Naomi Osaka said Venus Williams had an “aura” and Serena hailed her ageless sister as “such an inspiration” after the 40-year-old powered into the Australian Open second round Monday.
Williams, who played her first Australian Open in 1998, battled past fellow veteran Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena in her 88th Grand Slam to ensure she lived to fight another day.
World number three Osaka, who also comfortably won, said the seven-time Grand Slam winner had long been a hero and she was amazed at her longevity.
“Ironically I actually interact with Venus more (than Serena),” she said after sweeping past Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-2.
“For me, I f…
Keep on reading: Serena, Osaka pay homage to Venus after Open win