The mother of Serena and Venus Williams has always been a beacon of calm and grace on the sidelines — even now, in what may be a turning point in her daughters’ lives.
Serena and Venus Williams lost the first set even after having a set point. They eventually were defeated, 7-6 (5), 6-4, by Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.
Since the Williams sisters first burst into tennis in the 1990s, their legacy has been tied to one another. They will play doubles in perhaps the final tournament of their careers.
Unlike her sister, Venus was not prepared to deal with questions about her tennis future after a loss in the first round of the singles tournament. “I’m just focused on the doubles,” she said.