Jelena Dokic: Serena and Venus Williams are ruthless competitors on court but they’re all class off it
IT’S amazing to think that we’re going to see Venus and Serena Williams play in another grand slam final at the Australian Open.
I know it’s not going to be easy for them because they have such a special bond and find it hard to play against each other but, for tennis fans, it’s going to be incredible.
What these players have done over the past 20 years has been a gift for tennis and they deserve everything they’ve achieved.
I’m especially happy for them because over the years I’ve got to know them a little bit and discovered that, while they are extremely fierce competitors on the court, they are so different away from it.
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I played both Serena and Venus a few times and I struggled a little bit when I played them.
I was still quite young and struggled with their power. I had some power of my own but I never really played them later in my career.
It’s very hard to play against them because it feels like they come out and just bombard you with the serves and returns. Especially the second serve they would stand inside the court.
But even though it could be so intimidating playing them, I always found it to be so different away from the court.
If you ever crossed paths with them in the hallway or away from the practice court they would always come and say hello and ask how you were. It was always genuine and showed what nice people they are.
‘I’M NOT SURE IF I EVEN WOULD HAVE DONE THAT’
There’s one thing that really stands out in my mind that shows this kind of class.
We knew Serena’s former hitting partner of more than a decade, Sascha Bajin, quite well because he was also born in Croatia and spoke the same language.
It was interesting because he asked Serena a few times, ‘can I hit with Jelena and help her a little bit’. Serena was nice enough to say yes and I hit with Sascha at the 2010 French Open and a few times over the next few years.
A lot of people wouldn’t do what Serena did, even some of the nicest people you can think of. I’m certainly not even sure if I would do that.
It’s a very competitive sport and you have your own team and it’s very unlikely another player is going to share their hitting partner or coach with another player. It’s a big conflict of interest.
That she allowed one of her very closest people in her team to help me, a fellow competitor, I found truly unbelievable and showed what kind of person she is of the court.
On the court, it seems like Serena almost needs to get a little bit angry and to have that fire. She’s very, very focused.
Serena is something special that’s happened to women’s tennis in the last 20 years and I’m not sure when we’re going to have the next one like her, if ever.
‘AFTER WHAT SHE’S BEEN THROUGH, IT’S AMAZING’
Of course it’s more of a surprise for many to see Venus make the final. A lot of people probably thought she would never reach another grand slam final with what she’s had to go through.
The auto-immune condition she has battled must have made it so tough because it’s symptoms are fatigue and joint pain — probably the worst things you can have as a professional athlete, especially in tennis because this sport is brutal.
She’s had to adjust her lifestyle and I know she’s gone vegan and raw with her diet. I think in recent years she’s just been happy she’s been able to get back playing.
With all that she’s been through, to be in a grand slam final is amazing.
Of course, Serena is going to be the favourite but I do give Venus a chance. Coco Vandeweghe started really well in the semi-final but Venus just kept fighting.
I also do feel for them though. I don’t think I would like playing against a brother or sister at the level.
Their bond is so strong and so real and I think going to be tough, especially for Serena because she really does look up to Venus and always has. She almost copied her and wanted to be like her when she started on tour.
What they have done in their careers and what they continue to do speaks volumes about not just their talent but their commitment, hard work and desire.
You can’t forget how hard they have worked. Of course, they are so powerful and aggressive — they were probably the first ones that introduced that kind of physicality on the court and they’ve kept it up for two decades.
I’ve seen it myself. At the US Open every year they play night matches and they’re back on the practice court at 7am on the dot. They are doing the same here in Australia. They work so hard.
This week in Melbourne has just been another incredible chapter in their story. I can’t wait to see what happens in the final.