Neither Williams sister ever lost hope of playing the other in another grand slam final, and yet the fact that No.9 will come on Saturday night was described by Serena as "probably the moment of our careers so far". The unexpected element, of course, is not the presence of the 22-time major winner, but of Venus, who has resurrected an illness-affected career that for years had seemed to be in permanent decline.
Not since Wimbledon in 2009 has the elder Williams twirled her long-limbed way on stage for the big dance, and a few joyous double-pirouettes after Friday's semi-final defeat of Coco Vandeweghe captured the significance of a moment shared by her emotional family and support team. Having been diagnosed with the autoimmune complaint Sjogren's syndrome in 2011, Venus did not reach a grand slam singles fourth round in the almost-three-year stretch that followed.
So, should the 36-year-old win an eighth major and first since 2008 given all she has endured in the meantime, how much would that mean. "It'll be crazy," said David Witt, Venus' coach of 10 years. "I mean, it'll be the story of the year, I think."
The teeming, genuflecting hordes of Roger Federer fans may disagree, but, compassionate grounds aside, this sibling tale was already quite remarkable enough. The pair played for the first time on the green Rebound Ace of what was then Flinders Park in the second round of 1998, when still in their mid-teens and with beads in their hair, embarking on the type of tennis journey that no family had made before.
Indeed, it is hard to imagine another quite like it, for together the Williams' own 29 singles majors and have combined for 14 slams and three Olympic gold medals in doubles, have earned over $160 million in official prizemoney and spent 320 weeks at No.1. On Saturday night, their combined age of 71 will make this the oldest grand slam women's final, contested by African-American sisters born just 15 months apart.
Asking Serena's coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, if he believed we would be seeing another all-Williams decider, he turns the question back on the interviewer. "Can you believe it?" Actually, no. Not here, anyway. "I can. You should have thought so... Of course Serena's been playing many more finals than Venus in the last six, seven, eight years. Venus dropped to 60 in the world, she's back now to top 10. Great job. Definitely everybody expects Serena to be in the final, not Venus, but maybe after this things are gonna change."
Given their innate competitiveness, the Frenchman insisted neither player would approach the match any differently than if they were facing a non-Williams; certainly, the intensity has lifted since some early contests that were muted, difficult, almost passionless affairs. Serena admits it is still "uncomfortable" to beat or be beaten by Venus, but that this time is something special.
"After everything that Venus has been through with her illness and stuff, I just can't help but feel like it's a win-win situation for me," she said. "I was there for the whole time. We lived together. I know what she went through. It's the one time that I really genuinely feel like no matter what happens, I can't lose, she can't lose."
Serena has claimed 16 of their 27 pro meetings, including seven of the past eight and six of eight slam finals. The last of them, in Melbourne in 2003, completed the "Serena Slam"; while victory in this one would wrench back the top ranking from Angelique Kerber and break her tie with Steffi Graf for the most singles majors in the Open era – two behind all-time record-holder Margaret Court's 24.
In pursuit, the younger Williams admitted to becoming "stressed out" on occasions, but is more relaxed now, records far from her mind, any rare cameo role as underdog welcome. Still, she's here to win. That's the reason I come all this way," she said. "Yet, at the same time, I don't have anything to prove. I don't have to win another match as long as I live. I just have to have fun and do what I do best."
Mouratoglou said Serena was trying not to think about the record books, even as others try to draw her in. "I'm not saying it's not a big deal – it's huge – but once it will be done it will be forgotten one minute after like everything she's achieved, because she's immediately focusing on another goal. Maybe she will go to 30 [slams]. Who knows? And she will think 'why was I stressed for 23? why was I stressed for 18?' "
Player box logistics were still to be sorted, Serena having joked that after coaches and hitting partners had divided along employee/employer lines, the rest of Team Williams may be left to toss coins. Sister Isha declined an interview request when approached on Thursday; parents Richard and Oracene, the latter the more regular visitor to Australia, have this year both stayed at home.
Almost two decades ago, they were on hand for their daughters' much-hyped debut, won in straight sets by Venus. Success this time would be "beautiful", smiled the 13th seed, against an opponent she acknowledges as "super-awesome" and "the best competitor in the game". The build-up will be the same as it has been for those 20 years, she insisted. "No need to change something that's already working."
Serena agreed the sisters will prepare as usual, talk as much as always, if not more. Be happy for each other, whatever the result, the dream outcome already achieved. "Nothing can break our family. If anything, this will definitely bring us closer together, knowing that I want to see her do the best that she can possibly do. I know that she definitely wants to see me do the best that I can do.
"This is a story. This is something that I couldn't write a better ending. This is a great opportunity for us to start our new beginning."
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