Venus falls as Serena soars

two US Opens - and has not triumphed in either of the major tournaments played on slower surfaces in the Australian Open and the French Open.

It would be harsh to call Venus 'a flat track bully' to use a cricket analogy but certainly she needs more things in her favour to win a tough tennis match than her sister does.

It is why her sister has enjoyed the greater career and will most likely continue to dominate for longer than Venus, for whom tennis no longer seems to be her top priority.

Again Venus gave in an insight into her thinking after the loss to Li when she was asked whether she would consider changing her usual routine of not playing a lead-up event prior to the Australian Open in a bid to finally end her Melbourne Park curse now that she is obviously running out of chances to win one of the two majors to have eluded her.

But Williams not only ruled out such a move but basically said she had no time to play such tournaments before any of the Grand Slams.

"No, definitely not. I am just not going to do that," she said when asked about playing a tournament such as Sydney - as her sister does - prior to the Australian Open to ensure she arrives at Melbourne Park not lacking in match play.

"I won't play the week before hopefully any Grand Slam. I'm just not ever going to do that."

But as any professional sportsperson knows it's pretty hard to win at the top level by taking short cuts and given Venus Williams' reluctance to give herself the best possible preparation for Grand Slam tournaments these days, it would be a major surprise if she ever triumphed again at the top level.

Serena, in stark contrast, always looks hungry for more and don't be surprised if she ends her career with twice as many majors as her older sister - starting with major No.12 here this week.