The Legacy of the Williams Sisters: Dominance in Doubles

Claire Curran, a former doubles player representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland, recalls a memorable match against the renowned Williams sisters at Wimbledon in 2007, alongside her partner, Anne Keothavong. Competing against Venus and Serena Williams was a daunting task at a time when the sisters were dominating the tennis world.

Curran recollects the psychological tactics employed by the Williams sisters, like making opponents wait, which contributed to their intimidating presence on the court. That day, they won 6-1, 6-3 on Court 18, a testament to their power and strategic gameplay.

The Williams sisters’ achievements in doubles are extraordinary. They claimed 14 Grand Slam titles collectively and secured the Olympic gold medal three times. They achieved the U.S. Open doubles title twice, marking significant milestones in their careers.

Currently, Serena and Venus Williams will participate in the 2026 U.S. Open women’s doubles, facing Maya Joint of Australia and Chan Hao-Ching of Taiwan. This marks their first reunion since the 2022 U.S. Open.

Venus remarked on their selective approach to playing doubles, choosing tournaments based on the desire to secure Grand Slam titles. Former players and commentators like Pam Shriver believe the Williams sisters could have rivaled the record of 20 women’s Grand Slam doubles titles if they had committed more often to doubles.

Some notable singles players have dabbled in doubles, like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. However, forming top-tier doubles teams is less common now due to scheduling challenges and the focus on singles matches, which offer more financial incentives.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula represent one of the few recent top-player doubles pairings. Pegula highlights how playing doubles with Gauff contributed positively to their games, offering different match experiences and pressure situations.

Despite the logistical hurdles, fun remains an important aspect of doubles tennis. Prominent players like Mirra Andreeva and Alexandra Eala attest to the joy and skill-development opportunities introduced through doubles play.

As tennis evolves, questions arise about whether top players will revisit doubles more frequently. For now, the Williams sisters stand as iconic figures, drawing admiration for their formidable journey in both singles and doubles competitions.

The Winning Style series continues its exploration of successful strategies adopted by elite tennis players, highlighting timeless stories and achievements.