July 8, 2000 – Richard Williams' outlandish dreams for his daughters, nurtured first on the courts of Compton, California, came true on this day. His older daughter Venus joined Althea Gibson as the only African-American women to win Wimbledon. Even better, Venus who'd watched younger sister Serena win the 1999 U.S. Open became half of the first sister duo to win Grand Slam titles. Venus, who was 20 years old at the time, dismantled Lindsay Davenport's power game, 6-3, 7-6, with a combination of unrelenting force, speed, and a wingspan that consistently frustrated her opponent.
The sisters would go on the win eight of the next 12 Grand Slam singles titles: five for Serena and three for Venus.
*Today, Venus and Serena hold five Wimbledon titles each.
