How do you balance the deep disappointment at missing out on a Grand Slam trophy with the joy at seeing your sister achieve ultimate glory?
For Venus Williams, this has become a recurring theme.
Nine times she has faced sister Serena in a Grand Slam final. Seven times she has lost.
“I guess I've been here before. I really enjoy seeing the name 'Williams' on the trophy. This is a beautiful thing,” she explained after falling 6-4 6-4 on Saturday night, taking her win-loss record in major finals to 7-8.
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For Venus, Saturday night’s appearance in the Australian Open final was more than about simply winning and losing.
Given her lengthy battle with illness, given her advanced age of 36 – making her the oldest player in the top 100 – and given the seven-year gap between this and her last Grand Slam decider, her fortnight at Melbourne Park was a triumph on so many levels.
The result in the final was, perhaps, even slightly irrelevant.
“It was great to have an opportunity to play for the title. That's exactly where I want to be standing during these Grand Slams, is on finals day, having an opportunity. That's the highlight of all this, is to be in that moment,” she reflected.
“I didn't lose a set until the semifinals. Played against a lot of players who were in form. So it's a good thing. I feel I played very well this week, pulled a lot of things out of my pocket.
“I got more stuff in my pocket. Get it out.”
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What that is remains to be seen. But judging by the form she produced these past two weeks, more impressive results are imminent. She was moving better and striking the ball more cleanly than she had in years and displayed little sign of the lethargy that has plagued her sporadically in the five years since her Sjogren’s Syndrome diagnosis.
And her results at the majors have for the past three seasons trended upwards. Since the beginning of 2015 she has reached at least the fourth round at seven of her past nine major tournaments – quarterfinals at the Australian and US Opens in 2015 gave way to a semifinal finish at Wimbledon last year.
She’s won 28 of her past 37 Slam matches and will vault from No.17 to No.11 in next week’s rankings.
And with more Grand Slams ahead as well as shot at returning to the top 10, she’s not short on motivation.
“It's a great start to the year. I'm looking forward to the rest of year. This is like tournament number two and it's already a lot of work. I'm looking forward to tournament number three and four. It's going to be awesome,” she said.
“I feel motivated to continue to go out there and hit the ball the way I know I can. There's only things I can improve on, to be honest, and to build on.”
One thing that needs no improvement is her graciousness.
When Serena defeated her and fell to the court, Venus rounded the net. When Serena got up, she was greeted by a warm embrace by her older sister, which they held for a long time as the magnitude of the achievement set in.
This was more than about winning and losing for Venus. This was about being a part of the history her family was writing.
“She's a champion on the court. She knows how to take it to that next level. Then off the court, obviously she's an amazing person, an awesome sister. I couldn't ask for much more,” Venus said.
“To have this opportunity to play against each other again, and to be able to rise to that occasion, was quite momentous.”
