Tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams have said that their mantle must be taken up moving forward.
The sporting sisters were asked whether they saw players like Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu facing similar barriers to the ones they had to overcome.
“I don’t know that we know their lives,” Venus said. “So, it’s hard for us to speak to that. But obviously they’re achieving great things. We’re excited for them, and they’re great for tennis.
“It’s important for people to continue to break barriers. And the best part is if you’re good enough and great enough you open the way for other people.
“I think generations coming after us are able to just play tennis and hopefully don’t have to focus so much on the colour of their skin.”
Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka between them have five Slams. Serena has 23 Slam titles, while Venus has seven of her own, plus an Olympic singles gold medal each and three as a doubles team.
Both sisters have been world No.1s and have also completed the Doubles Career Grand Slam.
