Venus and Serena Williams emphasize importance of young stars like Osaka and Raducanu

Having competed on the WTA circuit for over two decades, Venus Williams and Serena Williams have become icons of tennis and built a legacy that includes winning 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them.

The sisters have been promoting 'King Richard', an upcoming biopic that chronicles their journey as children and the role their father, Richard Williams, played by Will Smith, had in ensuring they shattered barriers.

In an interview with BBC 5 Live, Venus and Serena were asked whether younger players like Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka faced the same barriers they did when rising in the tennis world.

“I don’t know if we know their lives, but they’re achieving great things," responded the Williams. "We’re very happy for them and they’re great for tennis.”

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Both Raducanu and Osaka have been thrust into stardom following their inspirational stories, with Raducanu winning her maiden Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. Osaka is a global superstar, having not only won four Grand Slam titles but is also a social activist and has launched several fashion lines.

Although both Venus and Serena have reached the age of 40, neither seems to be slowing down as Venus just made a record-breaking 90th Grand Slam appearance at Wimbledon earlier this year. Meanwhile, Serena is likely to resume her quest for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title when she returns to the tennis courts at the 2022 Australian Open.