Renowned agent claims there ‘wouldn’t be a Serena without a Venus’

Serena Williams’ agent Jill Smoller has provided an insight into the relationship of the illustrious Williams sisters, claiming “Venus paved the way for Serena.”

The Williams sisters boast an incredible total of 30 Grand Slam titles between them, as well as a combined five Olympic gold medals. The sisters are also doubles partners and have claimed a remarkable 14 doubles Slams.

As a result, the sisters are highly regarded as tennis legends and Serena is the most successful and most decorated women’s player ever.

However, both sisters have endured a difficult year. Serena’s season has been hampered by a torn hamstring which saw her withdraw from the US Open and she will also miss the upcoming Australian Open. Whilst Venus has been nursing a leg injury and is currently ranked 316th in the world.

Serena last played at Wimbledon back at the end of June, losing to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round and Venus lost to Hsieh Su-wei at the Chicago Open back in August.

On a podcast called Boardroom: Out of Office, Serena’s agent Jill Smoller revealed that “Serena will always say that Venus is her hardest competitor.

“They know each other so well, they know each other’s games inside out, they practiced every day and I think whenever she’s asked her fiercest opponent, the answer is always Venus.”

“There wouldn’t be a Serena without Venus and Serena is the first one to say that, she [Venus] paved the way for her [Serena].

“Venus is the most gracious older sister, always so protective of Serena. Venus is elegant in defeat, Serena not so elegant in defeat but it’s what makes her who she is.”

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