It is seven years since Venus Williams beat Serena Williams in a grand slam event, her victory here in the 2008 final also the last time she lifted a major title. On Monday the sisters will meet at Wimbledon once more, this time in the fourth round, and it is Serena who has everything to lose.
It would be rather ironic if the younger’s hopes of completing her second “Serena slam” of four consecutive majors were to be ended by Venus. In 2002-03, when Serena won the French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and finally the Australian Open the following January to achieve the feat for the first time, it was Venus who was on the receiving end in all four finals.