Sisterly slam! Serena Williams inched closer to a Grand Slam title on Tuesday, Sept. 8, after beating her sister Venus Williams in the quarterfinals of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in NYC.
Serena, 33, the top-ranked female tennis player in the world, defeated her big sis after three sets, 6 to 2, 1 to 6, 6 to 3, and continued her bid for a Grand Slam. Following her sibling’s win, a proud Venus gave Serena a sweet hug and said, “So happy for you.”
Speaking about her victory later, Serena told reporters (via the Associated Press): “Obviously we are very, very tough competitors on the court, but once the match is over, the second it’s done, you know, we’re sisters, we’re roommates, and we’re all that.”
With two more wins, Serena will be the first tennis pro in a quarter-century to win all four Grand Slam titles in one season, a feat that was last accomplished in 1988 by Steffi Graf. “That would be huge, not just for me, but for my family, just for what it represents and how hard we have worked and where we come from. So it would be a moment for our family,” Venus, 35, told the AP on Tuesday. “But at the same time, if it doesn’t happen it’s not going to make or break you. We don’t have anything to prove. She has nothing to prove. She’s really the best ever.”
Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Anna Wintour, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Joe Jonas, and Donald Trump, who was booed by the crowd, filed into the stadium to watch the match in humid NYC on Tuesday night. Other stars — like Hilary Swank, LeBron James, and Gabrielle Union — kept up with the action from home, and reacted to Serena’s victory on Twitter.
That was one of the best #WilliamsSisters matches I’ve seen! Congrats to both amazing women! @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) September 9, 2015
Yasssss @serenawilliams ????????????????????????
— Eva Longoria (@EvaLongoria) September 9, 2015
This is #MYWilson! Congrats @serenawilliams #StrongIsBeautiful https://t.co/NRxkzwgCcA
— Hilary Swank (@HilarySwank) September 9, 2015
2 QUEENS, 2 CHAMPIONS. .. I’m in awe and so inspired by the exceptional talent, grace, class, and LOVE! #VenusandSerena #USOpen2015
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 9, 2015
That was so uncomfortable to watch.. but a great match.. @serenawilliams and @Venuseswilliams are both great champions…
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) September 9, 2015
And on a side/front and back note “The Williams Sisters” are AMAZING!!! @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams. My daughter will look up to y’all
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 9, 2015
Rooting for Serena to get her calendar year Grand Slam. The last player, male or female, to do this was Steffi Graf in 1988. #USOpen2015
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) September 9, 2015
Serena Williams though… Maybe this generations greatest athlete ????
— t(-.-t) (@petewentz) September 9, 2015