!
351
Venus and Serena technically elevated the game each in their own way. They also changed professional tennis by making it more mainstream, more accessible, more diverse, more exciting, all while drawing in new tennis fans, around the world, with their success, passion, sense of self and style.
I wonder of either of them will go on to coach, like their father. In the interim, they continue to inspire Coco, and next generation of tennis greats, all while still competing themselves. Bravo.
203
@Hope
It’s not their fault but tennis, like golf, has plunged in popularity among the public in terms how how many actually play. Showing up at the US Open doesn’t count as playing.
3
@Hope I guess you have not seen the continuous slew of tennis players from India, China, Japan and various African countries who are not White.
8
@Neel Kumar
Not sure how that changes Hope's comment. It's pretty much guaranteed that the Williams sisters have inspired tennis players across the globe.
Plus the international tournaments, at least, have almost always been dominated by western countries. (Not saying this was right, but that this is how it played out.) They have had an enormous and undeniable impact on that system.
5
A beautifully written paean to a transformative woman athlete. What grace, what class, what style.
303
@Bill Alexander
Yes, so true!!!!
6
@Bill Alexander
Certainly had its share of hyperbole. My English teacher told me to avoid hyperbole. You lose credibility with the reader. The piece had the impact of a thousand supernovas.
1
@Bill Alexander
Very nice big word! But please google Serena... she's powered by fame and publicity... not tennis.
I was a fan of the Williams "girls" as soon as they came up.
All these many years later, I am STILL a fan and will always be that fan.
More than just a world class tennis player, I see Venus Williams as a great lady and human being.
This was a good article.
I hope Serena gets another slam title or two.
I am also a fan of Roger Federer.
Watching Roger is like watching a ballet performance.
All of the above is from this old hockey player;)
136
It's about time Venus got some love. Seven Grand Slams! More than Boris Becker or Stefan Edberg, whom the media went gaga over, and more than Sharapova who got endless coverage. What a great tennis ambassador.
468
@Yair
Venus Williams’ career earnings are over $40 million, which is hardly chopped liver.
1
@Yair
Venus Williams’ hard-earned career winnings are about $41 million, hardly chopped liver.
It is bad luck for her that she has competed at the same time as, and been overshadowed by, her sister Serena, whose career winnings are about $88 million.
4
@Yair
Forget the love.... More Benjamins for my fellow American while black and female.
Tennis is not diplomacy. Tennis is entertainment.
2
Thank you to the sisters especially to their father ! Indeed tennis’s has changed to the better ever since the sisters joined in! Let’s all go to flushing queens ny!
44
Venus and Serena are, in a way, “the identical twins of Women’s Tennis.” [my caption] You really can’t talk about one without recognizing the other.
—
Mr. Williams is right. They are, “a two-stage rocket,” that will no doubt, stay in the orbit of greatness for decades to come.
—
It’s hard to imagine anyone equaling their combined achievement in the world of sport. And on top of that? They love each other! Which makes them doubly inseparable in our memories.
—
Kudos to the Williams family! Like MLK, Mr. Williams, “had a dream,” and it all came true.
79
Last year after Venus lost to some young European at Wimbledon, she said something that I couldn't believe. Venus said that her opponent "was lucky" and therefore "deserved to win".
So here was a 5 time Wimbledon champion saying that her opponent was lucky. There is no a bigger put-down than to say that your opponent was lucky.
Let's imagine if the roles were reversed. Imagine a white European woman 5 time champion losing at Wimbledon to an up and coming black woman and saying to the press that this up and coming black woman "was lucky". Just imagine that.
The reaction would be, and correctly I would say, that that comment was a racist one, and we wouldn't let that go. Yet whenever Venus says something boorish, the press lets her off scot-free.
Early in Venus's career, whenever she lost to someone not Serena, she would never have anything sportsmanlike to say about her opponent. (I lost all respect for Serena after that appalling 2011 US open final against Sam Stosur).
Why does Venus (and Serena) get this kind of treatment? They are both boorish. Huge stars like Venus have to be judged fairly and honestly.
13
@Sirlar: Nope. I watched that match & follow-up interview with Venus. Venus' opponent was indeed lucky to win; her ranking, history, & experience were light-years less than Venus'.
I've followed Venus since her first pro matches. I don't remember her ever speaking derogatorily against her opponent.
Implying that the two Williams sisters have behaved similarly for the past quarter-century is unfair.
13
@LEFisher
I don't know if you play USTA tournament tennis, I do, and if after the match, you shake hands with your opponent who beat you and tell him/her he was lucky, he'd probably sock you in the mouth.
@Sirlar, get over it. That was one episode in a very long and illustrious career. I am sure you can cut her some well-earned slack. Unless all your heroes are perfect.
She's just beautiful, inside and out.
10
The Williams' sisters are not won't of attention for their accomplishments.
4
Oh, how I would love to meet Venus Williams over any famous person living today. I would shake her hand or give her a hug, if she would let me, and say “thank you”.
84
@Rochelle Rudo
Amen to that
7
@Rochelle Rudo I think you may be one of the few people who can understand how I felt during a brief exchange at the Volvo Cars Open in 2016. I’m not wealthy and have only ever been to 2 tournaments, both in Charleston, SC. In 2016, I somehow made it behind the stadium, after a match Venus played, and was in line to get an autograph! My hands shook as she approached, signing for every single fan in line. I could barely think as I handed her my ticket but knew I simply had to say something to her. How could I not? I said, “Venus...” then paused to frantically search my mind for what to say that could possibly express my admiration. I finally said, “You’re the best.” No time to elaborate, just hoping she somehow knew everything that I meant by it. She smiled broadly, and said, “Thank you!” I think she knew! It’s a moment I will never forget. My hands shook for hours. They may still be shaking. 😂😂😂
34
@m52162 Venus has always been and always will be my favorite tennis player. I just watched her beat KiKi Bertens at the Western and Southern Open in Mason Ohio a little over a week ago. It was amazing seeing my favorite tennis player take down the previous champion of the event at 39 years young. I am so proud of how she fought for equal pay at major tournaments especially Wimbledon.
Venus is a national treasure and I think the writer of this article did a wonderful job explaining her to the world.
11
I have always loved Venus Williams. Her grace on and off court is something special. I believe she is a truly graceful human being in every sense of that word.
I was once lucky enough to see her face to face at Amelia Island, Florida. I told he she was uncommonly beautiful, and that embarrassed her, so I apologized.
8
Venus is my tennis heroine.
I played junior tennis for my country, have two daughters who played tennis through college, and have always marveled at the Williams' story.
Thanks for a beautiful article.
12
I admire both sisters so much! Venus has her own personality and style and seems so mature and thoughtful and kind. She deserves her own page in the history books.
20
Beautiful piece - thank you. The bit about her relationship with her father is so heartfelt.
12
She has a net worth of 100 million, I think she got her due!
29
Beautiful! Brought tears in my eyes! (I am a colored man with two daughters.)
15
The Williams sisters always came across as self-serving and "It's all about me." I they love publicity and that is really the only reason they are still out there.
9
It is unfortunate when the Williams phenomenon is dismissed as inconsequential. They have inspired many of the young women in professional tennis and all forms of women’s professional sports. They have been instrumental in getting women’s tennis incomes to equal those of men. I had the accidental pleasure of meeting one of the sisters at a hotel elevator and had to thank her for being such an inspiration to girls and women.
26
@pb
LOL. Uh, with the exception of doubles, tennis isn't a team sport. The object is to win; you mad?
10
They are “still out there” because they are two if the greatest tennis players of all time. But like so many others throughout their careers, you choose to invalidate them and look all the more foolish for it.
15
The media has been hollering about her for what seems like 20 years. She's crazy rich and crazy famous. She bounces a ball well. I would say she got her due, and about 1,200 other dues that in a sane society would have gone to teachers and paramedics and people who foster children with disabilities.
12
The Williams Sisters, class and classier, and vice-versa.
18
Serena with her explosive talent and passion is well-suited to being a celebrity. Venus with her trailblazing achievements and introspective ways is well-suited to being a role model.
45
Fabulous photo!
19
i love the game too much, to pick a side!
7
Loved this article. Thank you. And I have always loved Venus!
9
Wonderful article! Loved the picture of Venus at age 10 looking lovingly at her father. It's still a joy to watch Venus on the court.
17
Absolutely loved how the article ended on a note of forgiveness. (Ironic that the name "Serena" was given to her sister -- it would have gone with "Venus" quite nicely and appropriately.)
3
I've always admired the way Venus conducts herself. Great champion. Thanks for this article.
41
@bruce An award winning article .This family needs a national award.
7
Richard is blessed that he has two daughters, who ruled supreme in the Tennis world for quite sometime, which is a rare achievement.
Having said Richard is blessed and now I ponder. It’s in fact the sisters, who are blessed to have such a motivator as father.
13
Wasnt this same story in the magazine 3 years ago?
I have no interest in tennis but even I know the Williams sisters changed its course forever.
10
Simple answer, No.
3
Great article, but one correction worth note:
Arthur Ashe's focus was not just on the tennis court. He was a voice against apartheid in South Africa in the 70's and 80's and spoke with conviction about political matters for most of his career. When he contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, he became a leading spokesman and activist to eliminate the stigma associated with the deadly disease which ultimately took his life.
Like Venus, tennis was a big part of Arthur Ashe's life, but it was not his entire life nor did it totally define him as a person.
183
@Morals Matter
Thank you for your comment. Arthur Ashe is probably my favorite athlete ever, always with his eye on the larger picture.
“I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments,” he once said. “That’s no contribution to society. That [tennis] was purely selfish; that was for me.”
50
@Morals Matter Ashe was pure class. He came up at a time when blacks were not supposed to play, let alone win, in a white, gentile sport. He was a great ambassador to the sport and the blacks in general. He showed how a black man can succeed without being in the face of the establishment. In many ways, he paved the route for the Williams sisters who went on to set their own paths. The greats always stand on the shoulders of giants.
21
@Morals Matter
i saw the ashe comment and wondered two things: how old was the writer? and where were editors?
ashe was great on the court and an absolute giant off it.
one of the most admirable and admired--in my mind-- athletes of his time.
19
I hate hate hate all women's sports except women's tennis and track & field. I would walk through broken glass, hot oil and pecan shells as a 15 year old to see women's tennis, and then, later, Venus & Serena showed up, at which point I knew there was a God...
18
@Michael Clayton
difficult to actually appreciate your sincere comments regarding the Williams sisters, when you use such extreme negative language regarding women's sports in general. Bro, you need to go talk to somebody. Seriously... I refuse to give you a pass for that mess and I am black also just so you know.
8
Women are also quite capable in soccer and surprisingly in MMA.
3
@Michael Clayton.
OK. You miss a lot but have some taste.
Venus is amazing. Serena is amazing, tantrums notwithstanding. But it was ol' Richard who decided they were going to crash that party, and figured out how to do it. He deserves more than just backhanded compliments. (Not that he would care, necessarily.)
65
@J
He had two daughters that had the greatest physical advantages over their competitors in the history of sport. Watching them play the best in the world looked like an NBA player competing against a 7th grade basketball team.
3
@Shamrock Venus is a little taller than Margaret Court but she has a slimmer and more willowy build and isn’t as strapping as Court was. Serena is not particularly tall at 5’ 8” and while she seems to have a naturally more chunky build than Venus, I -assume she trained hard for her muscles. I am not the biggest fan of the sisters though I have enormous respect for their achievements. But I find it rather distasteful when their achievements are attributed to their allegedly Amazonian physiques.
13
@AnneEdinburgh
I think your argument should be with the author, She wrote Venus was like the Statue of Liberty and had arms the length of an area code, etc. The author used hyperbole to emphasize their God given size and power.
1
When I was younger, I thought the Williams' thing would turn out to be hype. WOW, was I humbled! Venus is an amazing woman on so many levels. Besides being the best athletes of their generation, both sisters have been clear about not tolerating racist and sexist attitudes and behavior.
Just as Martina Navratilova led the way for out lesbians in professional sport--and for broader fitness for tennis players--the Williams' have left a remarkable legacy of letting little girls know they can be proud and honest about their talents. They have each demonstrated integrity over and over again. They look up to the women who paved a path for them and they pay it forward. What's not to love?
--from a proud USPTA Level 1 Pro
47
Excellent portrait of a groundbreaking champion, who always managed to be composed, charming, and graceful, even while her father acted out like a crass clown.
No long time tennis fan will forget the minutes immediately following her first Wimbledon championship, when her father literally ran out of his seat to jump up and down on the roof of the NBC broadcast booth, holding a sign that said “Its Venus’s Party and No One is Invited!”
I do not recall seeing him in the Wimbledon stands after that. If he indeed kept his distance, then I wonder if it was the All England Tennis Club or the equally classy Venus who asked him to stay away.
3
@David Adams Richard was present at Wimbledon until 2012. That is around the time he stopped traveling and only attended the Miami Open, which is close to home. He had long stopped going to Australia and Paris, but continued to travel with the family to Wimbledon. If you go look at the final from 2012, he the the first person Serena hugs as she goes up in the stands to her players box.
2
@Ann Davis
Thank you for your comment. I stand corrected with regard to Mr Williams’ attendance at Wimbledon, but not with my observation regarding the contrast in class between Mr Williams and his eldest daughter.
2
Wow, there are some haters up in here today! Fantastic piece.
29
@ChuckyBrown
Say it again for all the deaf people in the back! I'm just not sure why it is that people would bother to read something about a person that they don't really care about. I'm not really a fan of professional football yet I know who Tom Brady is but I wouldn't read a New York magazine profile on Tom Brady because I'm not that in destiny Tom Brady at all nor curious. and what's even more mind-boggling would be that someone would read said article and then feel as though they needed to make a comment addressing their own personal indifference and disregard for the individual profiled.
8
I will give props to Richard Williams' guidance that - Less is More.
I will also give props to Venus for furthering Billie Jean King's platform toward equal pay and status for women.
However, I am dismayed that Venus is not moving forward toward becoming a dominant serve and volley player, even at this age. Nor is Serena. Especially given their serves are beyond ordinary.
There is no reason for the two of them to fade away at this time, given their talents.
The present young opposition will not allow base-lining success for older legs.
Given that baseline play presently dominates in tennis, pushing net play is contrarian.
Presently, Venus seems better at the net than Serena.
Venus could do so much more damage in her late thirties if she would push to exploit her God given reach and stinging approach shots, leading to net play.
If she really wants a gender comparison to be fair, she needs to emulate the statistics of similar aged Roger Federer, regarding net approaches,
I failed to find the stats, but I have to guess Althea Gibson, while winning Wimbledon in 1957, statistically played like male competitors regarding net play.
Presently, I feel upcoming youngsters like Coco Gauff are comfortable at the net. The future for women's tennis is obvious. The champions will play like the males.
Gender equality will finally be reached.
2
I loved this article. Bless you Venus for the tenderness you've given to us all.
45
I'm a big admirer of Venus Williams. Or, more accurately, an short, old, white male admirer of her's. And my admiration is based on more than her individual tennis achievements, her leadership in having women properly earn prize money shares equal to men's, and her stoicism in the face of physical injuries and prejudices.
I think that a large measure of her sister, Serena's, success is due to all the personal physical and emotional support Venus has supplied for Serena on and off the court and in taking the lead as a woman of color in the formerly all white world of tennis. But I admire Venus for other more personal reasons.
I had an older brother who's behavior toward me was the antithesis of Venus's love and support of Serena. I had to endure a childhood of verbal and physical abuse and frequent fear of being kicked, punched and insulted by my older brother. I look upon Venus as having the personal character and willing to provide the physical and emotional support that I wish my older brother had shown toward me.
I see Venus as a role model for how an older sibling should behave toward their younger sisters and brothers. I would really have appreciated someone like her as my big brother instead of the selfish one I had.
126
@Pete
I really appreciate you sharing that part of your life and how Venus Williams’ comportment as an older sibling gave you strength and perspective. Her place in history as a tennis player is undeniably at the top but your comment as well as this article highlights so importantly character is what makes a true champion. I’m so glad you chose her role as a sister/sibling to demonstrate what it means to be a champion and that you had a positive example of what a sibling relationship could and should be.
10
While yes, Venus has been a great champion in the past, she really a has- been now. No longer capable of beating a top player.
I wish she would hang it up and exit with a degree of dignity rather than hanging on too long like so many other athletes, Willie Mays, Mohammed Ali, Michael jordan and others.
as long as she can get endorsement deals for big money, she will hang on.
6
@Charles alexander Did you even read this article? Venus plays for herself, not you. Why do we force athletes, especially women, to quit "before they embarrass themselves"? I saw Virginia Wade play a tournament in Dallas many years ago now, and long after she was competing at a high level. I saw a person who loved the game, and loved playing in front of an appreciative crowd. I will never forget that match, and the class she showed, the great shots she made, and the skill she was able to muster to change her skirt on the court (while wrapping herself in a replacement) when she popped a button going for a ball. She was well out of the rankings, but still doing what she loved. I don't know what you do for a living Richard, but do you think you would retire if you are not "the best" in your chosen field???
86
@Charles alexander Sorry, Sourpuss. A Great Champion is never a Has Been. Winning is not all there is to anything.
58
@Charles alexander
If it bothers you that Venus still plays tennis, don't watch her.
24
Thanks for the article. I always like hyperbole with breakfast. Maybe Venus could be elected Mayor if the World and help build a spacecraft to take people safely to Venus and back. She can do anything. She has arms the length of time zones. Even ElastaGirl doesn’t have arms that long.
5
Strong female athletes with muscles are a threat to the concept of what a female body should look like; society refusing to allow muscles, beauty and strength to occupy the same space. Venus shattered that concept. The family dynamic that gave rise to this incredible athlete has not gotten its due-either: Venus is a living history lesson.
86
@Candlewick
I think Serena has the muscles.
1
@Shamrock
Factually, they both have "the muscles". They show more on Serena.
2
@Shamrock
Venus and Serena are two different body types, Venus having longer limbs and differently shaped musculature, but no doubt just as strong.
3
There have been two certainties in women’s tennis these past twenty years! Many of the best, have last names that end in OVA. And the two William’s sisters, being the consistent pinnacle of the female game! You keep going girls...
12
Beautiful in every way.
55
To answer the question of the title:
Yes, she got her due, she's on the cover of the New York Times!
Thanks for asking. Be well.
10
Her "due"? She got rich and famous, showered with awards. Many far more worthy people have gotten a lot less than that in this world.
20
@Observer
Maybe they didn't work as hard. and sometimes a certain amount of luck is involved.
1
David Foster Wallace more or less recognized Venus's greatness and predicted her longevity in Infinite Jest (1996).
5
Great article that really captures the essence of this great champion. I happened to see Venus walking with an entourage after winning a US open match several years ago. “Great match, Venus”, I said. She stopped, looked at me and offered a small demure smile, “Thank you”, she replied and it felt genuine and warm. I was smitten.
59
There’s a bit of revisionism at work here.
Venus wasn’t exactly popular when she was dominating women’s tennis before Serena came along. That included the other women on the courts.
Venus and Serena routinely booed in the late 90s and early 2000s, especially when they met each other in finals.
Venus only became more embraceable after she got older/weaker and her more outspoken sister took over.
18
@Chris - Truth. I think really have forgotten or don't want to remember when they came on the scene how they were treated - by their very own Americans. Let's not talk about the tv commentators. Some of them barely hid their snide and biased comments against the women. There was one - who said Richard Williams should put up or shut up. Huh huh he and his daughters forced everyone to accept their success and they had to shut up. There was always a taint that they really did not belong. Well I guess they showed everyone by simply going out and winning.
67
@Chris
So true and complicated.
For AA tennis players, Nice , humble and not a big contender, like say James Blake, lots of love enfolded him. Unfortunately, great winner and person that she is , Venus, has succuumbed to that role now.
OTOH , brash, confident of your abiilities, and not the reflection of what an American 'winner' in tennis should look like- Whoa, get out the daggers. Venus played that role once.
So, Serena, the more she loses her matches post-baby, the more love being rallied around.
It is complicated.
I have a special love in my heart for Venus Williams. I enjoy Serena, but I love watching Venus. There's something about her that draws me in. By chance 8 years ago while walking down Lexington Ave., I saw Venus unloading her luggage from a taxicab that was stopped in front of a hotel. I hollered "Hi Venus! I play tennis thanks to you and I'm 60!" She looked over at me and smiled, saying: "Oh, that's great! Keep it up!" And I have. Thanks Venus.
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Serena is the extrovert and Venus is the introvert but sadly they get lumped together as one person when their personalities are completely different. The high point of my professional view of Venus is her Wimbledon win against Lindsey Davenport (another great in my book). That game showed her will to win once it became a marathon. Her childlike joy once she did was pure Venus. But even before that she spearheaded the drive for equal pay when her position as number 1 carried weight at Wimbledon and won the day.
In addition to being a great athlete she is a thoughtful motivator (check out her motivational youtube videos). She is overwhelmingly positive and insightful. She is an inspiration and someone you could spend years getting to know if the introvert in her would allow you. Truly a great woman!
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@Cherrie McKenzie Yes. She has the joy of a champion and the heart of a fighter.
1
Venus is so full of grace. Such a great champion!
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Venus Williams has a total net worth of around $95 million.
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@P&L
And she is the same person whether her net worth is $95 million or $55 million.
10
she should retire and get off the court if she is worth that much--let other players win the money--she loses anyway
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@mag2
How gracious of you.
1
Thanks for the article about a charismatic and fascinating woman who is also creative and athletic. I have enjoyed watching Venus play tennis for years and cheered for her wins and bemoaned her losses. It's great to see her still competing. She is a vision of grace and power.
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@Ann
You certainly have an eye for talent. That was quite a decision to root for someone who wins over 90% of the time. Personally, my favorites have been Tiger Woods, Nadal, Serena, Federer, Brady, LeBron, Phelps, Biles, Trout, Peyton Manning, Curry, Leonard, Verlander, Scherzer, etc. I used to root for the Yankees, Packers, Steelers, now I root for the Patriots. My favorite players and teams just seem to play well. I can’t figure it out.
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@Shamrock
You certainly have a knack for making completely unnecessary comments. It's a delight to watch exceedingly talented athletes do incredible things. No need to denigrate somebody for being a fan.
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@Josephine
Just a fan of the top players.
1
This is beautiful. Thank you for this perspective at the twilight of a singular career...like Toni Morrison and Paule Marshall, this woman is aspirational...and I dont even know how to hold a racket.
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Brilliant plan of their father. Don’t fall for old line that an African American needs a college degree or ever take any college classes. Much better to rely solely upon your success and fame as a professional athlete. A great lesson for all families.
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@Shamrock: "Much better to rely solely upon your success and fame as a professional athlete. A great lesson for all families."
A lesson for all families? Isn't that kind of extreme?
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@Jp
The comment was in jest. The writer thought Mr. Williams had hit on a great way to raise children. Only if they are so much more physical gifted than anyone they ever played.
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@Shamrock
Success usually comes to people who work hard to develop what ever talent they were born with. Others waste their talents and potential. But no one is born a champion or an accomplished musician, artist, etc. Years ago when my husband was very ill in an Ospedale Civile while we were traveling in Italy I spent a lot of time walking through he small village of Pieve di Cadore where the artist Titian was born. In the local church was an altarpiece he had painted at age 16. It was nothing of quality unlike the beautiful work he would later produce after years of study. The same with successful athletes. It all takes dedication and practice, practice, practice.
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The fans don’t determine media coverage. So when a media person asks the question, did this player get enough attention, as a fan you instinctively throw up you hands and ask, why don’t you ask the editor of the paper?
10
Exactly!!!!!
Why does the media always ask that rhetorical question but never investigate the reason some extremely gifted person, usually a non-white, was not given more media attention?
7
Thank you. In reality she is not eclipsed by Serena, her light shines through Serena and more. When a light is bright it is very hard to see the shadow. Serena is always so very complimentary and loving about Venus. What a story...
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So happy to see this. Venus is my tennis hero and will always be at the top in my book. I've seen her play in person, and got to meet her once in DC when they opened the tennis center in SE DC. She was stunningly beautiful. She still is.
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@OnlyinAmerica
As the article states, “all athletes are beautiful.” Whatever that means.
2
@Shamrock; Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin Mchale, Danny Ainge Robert Parish.
Beautiful.
I have always admired the grace and competitiveness which Venus has sustained during some very challenging circumstances. How wonderful to have this profile highlighting her immense contributions to sports and to equity issues for female athletes.
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Wow, great article. Great woman. To simultaneously pave the way for her sister so graciously, while being quite the champion herself. Very impressed.
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@Clint
If only Serena had half the grace and integrity of Venus.
Shame that Venus doesn't get (or rather doesn't want) any of the media play and respect she rightly deserves.
4
@Viv You had to be the one.
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@Viv
And if only McEnroe had the grace etc of Federer. Oh wait a minute, he's white and male and he gets the love and media play anyway. (And yes, some people complain about him, but he never got an iota's worth of the abuse that Serena Williams has had to take.)
26
For tennis fans, I do think she's gotten her due with the 2005 Wimbledon final being one of the most memorable championship matches ever played. She is one of the best women players ever.
I've always gotten the impression that off the court she prefers to maintain her privacy so that's what she does.
But I don't think Richard Williams has ever gotten his due and never will. Think of what he did and when he did it.
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@Lou Good what does getting one's due mean ??
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@MARY
Appreciation and respect. He has definitely gotten it from his family. The public, not so much!
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@Lou Good We forget that early on in the girls career, Richard was a huge distraction. It almost seemed like he wanted the limelight more that his girls. That backlash is probably why he does not get as much recognition.
10
I am a Black male that started playing tennis when Rod Laver and Chris Evert were the major names. I was not a fan of Richard Williams who seemed too loud for my taste. In hindsight, Mr Williams is a genius. To guide one child to greatness is an accomplishment, two children absolute genius.
Without the Williams sisters, American tennis and the sports world in general will be sorely lacking.
Thank you, Mr Williams and your beautiful daughters for all that you have given us.
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Totally agree! Was thinking the same thing reading the article. Like who has a vision like that and sees it to fruition? Amazing, genius. Now this family will have have a legacy for ever!
5
“All athletes are beautiful?” Makes me think of the line in When Harry Meets Sally when Carrie Fisher’s character says “everyone thinks they have good taste, but that’s impossible. They all can’t have good taste.”
I’ve watched competitive athletics for 53 years and I can assure the public that not all athletes are beautiful.
15
@Shamrock Stay pressed like a panini. Keep seething. Venus and Serena have earned their status.
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@Stephanie M.
Comment had nothing to do with the Williams. I just wondered what world of sport the author has seen.
1