Venus (left)and Serena Williams. - file

NEW YORK (AP):

As the U.S. Open begins today, the women's title is considered up for grabs, with perhaps half a dozen serious title contenders. And yet this Grand Slam, just like women's tennis as a whole, is in many ways all about the Williams sisters .

Only one active player owns more major singles titles than Venus Williams' six: Serena Williams, with eight.

Each Williams took home one of this year's first three Grand Slam trophies: Serena at the Australian Open, Venus at Wimbledon.

They are featured in the two matches under the lights tonight at Arthur Ashe Stadium on day one of this year's United States Open. Top-seeded Justine Henin, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 5 Ana Ivanovic are in action during the day, as is three-time defending men's champion Roger Federer.

It's quite clear: Regardless of what the rankings or recent form say, any conversation about women's tennis, where it's been and where it is, begins with the two big-hitting siblings.

Dream

"Growing up, we dreamed of that, of us being on top of women's tennis, playing Slam finals, being (ranked) one and two. That's what we worked for," said Venus, who faces 137th-ranked qualifier Kira Nagy of Hungary. "So when that happens, it's incredible, it's amazing. I think for us there's no doubt that we can achieve these things."

And still, in so many ways, the Williams sisters are about so much more than women's tennis, from their clothing deals to various outside interests.

"Their passions get inflamed for tennis at times," said U.S. television analyst Mary Carillo, a former player, "and at times it seems the only place they want to be is away from the sport."

That's particularly so when it comes to Serena, the younger, more extroverted, more everywhere-you-turn-there-she-is of the pair.

She has a provocative photo in the August issue of the American magazine Jane, her back to the camera, wearing nothing but a silver pair of heels and holding a strategically placed bunch of flowers.