"No Serena Williams without Venus Williams" says the younger sister's agent Jill Smoller

Both have carved out iconic tennis careers over the years with the younger Serena widely touted as the greatest to ever play the game. Venus is no pushover when you look at her career but like most, she pales when compared to Serena. The sisters grew up on the courts together playing tennis since a very young age under the tutelage of their father Richard.

His life was recently immortalized in a film starring Will Smith but it also shows a glimpse of the relationships the sisters had since a young age. According to the agent of Serena Williams, Jill Smoller, there would not be a Serena without Venus. She explained:

"They know each other so well, they know each other’s games inside out, they practiced every day and I think whenever she’s asked her fiercest opponent, the answer is always Venus. There wouldn’t be a Serena without Venus and Serena is the first one to say that, she [Venus] paved the way for her [Serena]."

Smoller also explained that while fiercely competitive with each other Venus is very gracious towards her younger sester and quite protective:

“Venus is the most gracious older sister, always so protective of Serena. Venus is elegant in defeat, Serena not so elegant in defeat but it’s what makes her who she is.”