Sports News
Battles of the Williams Sisters Llives Up to the Hype
All-Williams Grand Slam finals never cease to make headlines. This time, the match finally lived up to the hype.Venus Williams and younger sister Serena produced more winners than unforced errors and took turns dazzling with their serves, baseline play and athleticism. Venus clearly had the edge in that last category and ultimately prevailed 7-5, 6-4 in just under two hours to successfully defend her Wimbledon title and level their head-to-head series at eight wins apiece.
There were, to boot, fist pumps, shots rifled straight at each other, lucky net cords and an act of sportsmanship from Serena that didn't go unnoticed by her conqueror.
"I think the level of play was really high,'' said Venus, who became the third woman in the Open era, behind Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, to claim at least five Wimbledon singles crowns. "I think a lot of the times one of us was overpowering the other. In between us overpowering each other we had, I think, some really competitive rallies and intense points, where one player would come back and take the point when it looked like the other player was going to win. We're very powerful, and I think it showed out there.''
Fans on Centre Court knew they were in for a treat in the opening game.
Serena came out firing, unleashing a forehand return winner down the line on the first point to set the tone. In the same game, another return of serve overpowered her older sister and a cross-court backhand sealed the break. Venus claimed one of the first 11 points, though she didn't have much of an opportunity on the majority of them.
The third game of the second set had its share of drama, lasting 14 minutes and going to seven deuces. Serena finally broke for a 2-1 advantage by piecing together winners on back-to-back points as Venus slipped at the back of the court.
All together, Serena tallied 32 winners and 11 unforced errors; Venus was actually inferior, with 27 and 13, respectively.
On the big points, however, Venus prevailed, going 4-for-7 on break points; Serena was a ghastly 2-for-13. It was a stark contrast to their last meeting in Bangalore, India, in March, when Venus went 4-for-20 on break points in a three-set loss.
"I don't think I played well,'' said Serena, clearly dejected answering questions in the postmatch news conference. "For me, there's nothing to be satisfied about. I don't think she made me not play well.''
Unlike her semifinal victory over Chinese wild card Zheng Jie -- one of the revelations of the fortnight -- Serena couldn't get out of trouble with her serve. In fact, in Venus, she had a foe who could match her.
Although Venus won only 61 percent of serves behind her first delivery -- 14 percent less than Serena -- she claimed a more-than-respectable 56 percent from the second. The corresponding figure for Serena was a paltry 23 percent.
When it was over, the two exchanged a hug at the net, though certainly not as prolonged as they have been in previous Grand Slam matches.
Serena didn't look too happy, and demurred in showing off her runner-up trophy.
And if there was any more evidence needed that sisterly love, on this day, didn't mean as much as in matches past, it came when Serena was asked if she noticed anything different in Venus' celebration because she'd just beaten her sister.
"Well, I didn't see any celebration,'' Serena said. "I just kind of went over to my chair. I wasn't paying attention.''
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