Serena Beats Venus Williams At U.S. Open: Off Tennis Court, Venus Talks Autoimmune Disease & Vegan Diet [Photos]

Serena Williams versus Venus Williams could have turned into a battle where one sister went away a sore loser. But it didn’t. Instead, Venus stayed strong after Serena defeated Williams 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in a match that moved Serena into the U.S. Open semifinals, reported USA Today.

Now two matches from a Grand Slam, Serena’s next opponent is Roberta Vinci. Ranked 43rd, Roberta has faced off against Williams before – and lost. If Serena smashes her way to victory in that match, Williams will take the court in what will be the fifth time that she’s been in the finals of the U.S. Open.

At 33, Serena has become known for her serve, and her coach Patrick Mouratoglou commented on it.

“There are always things to work on,” mused Mouratoglou. “You need maximum efficiency on most shots, especially the serve.”

As for her big sister, Venus, the 35-year-old emphasized that she’s hoping with all her heart that Serena achieves the ultimate win.

“That would be a huge,” said Williams of her younger sister. “Not just for me, but for my family just for what it represents and how hard we have worked and where we come from. So it would be a moment for our family.”

And it’s been a long journey for their family. Serena has discussed how she made a comeback after Williams struggled in 2011, reported Sports Illustrated.

“I’d never been in a match thinking, I’m not going to win, but there I was at Wimbledon in 2011, where I had won the year before, and I knew I wasn’t going to win once I started playing. I couldn’t breathe. I remember seeing stars, and I thought I was going to faint.”

Since then, Serena has learned to take care of her body, from her mental feelings about her curves to her diet.

“I can’t take cheat days too often because my cheat days are usually cheat months!” admitted Williams. “I always say it’s a lifestyle change.”

That lifestyle means occasional treats like fried hush puppies while recognizing the link between a healthy diet and how she feels about her body.

“Unless I’m eating really healthy…I feel as if I can do better and be smaller, which I think is just a natural thing for women to feel….I learned to be proud of my curves.”

And her sister Venus has also had to struggle with her health, reported Shape.

Williams become a vegan after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome.

“I think it’s a great lifestyle for long-term stability,” said Venus of her vegan diet. “You also have to look at everything else in your regimen, what you’re putting into your body, like supplements. I’m always learning and I’m hoping to perfect my system.”

Williams expressed her appreciation for her family’s support throughout her life, both on and off the tennis court.

“It’s just been amazing, how much we’ve been able to support each other. It’s not just Serena and I—we’ve been able to all pull together. Sometimes in families, it can tear people apart when one person is more successful…it hasn’t been like that in our family at all, no matter who won or lost or who was in the spotlight or not. I’m grateful for that.”

[Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images; Photo by Alessandra del Bene/Getty Images]