Serena Williams, of the United States, wipes her brow during her match with Madison Keys, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
NEW YORK — So there's at least one person with zero interest in watching the Williams sisters play each other in the U.S. Open quarterfinals Tuesday night, with Serena's bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam on the line.
Their mother, Oracene Price.
“It's just hard to see them both going out there,” Price said, “and you know they both want it.”
Unique and extraordinary dynamics are always involved when 21-time major champion Serena Williams faces older sibling and seven-time major champion Venus Williams in a professional tennis match. This will be their fifth meeting at Flushing Meadows (each has won twice), the 14th at a major tournament (Serena leads 8-5), and 27th overall (Serena leads 15-11).
They met two months ago in the fourth round at Wimbledon, and Serena won in straight sets (Price also stayed away from Centre Court that day).
Throughout the U.S. Open, various players have been asked what it would be like to beat No. 1-seeded Serena in New York and end her attempt to become the first player in 27 years to win all four major titles in a single season.
But what must it be like for the 23rd-seeded Venus to try to thwart such an effort by her little sister?
“I don't know. You have to ask Venus that question,” Price said. “I know it's going to be hard, because I know (Venus) wants (Serena) to get it. But what can you say? You know they're competitors.”
And Venus' take?
“I don't think anyone wants to be a spoiler. I think people love to see history being made,” she said. “No one is out to be a spoiler, but at the same time, you're focused on winning your match, even though the circumstances are really much different.”
As for how she goes about preparing for this matchup, Venus said: “Even though you're playing your sister, you have to be prepared and focus. The preparation doesn't change.”
Venus, born 15 months before Serena, has been in a similar spot before. She was the opponent in every final when Serena won four major titles in a row from the 2002 French Open to 2003 Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer couldn't imagine being in the situation the Williams family finds itself in.
“The first thing that comes to my mind is how would I feel to play my brother, and I don't think that would be possible, honestly,” said Djokovic, whose younger brother, Marko, has played at lower levels. “I, in a way, admire what they're doing for so many years — to play against each other on such a big stage.”
Said Federer: “I'd have a hard time playing a brother. I'm happy I don't have a tennis brother.”
Before they started traveling the world together, practicing together, occasionally playing doubles together, and collecting Grand Slam singles titles and the No. 1 ranking, Venus and Serena Williams were a couple of kids learning to play tennis from Dad on a hard court in Compton, California.
And they used to play each other back then, too, of course.
There wasn't a big crowd, and no one was watching on TV, either.
While Serena has earned the victory in six of their past matches with money and ranking points at stake, it wasn't always so.
“I used to always win,” Venus said, “in the early days.”
Serena Williams, of the United States, clenches her fist and shouts during her match with Madison Keys, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Venus Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Venus Williams, of the United States, smiles broadly after beating Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Kevin Anderson signs autographs after defeating Andy Murray, of Great Britain, in the fourth round at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, reacts after losing a point to Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, chases down a shot from Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Marin Cilic, of Croatia, signs autographs after winning his match against Jeremy Chardy, of France, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Feliciano Lopez, of Spain, races to return a shot in his match with Fabio Fognini, of Italy, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, consoles a fan who was brought out of the crowd because Federer didn't sign his tennis ball following his fourth round match against John Isner at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
John Isner relaxes with ice packs on his neck during the final set of his fourth round loss to Switzerland's Roger Federer at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. Isner lost to Federer in straight sets 7-6, 7-6, 7-5. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, runs for an over-the-shoulder shot, which he made, during the final set of his fourth-round victory over John Isner at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
John Isner, right, and Roger Federer, of Switzerland, walk off the court after Federer defeated Isner 7-6, 7-6, 7-5, in their fourth-round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
John Isner serves during his fourth round match against Roger Federer, of Switzerland, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, reacts after winning his fourth round match against John Isner, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Tomas Berdych, of the Czech Republic, left, shakes hands with Richard Gasquet, of France, after losing in the fourth round at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, reacts after winning his fourth round match against John Isner, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, reacts after beating Donald Young, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, reacts toward his coach's box during a break between games against Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Simona Halep, of Romania, reacts after beating Sabine Lisicki, of Germany, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, returns a shot to Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, follows through on a shot to Varvara Lepchenko, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Flavia Pennetta, of Italy, reacts after beating Samantha Stosur, of Australia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, serves to Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, reacts after defeating Varvara Lepchenko, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A trainer works on Simona Halep's leg during a medical time out during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament against Sabine Lisicki, of Germany, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Petra Kvitova, of Czech Republic, returns the ball to Johanna Konta, of Britain, during the first set of their fourth round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
A woman sits under umbrellas on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
A full house at Louis Armstrong Stadium watches play between Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, and Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, serves to Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Donald Young, of the United States, follows through on a shot against Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, returns a shot to Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Flavia Pennetta, of Italy, returns a shot to Samantha Stosur, of Australia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)