Venus and Serena

The Williams sisters playing each other for the very first time in a tournament.

That's it! Venus able to beat her little sister, Serena!

A special day in the special life of a special champion.

Serena Williams for a fourth time Wimbledon champion.

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams won the women's doubles title today,

the first sisters to win Olympic gold in tennis.

Two black girls from Compton weren't supposed to even play tennis,

let alone be really good at it.

Two US players, sisters, same bedroom, prime time,

Saturday night, US Open. No-one could have scripted that ever.

Venus and Serena Williams have made tennis history.

They are the first sisters and the first African-Americans ever

to claim the top two spots in the rankings.

Venus is ranked number one and Serena is right behind her at number two.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A tennis player.

I would like to be a tennis player.

What's your ambition for Venus and Serena in tennis?

For both of them to become number one in the world.

The girl whose dad calls her and her sister the kids from the ghetto.

The girls from the ghetto.

The ghetto makes you real strong, real tough, real brave.

It makes you to the point where you believe you can do anything and you will.

Sisters just 15 months apart.

What would be the odds that they would not only choose the same profession, but dominate it?

The story goes that you're not even that big a fan of tennis,

that you looked at this sport as a great way for your family to raise itself up and make some cash.

-Is that true?

-That is so true.

Venus Williams! A champion again!

My parents told me I'd be number one in the world.

I was brainwashed!

You've got to win. Nah, you're going to win. Aren't you?

-Are you going to win for us?

-Uh-huh.

-Good girl. That's all that's necessary.

-How do you feel the way you're hitting the ball right now?

-Good, Daddy.

-How about your feet? Are your feet moving well?

-No, Daddy.

-How about yours?

-Yes, Daddy.

Don't get excited. This is your game.

Richard was going around and begging private country clubs,

like Riviera Country Club and others, to give him used balls.

And he would then fill up a shopping cart in an old Volkswagen bus.

We didn't talk on the phone, we didn't go to school parties, and all that stuff.

But somehow, I don't feel like I missed out.

There were probably a few things I wanted to go to,

but I figured I wasn't going to go,

so I didn't ask, and anyway, most of the time I was at practice.

She was...I guess the guinea pig, in a sense.

Venus, absolutely, there was so much pressure on her to become a great player.

I mean, Richard was talking about it every single day

to every newspaper in the country.

She definitely... She had it the toughest.

If you down with your feet flat like a 97-year-old person, you'll never be a tennis player.

Richard was very, very protective and he generally would never let anyone around the girls

because he was extremely protective, because he had seen so much.

Richard Williams was from Shreveport, Louisiana

and came from a very small town, and was raised, you know,

by a single mother, who instilled in him some really great values.

But the things that Richard saw transformed his thinking

and his outlook, really, on everything and justifiably so.

He had seen men beaten, he had seen, you know, people denied opportunity.

He grew up in an era where, you know,

the coloured-only sign was standard.

A lot of things went wrong here.

Right here, six or seven guys held me down and actually took a nail

that goes on a cross tie and nailed that sucker right into my leg.

The reason they would do something like this is simply because I wouldn't call them Mister.

And I don't think it was fair for me to call no-one Mister

that always called me "boy" and "nigger"

and always trying to kill me.

What do you feel inside when you're on the court?

-I feel good.

-I feel good.

What didn't I do to try to copy Venus when I was younger?

Her favourite colour was my favourite colour,

her favourite animal was my favourite animal,

she wanted to win Wimbledon, I wanted to win Wimbledon.

She is tennis prodigy Venus Williams

and she's also our sportswoman of the week.

It was very difficult, being in the shadow of Venus

because ever since I could remember, Venus was always in the newspapers, and always, you know, in the press.

I was never supposed to be the one who was going to be a really

great player, but I was determined to not become a statistic.

So that's the only reason I played tennis.

I was a copycat, basically.

Serena, she didn't have that power when she first started,

so she had to try to beat you different ways.

She would hit angles, she was trying drop shots, and then once

she got her power level up, her serve became as dominant as Venus'.

According to a report in People magazine, Serena Williams

is hospitalised in Los Angeles after having emergency

treatment for a blood clot in her lungs.

And I was like, it's been swollen for a few days but now it's just getting worse.

And so she said, "You have a blood clot". And I was like, "I don't have a blood clot."

A doctor that I had said, "Take her to the emergency room immediately."

-See you later.

-I don't feel anything.

-We love you. Love you, baby.

I'm going to call Mom and let her know you're good.

When I got the call that she was in the hospital,

I was just really in shock.

And I don't know if she realised how serious it was.

I'm so grateful that she went, because she could have died.

Just by not knowing.

Does that hurt?

Yeah, it's been really hurting lately, like it never hurt like this.

Beautiful day here in Melbourne. Sun is out at last.

18 degrees at the Australian Open.

Serena's had a lot of public health issues but during that same time,

I've also been going through a lot of my own issues.

I'm still in the down and out mode.

For me, tennis has always been a part of my life.

It's just who I am. I've been playing since I was four years old.

So not only do I love the game, I love the challenge, I love the pressure.

It's wrapped up into who I am.

We love you, Venus!

Venus, 30 years of age.

And you've got to say a veteran of the tour.

Many wondering if there is another major in her.

I just screamed from the pain. You know, it was just involuntary.

I was able to win that match

but I was pretty much finished after that.

But I wanted to go out and know, for sure, 100%, that I couldn't play.

She's in trouble.

The pain was an impossible pain.

So, it was something that you don't play through.

That's it. That's it, I'm afraid.

The crowd feels a little bit cheated, I guess, sadly.

I know she's in there, pissed,

and she's probably saying, now what kind of reaction was that?

I'm going to fight. I have been fighting for a long time, so I know I can fight longer.

She hasn't played since Wimbledon of last year.

I know Serena hopes to be back. Her target at least is the French Open.

What if the layoff extends beyond that?

How difficult - she's 29 years old now - for Serena to come back?

Part of my lung is dead.

I'm never going to get it back.

-Where's your shot?

-I just had things keep happening to me.

After that I had to thin my blood, after I got out of the hospital.

The worst part is pricking. Once you get over the prick you're good.

Every day I had to take a shot, and one day, as my luck would have it, I hit a blood vessel,

and it gave me like this massive lump on my stomach.

It wouldn't go away and it got bigger and bigger and it got really painful.

-Did you take your antibiotic?

-No, I didn't.

They had to surgically remove it and then put a tube in me to keep draining it.

Then I had that drain in me for ten days, and day ten I'd had enough.

Hey! How are you? You OK?

Yeah. I'm all right.

I was stuck in my house for over two weeks.

I couldn't leave, I couldn't do anything.

I just basically was house ridden.

And then I just got into this karaoke thing and I just started

singing and singing and singing and next thing I know, I couldn't stop.

# Don't ever let me go. #

I really do think it became like a rehab for me.

# Amazing Grace

# How sweet the sound. #

My hip's OK. It's been a real slow process.

I'll get you more comfortable.

I feel like I'm just trying to get better.

I feel like I haven't done anything in my career.

Maybe that sounds ridiculous, but I feel like I have to do so much more.

I'm tired. It's hard today.

There's not a sport that tears your body up worse than tennis.

You have to run in tennis the whole time.

There's no time-outs. One match can go on for ever.

A tennis player doesn't have a long career.

My wrist can hurt a lot when I do that.

I know I complain a lot about injuries,

but my shoulder hurts a little.

That's why I can't... can't wait to get stronger.

You're doing good.

I just got to get ready. I've got to be fit.

I have so many pieces that go in the puzzle

and more than anything, I have to play without fear.

Right now, I'm fearful when I move or when I do this.

It's like, is this going to break or is this not going to work?

It's a horrible place to be mentally

but I have to just somehow overcome all of that.

We have to get serious, if you want to come back for Wimbledon.

-So I should just live in the gym?

-The first three or four days,

just work on your rhythm, work on your strokes,

work on your technique.

Get a little confidence with your foot, with your toe, with the movement.

I just want to play, you know. Like, I'm going crazy that I can't play.

I'm never going to retire unless I have to.

Also, like, I can't think like that.

I just... So I don't know, like...

You just worry too much.

-I know. My mind...

-You worry too much.

There are like little people in there going crazy.

You have too many people telling you too many different things.

But I feel like if I could just fix my mental...

Ah!

I'll be fine.

One more.

I think I'd like to start the family meeting out with the positives.

First of all, I want to talk about the great things I've been doing!

When they're in Florida, they live together. They practise together.

They're doing the same thing. They have the same goals.

Serena, thank you for paying half the rent

and keeping this establishment the fine place that it is.

An adorable thing happened at Fed Cup.

They came in and there was a big chair,

and that's the only place they could really sit.

I thought we'd have to get another chair or something.

They said, "No, we can sit here."

They were trying to scoot in this chair together,

and their hips are touching.

And I am cracking up, because it was telling me

how close they truly are connected.

If you're going to be over here, you've got to treat her, Serena.

Relax.

-I'm so hungry. You have fish here?

-Yes.

-Is it in the freezer?

-Refrigerator.

-Oh, it's in the refrigerator?

Oh, my gosh! I'm going to cook some fish.

It's so ridiculous.

Serena will call Venus her husband, or her wife, or whatever.

She'll come home and be like, "I've got to cook, cos you know..."

-There's not a lot of it.

-Oh, it's a filet.

I think it's going to be difficult, if and when that time comes,

if they get married and have to have families of their own.

Venus is like, I'm never moving.

And Serena was like, if you're not moving, I'm not moving.

I know they're not twins, but in a way they are.

And their whole life experience has been within

the shadow of the other person.

There's very little that's happened to one of them

that the other hasn't been privy to, maybe even an eyewitness to.

So if you tried to marry into that arrangement,

it would be a very unique arrangement to say the least.

It would have to be two... Two brothers.

Will Venus be ready in time for this month's French Open?

Williams is recovering, but the winner of 21 Grand Slam titles

and three Olympic medals is far from retiring.

Mentally I'm ready to play the matches. I just haven't played in so long.

I had a good call with my doctor,

and he was surprised at how much I was training.

He was like, "Five days a week!"

I said, I'm running, I'm doing this, I can hold my own legs up now.

I'm a professional athlete again!

Right now, mentally I'm there 200%, and I think that's all that matters.

I don't know physically percentage, but I know mentally, I'm there.

Hi, Vickie. It's Esther with Serena Williams.

-Is Dr Drasin available?

-Hello.

-Hi, Dr Drasin.

-It's Serena and Esther.

How are you guys doing? Fantastic, fantastic news.

Your chest CT scan shows absolutely nothing.

I am hereby officially certifying you off Coumadin.

-Wow!

-Oh, thank God.

Congrats. Which means that you still have to behave yourself over there!

I'm on my best behaviour.

Was that you laughing over there?

-Yeah, of joy.

-OK.

It's just been such a hard fight, you know?

Well, you are now completely OK to restart all training.

As much training as you possibly can. You're good to go. Sound good?

Yeah, sounds good.

-Good luck with everything and keep me in the loop, OK?

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye.

No more Coumadin.

A little inappropriate!

I always say that match changed my life and my career.

And I'll never forget, she was serving

and I remember thinking, "I've got to go for it".

I said, Serena, if you don't go for it now,

you'll regret it for the rest of your life.

Even if you miss, you've just got to go for it.

And she served the ball,

and I remember, I hit a forehand as hard as I could down the line.

And that set the foundation for the rest of my career.

Just go for it.

You know? Like, sometimes, you just got to go for it.

She's done it!

Game, set, championship, Williams!

It was so unexpected, and you know, I hadn't won anything at that point.

Well, first of all I'd like to thank my God, Jehovah, because if it wasn't

for Him I wouldn't be here today and I'm very excited about everything.

I'd like to also thank my dad and my mom because they've been great

parents and all my sisters and the support.

How was it for you not being the first to win a Grand Slam?

I think at the time, not to win the first major

was tough for me, because I felt like I should, as the older sister,

have been able to step up, and do more, and be tougher.

I didn't know how to win. I didn't know how to close a match out. I didn't know how to fight.

I don't think that came naturally to me.

Serena, it came more natural to her.

It's a defining moment of like,

how are you going to react to something like that?

Am I going to learn from her example, or am I going to crumble? So, I wanted to learn.

Do you ever watch Wimbledon or the French Open

and say to yourself, I might play there some day?

Yeah. Yes, I do.

What do you think about?

I think about, I have a wild card in the first round.

I have a bye in the second round.

I get to play someone that you never heard of in the third round

and the fourth round, and I get to the finals and I win.

And she finally gets a championship!

The one trophy she says she's dreamt of since she first started playing tennis is hers.

Making her way to family and friends to share the moment.

So a hug from Serena. What a lovely moment this is.

Well, it really was a most athletic performance.

A marvellous, marvellous moment.

And the first African-American champion here

since the great Althea Gibson who won twice in '57 and '58.

She went on to win four more before I won another one.

Venus said Serena showed her how to win.

Well, everybody's been talking about the return of the Williams sisters.

Serena was gone for practically a year,

she had to battle with a variety of injuries.

Venus Williams in only her third tournament of the year.

If you're asking me to make a call on who will win the women's title, I'm going to go with Venus.

I've got to take a shot before I jump on the plane.

I haven't done this in so long. I'm a little nervous.

I've been out for a long time. The last time I went on the road,

I got on the plane and my foot broke, literally at that moment.

So today I'm thinking, God, I hope nothing happens.

-I'm wasting too much time.

-Yeah, you need to just pack a bag.

You want your blankie?

Don't forget to call me. If you need anything just call me. I'm always here.

Well, we're just days away from the most prestigious

event in world tennis, and yes, it is that Wimbledon time of year again.

2011 marks Wimbledon's 125th birthday.

We're staying in the same place, right?

Yeah, we're staying in the same place.

-I hope so.

-I love you.

I love you too.

Every tournament that either one or both of these players are at,

there's a buzz from the crowd to the press and even the other players.

They've missed these two great champions over the past 12 months.

Excuse me.

Security. Is he with you guys?

-I'm the club photographer.

-I don't care who you are. You're on that hill.

-OK.

Excuse me. I can't get him to move on that hill.

-Is he not with you?

-He's not with us.

-I'm the club photographer.

-I don't care who you are.

-We are allowed to be here.

-Would you just come with me?

-Yeah, sure.

I would hit that topspin serve like what you're doing.

One, that's a one. One. One.

That's just annoying. That "one" is annoying

to them and to me and I have no idea what it is. I don't even think they do.

And what about when you say "one" and "two"?

Well, we don't want to put that on tape right now, but they know what it means.

That guy's pretty sharp.

Ah, I hate when my dad says that, so much.

That means, I don't know.

It means that I didn't look at the ball.

I let him say it, cos it's like his thing.

But it's like, ah, so frustrating.

With my dad, I'm kind of having an argument in my head with him. Sometimes I find it distracting.

More on the outside.

You got your shot. Make it.

Elbow up a little higher, Venus.

Step forward. Catch it early.

Keep the elbows up and every ball is going to go over the net.

Every ball going to go over.

I hate that too, because it doesn't make sense.

It's not elbows up, you know? You have to swing through.

What's the toughest match you've ever been in?

Probably the one against my sister.

What was it like?

Horrible. She won 7-6. It was good that she won.

It was the first-ever prime-time women's final.

September 8th 2001.

It was Venus versus Serena. Sister versus sister.

The world of tennis was ready for a fresh breath of air.

Men had dominated up until the time that Venus and Serena came on board.

Enter the stadium side by side now.

They actually changed the programming line-up,

because the ratings were so high that they moved it from normal

daytime Saturday to Saturday night.

And you had the world watching. So it was unbelievable.

This is a great night for tennis in general,

and I think the only thing more unbelievable than the women's playing in prime time

is the Williams story itself.

It was a very tense and hard thing to watch.

It's stressful to watch them play because you want them both to win.

You feel there's a little guilt.

Like, I can't clap for Serena. I can't clap for Venus.

No-one should ever underestimate quite apart from their race

and the way that they were driven when they were children

and all that, is just the sheer psychological thrill it was

for people to see two sisters when they played against each other.

I don't think that anyone can ever really understand

the level of competition and what it feels like to play your sibling...

The champion of the 2001 US Open. Venus Williams.

..who you share a house with, you train with, you travel with,

who you share a trainer with, obviously you have same parents, you have the same friends.

I get mad at Venus when she wins against me.

It's so stupid, though. I hate losing.

I hate losing more than I like winning.

Venus, you and your sister have brought so much excitement and talent to this game of tennis.

They changed the face of tennis.

They made it more interesting to a wider swath of Americans.

I always want Serena to win, so it is kind of strange

because I'm the big sister. I take care of Serena,

I make sure she has everything, even if I don't have anything.

One of the high points of the careers of both women

was when they got to the final in the French Open in 2002.

As it turned out, it was the first victory for Serena

in a Grand Slam over Venus.

What a great point to end it and baby sis has finally won!

-Where is Venus going?

-She seems to be getting a camera.

-She wants something here.

-It is a camera.

To take a picture of her sister to record the moment.

It's possible that at Wimbledon this year she could overtake Venus as number one in the world.

I do think subconsciously that Venus is willing to give her the spotlight.

I always think Venus is going,

"Serena, I know you really need this. It's OK, go for it!"

And Serena Williams has defended her Wimbledon championship.

Venus is an extreme protector.

Serena always had to win, always had to be the princess.

Youngest child syndrome. She has that really, really bad.

Serena's got the added advantage of being the younger sister.

Little less pressure.

I think it's been harder for Venus to have to deal with that.

I would say, out of the eight finals, that Serena's won six of them.

I had a brother that played professional tennis.

And something tells me that I wouldn't be as forgiving or understanding or clapping!

I see Venus clapping. I guess it's the ultimate blood is thicker than water.

I feel like I should take lessons from them

rather than me explaining how the hell they do that.

At the end of the day, it says Williams.

And if you lose, maybe one day someone will mistaken you for the other Williams.

Whatever. Fill in the blank. V or S.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. May I have your attention, please?

We will shortly be opening the gates.

-Grunting?

-Yeah.

At least one of your daughters is one of the foremost proponents of grunting.

Do you think that's really helping her game or not?

Well, let's see. To grunt or not to grunt? That is the question.

And it seems to be all over on the British press and the British mind.

I believe in let grunt and let not grunt.

Is it something that you talk about a lot with them or not?

Well, grunting has not been the focus of our conversations.

We more or less talk about technique and how to move your feet and things like that.

Goddamn! Bother me about a stupid grunt. I can't believe it.

No-one knows about Serena.

We know from old, it doesn't take long before Serena

comes from someone who's out of the picture into the headline story,

and that could easily happen here.

Serena has never lost in the first round

of a Grand Slam in 44 appearances.

Oh! Aravane! Why did you follow her?

A fantastic rally!

-Forty-love.

-Three match points then for the champion.

Game, set, match, Miss Williams.

It was a terrific third set. It was a wonderful scrap!

And Aravane Rezai should take so much credit for what she achieved out there.

But in the end, Williams, in the third set, bruised her badly.

And who would bet against her now

from making it three titles in a row?

It's just been so hard. I never dreamt I would be here right now.

It's been a disaster year, but, you know, I've been praying

and had my family and I love tennis.

And to be able to come back at Wimbledon is pretty awesome.

I've learned that you can never take any moment for granted.

I've been really trying to draw spiritually on my God, Jehovah,

who I've really been trying to get a closer relationship to.

Remember this from Haines City? You don't remember this?

No?

Come on.

# I should have known from the start I fall short with the things I do

# Wholehearted

# Wholehearted

# Wholehearted. #

I think that the Williams sisters are artistic people.

Any artist has to be obsessive...

..has to have the capacity to concentrate so exactly on what

it is they wish to achieve in terms of artistry, that you lose a lot.

I'm not sure that I think I'm a perfectionist. I always say, more or less, I am obsessive.

But it's something I've worked on on the court too because I would be

out there formerly for two hours and I could be in a tournament and

I'd practise one thing, and before I know it, my court time was done.

Someone else was coming to get the court and I didn't practise anything else.

I hate that every time, I have to bounce the ball five times

before I serve and the second serve, I just only can bounce it twice.

You've got to be obsessive to be a tennis player.

Who wants to hit 17 million balls over the net

and then do it again the next day?

Michael Jordan knows,

"I got to shoot 300 jumpers every day or else I'm going to suck."

And they got to hit X amount of balls or "I'm going to suck".

And I've seen people that suck, and I've seen their lives,

and I don't want to have one of their lives.

I like being good, and they like being good,

so they're, you know, going to keep this OCD thing up.

I think perfectionist people are nuts!

I think obsessive people are A-OK.

You know you see a lot of players that will break down

if they miss three or four shots.

You don't see that with the Williams sisters.

They just stay the course of their matches.

Their mom was always talking to them about being strong women,

"You're going to have tough times out there, don't let it affect you,"

and their father was always telling them it's us against the world.

Hello, a very warm welcome to finals day

in the women's tournament here at Indian Wells.

I can't imagine another experience in sports

being as profound as the Indian Wells experience.

It was my favourite tournament to go to. I lived to go to Indian Wells.

In the semifinals, Venus decided she couldn't play

because she was injured.

And so she yielded a walkover to her sister, Serena.

Some people think, obviously she's given up the match so her sister can advance.

A fair number of them, you have to believe, were in the stands the previous night when Venus defaulted.

They felt they got gypped out of one match, and they're just going to express their disappointment.

CROWD BOOS

I've never at a tennis match

heard 20,000 people in unison boo one player.

Serena's looking up in the stands trying to find it,

like, what's going on? What am I missing?

And then it dawns on her that it was her.

Richard Williams walked out and here's the crowd again.

It's a long walk down to the courtside box.

Richard actually stopped and looked at somebody.

It's a very tense situation.

Here was Richard after the heckling and more boos.

An American crowd booing an American family,

and you have to say it does smack of a little bit of racism.

You go to your home state, where you're from,

couple hours south of Compton and you're being booed.

And the person they're cheering is this Belgian woman.

She played the first few games and she was crying.

Someone called me nigger and it was intense.

I prayed on the sidelines, and I pulled myself together.

I didn't pray to win. I just prayed to get through this, and get off this court,

and just be over this already.

Serena got booed from the warm-up to the last point, to the trophy ceremony.

Well, she won the match because she's a champion and she has the heart of a tiger.

Have you seen Rocky? Well, that's her.

CROWD BOOS

When you talk about Serena's speech,

at the end she says, "You guys were pretty tough on me today."

And she goes...

I would like to thank everyone that supported me,

and if you didn't, I love you guys anyway. Thank you.

She walked off the court, and she was, like,

"I'm not going back next year."

The tournament will go on with or without me.

But I'm not going back.

I mean, honestly, like, you look at people like Martin Luther King

and Malcolm X and Rosa Parks.

If they didn't believe and stand up for what they believed in,

then we wouldn't have the freedoms that we experience today.

What I had to go through is so small

compared to what they had to go through.

And if I can't stand up for something like this, then who am I?

Like, what have they taught me in history?

The reason they are so special is because they are

African-American sisters who have been supreme in this former...

in this sport that formerly was an elitist, white person's folly.

I mean, obviously the fact that they're black.

I mean, yeah, Althea Gibson opened things up in the '50s.

COMMENTATOR: Althea Gibson helped to topple the lily-white tradition in tennis

by winning the national and Wimbledon championships in 1957 and 1958.

And Arthur Ashe wasn't... I mean, he paved the way, in a way.

But he certainly wasn't able

to get maybe quite the same chances as they have.

Some people may think the black athlete is now on absolute par

with a white athlete. I don't think that is true,

and I think the Williams sisters have had to live with that fact

that the war is not over, when they've performed with extraordinary

valour and courage and skill under difficult circumstances.

Venus is going down her way, if that's to be the case.

That's it. Pironkova does it again!

-Venus was quite a way below par.

-She really was.

How do I deal with losses?

Yes, how do you...how do you deal with losses like the one today?

I used to get really upset.

Like, I wouldn't change my clothes for a couple of days.

I didn't wear any deodorant or anything, it was pretty nasty.

Or I'd sit on the couch for about a week.

It was pretty tough.

But after a while I realised I hated feeling that way,

so I make sure I move on immediately within the hour.

I try to fix my mistakes, but I just hate feeling that upset.

It's just miserable so I refuse to do it.

When you go out to play today, you know that they're going to bring

their best game out there for you, so you don't...

Don't you let up.

You bring your best game out there too.

-UMPIRE:

-7-6...

I was defending champion at Wimbledon. So I felt pressure.

I was, like, if I don't win I'm going to be ranked,

like, 200 in the world, and I didn't want that for myself.

I was, like, "I got to win, I got to win!"

And I put so much stress on myself, you know, I couldn't hit shots

and I couldn't do anything.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Serena Williams, a great champion and a great effort

to try to hang on to the trophy, Lindsay.

She did. She was far from her best in this tournament.

And you have to say, it's been a bad day for the Williams family.

-REPORTER:

-A lot of people would probably say

if you'd come here after the best part of a year out of the game

and walked away with the title,

it wouldn't necessarily have been the best thing for women's tennis.

Can you sort of appreciate that,

and does this result show that it's very competitive still?

Yeah, I'm super happy that I lost.

LAUGHTER IN BACKGROUND

Go women's tennis!

# You need a bodyguard

# My money boy said I woulda been a good prez

# But I'ma be a better mogul music exec

# When I bail out money, the first thing I did

# Was got all hands on deck, a deal for a couple mill

# My life, world tours

# Encores, applause

# Cars and jets... #

What would be the perfect date for Serena or Venus Williams?

If you're a powerful woman, you know,

you're going to have most likely not a powerful man.

Who would be the Williams' knight in shining armour? Nobody!

I was reminiscing about my horrible dates.

And one horrible date I had

was when this guy picked me up in a minivan.

ALL LAUGH

With rims! And tinted windows, like, all pimped out!

I was just, like, "Oh, my God, I do not want to get in this minivan!"

What I should have done in that situation,

once I saw the minivan, I should have twisted my ankle.

LAUGHTER

Hey!

Right now I'm married to me. I'm very selfish.

I'm getting really set in my ways.

You know, it's really sad because there's a few great guys out there

that, you know, are great, great guys.

I mean, wonderful people.

But at the end of the day it's just, like, I really need to talk

to that man in the mirror, because they're a little crazy sometimes.

You have big lips. They belong on a black guy.

That's why I like black guys, they have nice lips. Are you black?

No.

I only date black guys.

I have to say you don't.

-OK, so...

-Brett.

-And?

I can just point, like, here. How far is the place, the gym?

-Dan?

-Yeah!

One white guy. I've dated one white guy.

That's already two. I know another one who lives in Malibu.

Like, I don't mind white guys. I just prefer black guys.

Ah!

Mackie! Mackie!

Go make money.

I'm really, really turning red right now.

Sasha, you're going to have a hernia, be careful.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, my God!

Ew, I would never date Sash!

Oh, my God, I'm going to throw up!

Oh, give me a minute! LAUGHS

Ew!

Oh, no! Sash?

Yuck! Yuck, yuck, yuck.

And I hope he doesn't take that the wrong way, but yuck.

I'd like for one day that I could think about getting married.

My ideal guy has a body, he plays Xbox with me.

I want to play tennis for ever, can't be having kids and doing that.

I want to sleep all day,

I don't want to have to do activities with the kids.

She's started saying, "I'll get married when I'm 45, 50 years old.

"That's when I'll be ready."

So that's her new thing.

She's, like, "I have to... Because I don't want anyone telling me

"what I can and can't do. I don't want anyone telling me

"how to spend my money, I don't want anyone doing that."

-That's your spring line.

-So what will the line be?

This dress, you see the front is very simple,

and this has like a square neckline so it's very flattering.

So what we did is this right here.

I think their style is very independent, quite rebellious.

They're not interested in looking like anybody else.

Nor do they really care what anybody else thinks.

The biggest challenge for me when I play

is deciding what colour I'm going to wear.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Now, I'm no aficionado, Tracy, you'll be relieved to hear,

but I'm told that's a new range of nail polish

and the purple is called Grape, Set and Match.

Get a look at her dress.

Apparently called the Wonderland Dress,

inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

-REPORTER:

-What was worse, some say, the flesh-coloured shorts

she wore underneath. And, yes, she is wearing shorts.

-ANNA WINTOUR:

-Tennis was very conservative,

and I think it's thanks to players like Andre Agassi

and Venus and Serena that the whole look of tennis has totally changed.

It's easy to wear a pretty dress and they're not interested in that,

and that's part of who they are and why people pay attention.

Attention has to be paid to them.

I'm going to the doctors saying,

"I don't feel like I'm getting enough air,"

or "I just don't have the stamina to last".

I train the same amount or more than everyone else with half the result.

CROWD WHOOPS

She's actually going to have a match probably in two or three hours

but she's saying how she just woke up today

and she's feeling really tired.

Is there anything that you recommend?

I was diagnosed with Sjogren's this summer.

It's kind of hard to describe.

You know, it's pretty much just, like, not having any energy

at all and feeling like you're sick, but you don't have a cold or a flu.

How are you, what's happening?

OK.

Oh, OK.

This summer I started having more issues, just not feeling good.

My hand started swelling and I started having joint pain.

I couldn't control my shots, like, I had no feel left,

like, they were going out my feet.

So in a lot of ways it's good that that happened,

so that way I could understand what's wrong with me

and go on and get treatment.

You have to be patient and let it work.

You can't rush it.

-REPORTER:

-Back now, as promised, with more on this surprising

announcement by Venus Williams,

a tennis superstar by any measure, that she is out of the game,

at least for now, pulling out of the US Open to tend to her health.

Your sister announced that she has been diagnosed

with this autoimmune disorder.

Yeah, she's been struggling for a long time,

and now she can actually get better.

I don't know, the thing is I should probably go to the gym and eat,

but I'm having a hard time doing the things I'm supposed to do nowadays.

I don't want you to sit here and say that I'm the only one

that needs to improve, you need to improve too. SHE PANTS

See, I know I need to improve,

but I'm just asking you to do better as well.

That's it, you don't have to sit here and yell at me

and be, like, "I did great."

What? I just told you today...

I know, but I'm being honest with you too,

-and I felt that I played a good tennis today out there on the court.

-And I say that you didn't.

I played like shit.

I couldn't be more upset with how I played.

I know I'm not going to convince Serena in that moment

to have her saying, "OK, Sash, you're right."

Like, she would never, ever say that.

Congratulations, baby.

What are you doing now?

Watching your daughter kick ass.

Yeah, yeah, but what else are you doing?

Watch her kick ass tomorrow.

THEY LAUGH

-MAN IN CROWD:

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

Huge win, great win!

-Hope she wins it all!

-Thank you.

-Congratulations!

-Thank you.

-Congratulations!

-Thank you.

The only person that can beat Serena here is Serena.

COMMENTATOR: We welcome you on this solemn day.

Ten-year anniversary of 9/11.

The whole world felt the pain and terror of ten years ago.

Serena Williams has announced she's playing this

for the people of the United States,

in memory of those who were lost on this day.

Serena, six months ago you were in the hospital with a blood clot,

now you're in the finals of the US Open,

how emotional has this journey back been for you?

It's been really emotional and really, really hard and everything.

I just feel so blessed and really lucky.

Stand by in three, two, one and sending.

COMMENTATOR: Serena Williams!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Serena Williams, who has won this title three times,

has not dropped a single set.

WHISTLING AND APPLAUSE

Remember she did play late, she looks lethargic so far.

I don't think she looks lethargic, I think she looks tight.

It's showing up in her serve, which is usually her go-to move.

Who is this woman masquerading as the three-time champion?

First time she's lost a set here in this championship.

Serena Williams dominating her opponents,

and here is Stosur in domination with 11 consecutive points!

SERENA: Come on!

They're going to have to play a let there.

She shouted in the middle of that shot.

The ball hadn't landed and she was saying, "Come on".

-She should play a let.

-That's bad form.

That is bad form.

I don't know if it's her point.

Relax, shake it off. Shake it off.

To give Stosur the point was infuriating, and I think it went too far.

Because of the call, actually the crowd all turned in Serena's favour.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, the crowd now rooting strongly on behalf of Serena Williams.

She makes it personal with this umpire,

who in my opinion just did her job and did it appropriately.

and what she said on the changeover, in my mind,

was totally unprofessional and really classless, to be honest.

I mean, I think it was stupid, but I wouldn't say it was classless.

People say a thousand times worse and they think it's cute.

And I say, "You're ugly on the inside,"

which is the most geekish thing anyone could possibly say.

If I'd said that in high school I would have got beaten up.

So, I almost wanted to beat up myself when I heard that.

I was, like, "Oh, my God, what a nerd!

"Honestly, couldn't I have said something better?

"Uh! Loser!"

CROWD ROARS

Oh, my!

A fantastic upset!

Australian Samantha Stosur, in straight sets,

is the champion of the United States Open.

Surprised that she lost? Of course. It's hard.

I mean, I got to bed at 2.30am, so she went to bed late.

She went around the same time. Coming out today morning again,

it's not easy.

I think maybe all these little aspects put together

definitely slowed her down on the court a little bit today.

Are you with me?

She was cracking them today.

She definitely hit hard and just went for broke.

I just probably should have been lighter on my toes

and moving a little faster.

Everyone lives to be in the final of Wimbledon and the US Open.

Whatever happens in that moment you live for them

and we breathe for them, and hopefully I'll be back next year.

Do you have two seconds I can speak to you alone?

Just the two of us.

Somewhere we can just jump in here for one second?

The principal's office.

Uh-oh, we're going to the bathroom!

The tragedy for every athlete is age,

the inevitability of age, and the inevitability of not being able

to pursue your dream because your body won't follow you any longer.

Your body tells you a lot.

Like, maybe you're a half a step slower or a step slower.

Maybe you notice that you are in a different place emotionally.

At some point the star will fade

and there'll be some other great tennis player.

Serena and I decided

that we're not going to have to have a traditional career,

so we're going to keep playing and playing,

even when we're too terrible for singles,

we're still going to play doubles.

Through their injuries,

it's kind of woken people up to the reality that there will be

a tremendous void when they're gone.

Two championship points for a fifth Wimbledon and a 14th major title.

-UMPIRE:

-Game, set and match.

Serena Williams, champion of Wimbledon again!

She is our greatest champion the last 20 years of women's tennis.

Arguably maybe the greatest woman player that ever lived.

Making her way up the stairs.

Just above us here to the friends box. Big sister awaits.

CHEERING AND WHISTLING

Thank you guys in the box, Daddy and Mom, Sasha.

If you're over there, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I love you all and I could never have done this without you.

So you've got five of these trophies now.

At least it can match the Wimbledon trophy cabinet of Venus now.

I've always wanted everything that Venus has had,

so I had to copy you again so... Sorry!

Congratulations on a fifth Wimbledon trophy. Serena Williams!

COMMENTATOR: Oh!

Oh!

PLAYER SCREAMS

To me, Venus Williams is the most intimidating figure

in women's tennis up at the net ever.

She could play doubles with her sister for many years.

Serena and Venus Williams at championship point.

SHE SCREAMS HAPPILY

And the Wimbledon Ladies Doubles Champions 2012,

Serena Williams and Venus Williams!

When you get older you've got to win with what you know

and have learned and by the mental toughness you've acquired.

So, what I hoped would happen for both of them

is that they would be able to rehab and come back

and that the benefits of all those other tournaments,

all the victories and the defeats would play out,

and they're having a great next chapter in their tennis career.

# A prodigy of the ghetto

# Her destiny was to play in the arena

# And reign in the arena

# You can see her drive through her parents' eyes

# Don't be surprised

# When she comes to the arena

# Built for the arena

Isn't that fun? It's insane, right?

# As the phoenix rise

# I'm a champion (champion)

# With the heart of a warrior

# This is the moment that I waited all my life for

# I'm the phoenix rising

# Champion (champion)

# With the heart of Serena. #