Williams Sisters Find Solo Success

The sisters--Venus and Serena Williams--divided and went on to conquer the tennis world Sunday.

Serena, 17, won her first singles title on the WTA tour, defeating Australian Open finalist Amelie Mauresmo in Paris. Hours later, one continent away, Venus, 18, successfully defended her championship at Oklahoma City, beating Amanda Coetzer in straight sets.

The Sister Act went solo--though Serena appeared to have the better end of the deal, a week in Paris. Nothing against Oklahoma. Really.

Based on the success of the experiment, maybe this was the best thing that could have happened to Serena. She will move from No. 24 in the world to No. 21 when the rankings are released today.

Martina Hingis once noted that Venus, the older and higher ranked of the two, always has been the primary focus of the family’s attention. Serena has been more in the background, playing a supporting role.

“It’s actually kind of weird, especially since I’m usually never apart from her,” Serena said. “We’re definitely playing more separate [events], but I think she’s going to accompany me at tournaments usually.”

Given a rare opportunity on her own--traveling with her mother Oracene--Serena reached her first final and won it, defeating four French players along the way. She will next play the Evert Cup at Indian Wells, Calif., which starts later this week. Venus is not playing singles, just doubles with her sister. Mauresmo will not play.

With all the talk about the huge size of Mauresmo’s shoulders at the Australian Open, Hingis thought that Serena’s were bigger, and Serena agreed.

“I think mine are more cut, actually, I mean definitely,” Serena said. “Mine are strong. Hers are strong. Mine are more cut and more built.”

SPEAKING OF SAMPRAS

Another week, another threat dismissed.

Pete Sampras didn’t play last week and it didn’t matter. He is still No. 1 after Yevgeny Kafelnikov lost in the quarterfinals Friday in London to Thomas Johansson. Kafelnikov, winner of two tournaments in 1999, needed to reach the semifinals to supplant Sampras.

“He [Kafelnikov] got off to a very hot, hot start,” Sampras said. “It doesn’t matter what you’re ranked in February, it matters what you’re ranked in December. That’s where I’m at. There’s no reason to panic.”

Sampras did not rule out another mad dash through Europe late in the season if necessary to stay No. 1 for a seventh consecutive year.

“As competitive as I am and as long as I’ve played, I feel like I should be No. 1,” he said. “If I have to play six, seven weeks in a row over there, then I’ll be willing to do it.

“This is a streak that I want to continue. To do it for seven straight years, that would be great.”

QUOTE, UNQUOTE

* “On the contrary, it should have geared her up against me. Maybe we should meet in a boxing fight and bite each other’s ears,” Hingis, facing a spate of questions in Paris last week about her controversial remarks about Mauresmo in January at the Australian Open. She lost to Mauresmo on Friday in the quarterfinals in three sets.

* “It takes an element of luck to win any major. But for me to win the French, it takes a little bit of an act of God,” Sampras, speaking of the only Grand Slam to elude him.