5 classic all-Williams clashes as US Open match-up looms

Serena and Venus Williams will meet for a place in the US Open semi-finals on Tuesday. AFP Sports looks at five of the most memorable clashes between the American sisters:

1998 Australian Open 2nd rd

Nowhere near a classic -- it was a described as 'sub-par' by one newspaper -- but noteworthy as it was the first meeting between the two sisters. Both appeared sporting beads in their hair. Venus, 17 at the time, triumphed 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 which was expected as she was ranked 16 in the world while 16-year-old Serena was down at 53.

2003 Australian Open final

One of the most dramatic finals between the sisters came in the heat of Melbourne, when Serena clinched the last Grand Slam title to elude her with a tension-filled 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4 victory.

It was only the sixth time a woman had held all four of Grand Slams at the same time, and the first since Steffi Graf in 1994.

Venus made unwanted history as the first woman to lose four straight Grand Slam finals.

2008 Wimbledon final

Venus clinched her fifth Wimbledon title with a 7-5, 6-4 win in one of the few really high-quality clashes between the pair at the All England Club.

Venus, 28, defied blustery conditions to become one of only four players to lift the trophy five times or more in the modern era.
She sealed the historic victory when Serena fired a backhand wide, but her celebrations were muted as she hugged her sister at the net.

2009 Dubai semi-final

Venus beat top ranked Serena 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7/3) to take a 10-9 lead in the sibling rivalry.

It was Venus's fifth win in their last seven meetings but Serena earned plenty of plaudits as well for defying the pain of a knee injury that had forced her to retire from a tournament the previous week.

It was only the second time a set had gone all the way to a tie-break in their 19 career meetings to that point.

2009 Wimbledon final

Serena ended Venus's two-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory that secured her a third All England Club crown.

It was the fourth time the sisters had met in a Wimbledon final, with Serena, who now held the Wimbledon, Australian and US Open crowns, winning three of those showpiece showdowns.

The 27-year-old's 11th career win over her sibling regained the Wimbledon title she won in 2002 and 2003, and shattered five-time champion Venus's hopes of lifting the trophy for a third successive year.
Source: AFP