When you think about the word dynasty, the Williams family comes to mind instantly in regards to tennis. Watching this year’s Australian Open, it was as evident as ever when both Serena and Venus made it to the championship match. They showed their excellence throughout the tournament fighting until the final match and, eventually, against each other. Their path to get to professional tennis was not easy either; they fought for everything they earned in life.

 The Williams sisters took the pro tennis scene by storm in the 90’s and have not looked back since. Born in 1980, Venus is the oldest of the two sisters. Serena was born only 15 months after her older sister. Growing up together, at the ages of 3 and 4, the girls would practice together, coached by their father, for 2 hours a day at a court near their home in Compton, California. Through their rigorous training, Serena grew to become the the number one ranked tennis player in the Junior United States Tennis Association tour for the 10-and- under division. Venus, on the other hand, developed a 100 mph serve by that age, leading her to go 63-0 on the same tour as her younger sister. Each of the sisters turned pro at the ripe age of 14, and almost immediately found success.

In 1999, Serena won the first of many Grand Slam titles for herself and the family in general as she captured the U.S. Open. Venus then went ahead in 2000 winning both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, and then defended both titles in 2001. All this success  by the Williams grabbed the tennis world’s attention as Serena has now collected 23 Grand Slam titles, completed the career Grand Slam along with one Olympic gold medal, and Venus has won 7 Grand Slams and an Olympic gold as well.

Even with all their individual success, when you put two “Michael Jordans” together on the same doubles team, they become unstoppable. Together they have won 14 Grand Slam titles in doubles, and are undefeated when reaching the doubles finals. They have also won 4 gold medals together and were 15-0 together in the Olympics until they lost in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sophomore Rob Hruska added, “They are the best there ever was. I don’t know much about tennis, but I do know they’re the best to ever do it, plain and simple. Must be the American in them.”

 With all of their individual success as well as together, when they play each other you know that the match will be spectacular. The record between the sisters is 14-11 with Serena leading the series. In the latest installment of the family rivalry, it was on one of the biggest stages in tennis. They were playing in the finals of the Australian Open. The match ended with Serena winning three straight sets 6(2)-7, 6–2, 6–3. This was Serena’s record winning 23 Grand Slam and put her ahead of Steffi Graf on the all-time list.

The records that the sisters hold respectively and the world rankings that each sister has is impressive in itself, but to be in the same family and do it is unheard of. The Williams are in control of tennis right now and look to keep it that way for as long as possible.