The Group Chat: Rename it Williamsdon

Wimbledon, tennis’ storied British Grand Slam, begins tomorrow, and the sports gods have blessed us with something truly special: Venus and Serena Williams, two of the most dominant figures in the tourney’s long history, will return to the grass court for the first time since 2023 and 2022, respectively.

• Both in their mid-40s, the sisters will team up to chase their seventh women’s doubles title. But that’s not all: Serena will also return to the singles tourney.

• Our group chat simply cannot stop buzzing about their return, so today, we’re digging into the Williams sisters’ prodigious history at Wimbledon. Pour yourself a Pimm’s Cup, and let’s serve it up.

P.S. If you’re reading this before 2 p.m. ET, there’s still time to submit your brackets for our World Soccer Bracket Challenge. Hop to it — there’s major prizes on the line.

Venus and Serena’s Wimbledon domination cannot be overstated. Here are just a few mind-blowing stats on their careers at Centre Court:

• 1997: The year Venus debuted at Wimbledon, with younger sister Serena making her first appearance a year later. Both competed in the tourney in four different decades, with 24 and 21 main draw appearances, respectively (not counting this year). “Longevity” doesn’t begin to describe it.

• 16: Women’s singles Finals featuring one or both of them between 2000 and 2019. They’ve faced each other for the championship four times (Serena leads those matchups 3-1).

• 12: Combined championships in those 16 Finals appearances — seven for Serena, five for Venus. Only Martina Navratilova has more in the Open era with nine between 1978 and 1990.

• 6: Wimbledon doubles titles they’ve won together, in nine attempts. They’re undefeated in the Finals as a pair.

• 100%: Every year they won a doubles title, one of them also claimed the singles crown. They won doubles together and played each other for the singles title three times: in 2002, 2008, and 2009. All Williams sisters, all the time.

Wimbledon isn’t merely a Grand Slam, it’s a cultural institution, and many of the tournament’s most memorable moments belong to the Williams sisters. Both known for their standout on-court fashion, they’ve definitely made Wimbledon White their own, from Serena’s gladiator skirt in 2004…

…to Venus’ Tina Turner–inspired look in 2010.

But their impact on Wimbledon goes far beyond style. They’re trailblazers for Black women in tennis, and that’s especially true at Wimbledon, where in 2000 Venus became the first Black woman to win the singles title since Althea Gibson in 1958.

• Serena’s 2012 championship was a particularly stunning and emotional moment in tennis history, too: It was her first major win after two years spent battling health issues, including a near-death experience due to pulmonary embolism. Pass the tissues.

• Last but certainly not least, Venus was instrumental in securing equal prize money for women at Wimbledon in 2007. And in a feat of excellence and good karma, she was the first woman to benefit from that equal purse, a title she won without losing a set the whole tourney.

Win or lose, these legends’ return to Wimbledon is a testament to their resilience, competitive spirit, and enduring legacy. Few have had as much impact on the modern game as Venus and Serena — and you can witness that legacy in real time when the singles’ main draw opens tomorrow (schedule here), then again Thursday when the sisters begin their doubles campaign. How lucky are we?