Whether they’ve watched the Australian Open final or not, the stars of the WTA are united in awe of Serena and Venus Williams.
Sport’s most famous and successful sister act wrote a new chapter in tennis history when they faced off in the title decider in Melbourne, and at 35 and 36, Serena and Venus showed the world there is no expiration date to their record-shattering ways.
World No6 Agnieszka Radwanska watched both the women’s and men’s (Federer v Nadal) Australian Open finals and said it felt like a blast from the past.
“Well, it was a very good match. Of course, reminds me those times when I was a kid and I was watching them (Venus and Serena) playing finals. That was kind of, like, comeback for the beginning of the 2000s years,” Radwanska told reporters in Doha.
Dominika Cibulkova, the world No5 who is seeded third in the Qatari capital this week, lost in the third round in Melbourne and said she never watches matches after exiting the tournament.
She did however describe both Williams sisters as inspirational.
“Serena, she’s a legend. I think it was great for her. She said she had only one goal: to come there and to win a grand slam. Her confidence is really, really something we all can look up to,” said Cibulkova of the world No1, who captured an Open Era record 23rd major title last month.
“And Venus, you know, I think she gives hope to – I don’t want this to sound bad – but, like, she’s older than me, and she still can play finals of a grand slam. That’s something I really admire in her,” added the 27-year-old Slovak.