FanHouse MartinaNavratilova

Venus is not Serena. They don't dress alike, sound alike, play alike or look alike. They stand out alike, yes, because they are a novelty together, they are great and they are sisters.

But we have combined them in every way for some obvious reasons, but frankly, that's not fair to Venus.

Venus Williams is a better champion than Serena Williams. More elegant, more gracious.

On Tuesday, Venus starts defense of her title at Wimbledon, where she has a royal feel. She is the queen. And in the most elegant place in tennis, Venus stands apart.

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This is what happens when teenage precociousness and immaturity cross paths with one of the world's best tennis players: in a recent interview, Andrea Jaeger admitted that she purposely lost to Martina Navratilova at the 1983 Wimbledon final.

"During the match I missed balls on purpose. I hit right to Martina and when I was getting whipped in the first set 6-0, I tried to look upset about it," said Jaeger, who lost 6-0, 6-3. "I glanced at my dad. He knew something was wrong because I never got nervous and always started great."

Apparently, Jaeger, 18 at the time, had an argument with her father the afternoon before the final, fled the home they were renting and ran next door to call a taxi. Funny thing: that's where Navratilova was staying.

"I was upset and kept pounding on the door and ringing the bell until Martina's trainer, Nancy Lieberman, opened the door and took me to the kitchen," Jaeger said. "Martina was sitting in the living room. She glanced round at me briefly with a look on her face to say that I'd interrupted her preparation for the final. She stayed seated and didn't look at me again."

After the bizarre encounter, Jaeger decided that "I've changed her routine and affected her. I can't go out and try in the final now," and there's your 6-0, 6-3 final.