The psychological case study that has become Venus and Serena Williams's tennis careers grew just a little thicker Friday at the Ericsson Open. Plenty of amateur head-shrinkers have offered evaluations based on a simple principle. Competing against a sibling is hard. We played each other on five occasions already.
People keep thinking there's an emotional problem.
Serena and I love each other.'' With her parents, Richard and Oracene, on site, the third-seeded Venus Williams had no problem, emotional or otherwise, advancing to the third round of the Ericsson Open. That the match went three sets was remarkable. No one would have so much as raised an eyebrow had the injured Safin retired at some point in the match. Last month at a tournament in Dubai, Safin hurt his back and rendered himself unable to uncork his 125-130 mph serves. Friday, Safin's first serve hovered in the high 90s.