NEW YORK Serena Williams barely got the better of older sister Venus Williams in a U.S. Open quarterfinal that was fit for a final, coming back in each set to win 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) Wednesday night and break a tie in their head-to-head series.
Serena trailed 5-3 in both sets. She faced set points in both, including eight in the second. But she advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2002, the year she beat Venus in the title match for her second U.S. Open championship.
It was the siblings' 17th meeting as professionals, and Serena leads 9-8. That includes 11 matches at Grand Slam tournaments, where Serena leads 6-5.
She also has the edge in major championships, 8-7, and she can add to that total this weekend. The fourth-seeded Serena will meet No. 6 Dinara Safina in the semifinals.
“It's really just unfortunate it had to be in the quarters,” Serena said.
Venus had all sorts of chances to take control, but in the end, as both women's play reached a very high level, it was Serena who pulled through.
Back when they were ranked Nos. 1 and 2, the siblings only could meet in tournament finals. But because of injuries, inactivity and inconsistency, they dropped in the rankings, and now it's the luck of the draw that determines at which stage they potentially meet.
The start of the latest all-Williams showdown was delayed by more than an hour because of two lengthy matches that preceded it on the tournament's main court.
Venus showed up at the locker room about 20 minutes before they finally headed out, carrying a bunch of rackets in the crook of her left arm. Serena arrived about five minutes later, a red purse slung over her left shoulder.
Neither face betrayed the slightest hint of emotion at the start of the match. Early on, there were the sorts of nerves and erratic play that have marked many of the siblings' encounters as they have adjusted to playing one another.
“I try not to look at her, because if I look at her, I might start feeling sorry,” Serena told the crowd afterward. “I want the best for her. I love her so much. She's my best friend.”
Neither of their parents, who also serve as their coaches, were sitting in the guest boxes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. An older sister, Isha Price, was there, sitting with her hands clasped in front of her face, eyes shut, during the first-set tiebreaker.
How could she possibly cheer for one sister against another?
“I was stressed,” she said. “It is so difficult to watch them. At the end of the day, you want them to play a good match and for the best person to win.”
And did the best person win?
“I'm not sure,” Price said.
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