AT 2017’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL, ROD LAVER ARENA WAS A SEA OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE. US FLAGS WERE DRAPED OVER SHOULDERS AND PAINTED ONTO THE CHEEKS OF SUPPORTERS, ALL OF WHOM UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE IN THE PRESENCE OF RARIFIED GREATNESS. WHILE SERENA WILLIAMS’ PRESENCE IN A GRAND SLAM FINAL HAD LONG COME TO BE EXPECTED, TO SEE HER SISTER VENUS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NET WAS MORE SURPRISING.
After being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome in 2011 - an autoimmune disease that left her heavily fatigued and experiencing muscle and joint pain - Venus had chosen to prioritise her recovery away from the court. In the years that followed, critics were quick to count her out. Emerging on the pro circuit were fresh, young players, finding form and fine-tuning their skills alongside the sport's greats. And there was Venus, a titan of the game, but one who seemed to wear
