Second-Round Feature Is Sister Act

Tennis is an entertainment business, and every now and then it gives the people what they want--such as Wednesday’s second-round Australian Open match that pits sister against sister--Venus Williams versus Serena Williams.

On Monday Serena won her first Grand Slam match. Monday night Venus Williams defeated Alexia Dechaume-Ballaret of France, 6-3, 6-0. Both matches were well-attended. Whether it’s the players’ youth, their matching beaded hair or their powerful, athletic styles, they have captivated fans here.

The sisters have never faced each other in a professional match. They do practice together, seldom playing games and never keeping score. But competitive athletes have other means of keeping score.

“She smoked me a few weeks ago,” Serena said. “But the next time we played, I smoked her a little. We go at it pretty hard. We just don’t keep score.”

Venus is lankier, Serena more muscular.

“My forehand is better than hers, her backhand may be a bit better than mine,” Serena said.

Venus, as one might guess, believes hers is the superior game. Her comments about her sister border on the comical--a 17-year-old calling a 16-year-old “young” and speaking in professorial tones about her own vast professional experience.

Neither sibling would go so far as to allow the other to win.

“I guess I wouldn’t really want to lose,” Venus said. “But [she’s] the only person I would be happy to lose to, because I would say, ‘Go ahead, Serena. Go ahead. Take the title.’ ”

Interest in the match is high, especially at a tournament that traditionally spurns women’s matches.

Even top-seeded Martina Hingis, who lost to Venus last week, said she’ll watch.

“I guess everybody is going to watch the match,” she said. “Everybody is interested in what is going to happen. It’s the Williams’ day.”

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Veteran Helena Sukova played her last singles match Tuesday, losing to American Anne Miller. Miller, ranked No. 94, defeated No. 78 Sukova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.

Sukova was a two-time finalist here and a U.S. Open finalist in 1993.

Sukova’s career began in 1981 and the Czech enjoyed most of her success playing doubles--mixed doubles with her brother, Cyril Suk, and on the women’s tour with a variety of others, including Jana Novotna and Hingis.

The 32-year-old will continue to play doubles. She intended to play here with Monica Seles, who did not enter. Her partner is Chanda Rubin.

Rubin continues to struggle. Jana Nejedly of Canada upset Rubin, ranked No. 28, 6-2, 6-4. Rubin has never regained her form after undergoing wrist surgery in 1996. That was the year she was a semifinalist here and showed great promise. She injured her hand shortly after the tournament and missed the rest of the season.