Cheers boomeranged around Arthur Ashe Stadium Wednesday night at the U.S. Open -- from one end, cries for Venus Williams, from the other, serenades for Serena Williams.

It was a familiar stereo sound track for a sister story that has been anything but typical. As usual, Venus and Serena pummeled balls and tuned out everything but their own shrieks, suspended in the world they created.

For the past decade, we have peered with fascination and skepticism into the unique house of Williams. We have tried to understand how athletically gifted sisters born 15 months apart could each rise to No. 1 in the world, retreat to deal with injuries and outside interests, then return to dominate the sport again.

They are back just when women's tennis is desperate for its best. The No. 1 player in the world, Justine Henin of Belgium, suddenly retired in May because of burnout at age 25. Kim Clijsters, also from Belgium, retired last year at age 23 to start a family, and Maria Sharapova, of Russia, is injured.

"It's absolutely vital to the lifeblood of women's tennis that they are still around," said Mary Carillo, a CBS tennis analyst.

The Williamses are healthy and focused on tennis again, and as Serena defeated Venus in that scintillating quarterfinal Wednesday night and marched on to the final, they interjected themselves into the conversation -- but also the debate.

Serena Williams waited six years to return to the U.S. Open final. What's another day?

The title match between two-time champion Williams and first-time Grand Slam finalist Jelena Jankovic was postponed from yesterday until tonight because of heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Hanna.

It's the first time since 1974 that the U.S. Open women's championship match was not played on a Saturday.

Williams-Jankovic originally was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. yesterday, but about 3 1/2 hours before that, organizers announced they were shifting it. Eventually, the tournament announced play will start at 9 p.m. today.

The men's schedule also was shifted.

What's good for the Williamses may not always be good for the game.

They believe the secret to longevity in a sport that has long chewed up teenage superstars is the ability to own a design company, as Venus does, or develop an acting career, as Serena has.

Venus is 28, Serena almost 27. They have held rackets since they were toddlers in Compton, Calif., and been pros and celebrities since each was 17.

"The whole narrative around Venus and Serena is shifting," said Larry Scott, chief executive of the Women's Tennis Association tour. He said the sisters faced "a lack of respect" because they pursued their off-court activities.

Now, Scott added, "people are wondering, 'do they have it right'" after all?

The Williamses may have been right. But what else could they have been?

"I dispute the perception that the Williams sisters are only around because of these outside interests," Carillo said. "They are around in spite of that."

Carillo, a former professional player herself, says she believes that elite athletes should live single-mindedly and not waste time, especially when they are as talented as the Williamses.

Serena came into the Open with eight Grand Slam titles. Venus, after beating Serena at Wimbledon this year, has seven. Ten of those combined 15 major titles came by 2003.

"I thought they were going to break every record and co-own the tour forever," Carillo said. "Take the case of Steffi Graf. Look what she left behind. She didn't take a break."

Graf, who turned pro at 13 and retired at 30, owns 22 career Grand Slam titles. But Venus and Serena do not talk about that record.

"My goal," Serena said last week after exacting revenge for Venus' Wimbledon win, "has always been to have the best time and do the best I can do."