Venus Williams issued a playful challenge to her sister Serena on Monday as she urged her retired sister to come to New York and support her in the US Open.
The 45-year-old’s storybook run in New York continued as she and doubles partner Leylah Fernandez beat Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai to move into the quarterfinals.
And after Serena – who won 14 doubles Grand Slam titles alongside her big sister – jokingly feigned jealousy at Venus’ new partnership, Venus had a message for her sibling after her and Fernandez’s 6-3, 6-3 win.
‘I think she had a very funny Tik Tok. But really she’s so happy for Leylah and I, and she’s given us advice,’ she said afterwards on the court.
‘We just need her in the box. So my message to Serena is: Serena, you need to show up.’
Venus added IN her post-match press conference: ‘If she came, it would be a dream for both of us and we’d have her on the court coaching. We’d force her to hit, even though she doesn’t hit often. It’s probably best she doesn’t come because we’d probably bully her,’ she continued with a smile.
The elder Williams sister even revealed that Serena gave her a ‘pep talk’ prior to her fourth-round matchup, as she referred to her as her and Fernandez’s third coach.
‘She’s definitely coaching from afar. She’s so excited. She gets so nervous watching, and she’s got the kids watching, they’re all at home, just really on our side,’ Venus said. ‘We’ve got, like, I don’t know, three coaches now? Serena’s on the coaching team?’
The 45-year-old, who spent more than a year away from professional tennis, competed in the US Open’s new-look mixed doubles tournament and in the main singles draw as well, but her partnership with Fernandez – 23 years her junior – has proven to be particularly fruitful.
And it was a testament to her prevailing star power on Monday as a completely packed Louis Armstrong Stadium (the US Open’s second-biggest arena) cheered her on.
Such was the crowd’s adulation for her that they had to be told by the umpire to be seated for match point, though they didn’t have to wait much longer to get to their feet after Fernandez volleyed home a winner at the net.
It’s certainly not common for a round of 16 doubles match to get such big billing, but Williams – a wild card entrant no less – repaid organizers’ faith with some strong moments at the net, while the younger Fernandez covered up her lack of speed elsewhere on the court.
And while Venus had never played doubles with Fernandez before this week, it’s clear she’s making a huge impact on her playing partner.
‘I’m growing a lot, actually,’ Fernandez said. ‘ I feel like my team members and even my family says, ‘Wow, you are growing just by playing with Venus, learning from her,” she said as she sat next to Venus.
‘I mean, you may not say much on the bench, but whatever you say, I’m like kind of a sponge and kind of soaking everything in.’
Last year, Indian player Rohan Bopanna won the Australian Open men’s doubles title at the ripe old age of 43, and Williams will now be dreaming of a similar trajectory for her and Fernandez.
