Serena, Venus Williams: How Did Sisters Venus And Serena Williams Help The US In Federation Cup?

Battling Sweden in the 2013 Fed Cup World Group Playoff, the United States needed someone to step up big in order to guarantee the U.S. a spot in the 2014 Fed Cup World Group.

With the United States in front 2-1, Venus Williams needed 8 match points in the final game to dispose of Johanna Larsson 6-3, 7-5, giving the United States a 3-1 lead with only one match remaining.

The former world No. 1 watched her sister and top-ranked player in the world Serena Williams break a 1-1 tie with a convincing victory over Sofia Arvidsson.

Venus Williams was originally supposed to only play in the doubles match to conclude the day with Sweden, but a late move by U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez placed Williams in the singles match, replacing Sloane Stephens.

"To be honest, I wanted to be out there," Williams told the Washington Post. "I told Mary Joe yesterday I feel good, I feel positive."

Williams' words must have had a large impact on the thought process of Fernandez, who made the switch at the last minute.

"I make my decisions last minute. I really wait," Fernandez said to reporters from the Sun Sentinel. "At the end of the day, experience just goes a long way. Venus has been there so many times before. To have her in that clinching match for me was really important."

While the victory sealed a berth in the 2014 Fed Cup World Group, Williams was not at her best when it came to the service game. Struggling through 11 double faults in the match against Larsson, something that nearly led to her leaving the door open for Larsson to force a third and deciding set, Williams knew she had to bear down and close her opponent out.

"I needed it to be over in two," Williams said. Mary Joe needed it to be over in two. She was having a heart attack on the sidelines." Williams was able to shrug off her service struggles, including 2 double faults in the final game, to help the U.S. take the match.

The 32-year-old Venus Williams is now 15-2 in Fed Cup singles matches while here sister Serena stayed perfect in Fed Cup singles play with her two-set victory over Arvidsson.

When paired together for doubles matches in their careers, Venus and Serena Williams have won 13 Grand Slam titles.