While Serena Williams may currently conquer most of what is put in front of her in the women's game, there was once a stage when her elder sister Venus Williams was the dominant force.
Venus was particularly successful during the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the pendulum started to swing Serena's way in 2002.
Serena had lost five of her first seven meetings with Venus, including in the final of the 2001 US Open. However, she more than gained revenge for that during the following year, starting with a straight-sets victory over Venus in the French Open final.
They met again 13 years ago today and just a few weeks after that triumph at Roland Garros, this time in the final at Wimbledon, where Venus was the two-time defending champion.
The first set was evenly contested, so much so that a tie-breaker was required. The only two previous breakers between the duo had both been won by Venus, but on this occasion Serena came out on top 7-4.
Now in command of proceedings on Centre Court, Serena made the most of her domination in the second set, eventually winning through 6-3 to secure the third Grand Slam title of her career and her first at SW19.
"At the beginning of the year, I told myself I don't care what else happens this year, I want to win Wimbledon," the 20-year-old said after her victory.
"I really wanted to win the French but that was an extra bonus. I just wanted to win Wimbledon. I wanted to become a member of so much prestige. I wanted to be a part of history."
Meanwhile, defeated Venus said of her sister: "She was tremendous today. There wasn't a lot between us but on some points, she was playing shots I just couldn't get.
"I kept my balls deep and on the line and she did the same - what can you do? I think it's great to see Serena doing well because for a while she wasn't doing the best that she can do. I would have liked to have won today but once again it just wasn't to be."
Later in the year, Serena beat Venus for the third Grand Slam final running as she prospered in the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
Then, at the following year's Australian Open, she beat Venus in three sets to complete the 'Serena Slam', becoming just the fifth woman to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.
Liam Apicella
