Saturday, July 5, 2008

Hail the Queen! Venus wins 5th Wimbledon title



Those who thought there could never be a good Williams sisters final in a major tournament were proven wrong today. Those who thought that Serena Williams' usually superior second serve would take her to the championship were wrong, too. Today, that second serve--which did so much damage in the Williams-Zheng semifinal--was just not there. Serena had a 67 first serve percentage, and a 75 first serve win percentage. But her second serve win percentage was only 23.

Serena found it difficult to break Venus; she was successful only twice (once in the very first game) in thirteen tries. And, as always, Venus put on her best show at the net. For fans, it was a good match, though, unfortunately, it did not go to three sets. However, it was the first time it three attempts that Venus defeated her sister at Wimbledon, 7-5, 6-4.

The match was also proof that--no matter how many injuries they sustain, how many months they go off the tour, how many other activities they pursue--the Williams sisters can still be finalists in major tournaments, even after all these years. Venus's path was made easier by her draw, though she was given a bit of a workout by each of her competitors. Serena, for her part, has been having a very good season, winning in Bangalore, Miami and Charleston.

A few years ago, an interviewer spoke with Venus about the Williams sisters' book, How to Play Tennis, whose jacket also reads Learn how to play the Williams sisters' way. "What way is that?" the interviewer asked. "You win," Venus quickly replied.

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