Venus's knockout by way of kin fall
LONDON - If you're going to go through a year and win only one tournament, it might as well be Wimbledon. Apparently that's the way Venus Williams feels. Good judgment.
Since a fifth Wimbledon title can get you higher than a fifth of bourbon or any other potable you might name, many among the 15,214 communicants at Centre Court yesterday expected her to go into orbit because Venus has said, "I like to jump high when I win. Sometimes I can't stop." She has been a human pogo stick on a couple of victorious occasions at the Big W. But this was different. The victim was also named Williams.
Venus is a woman of taste, and there would be no celebrating the downfall of the betting favorite, little sister Serena. Although Serena lost merely two sets in this two-week melee - the world heavyweight championship of tennis in this view - those two were too close to home in Venus's brilliant 7-5, 6-4 triumph. Venus has been on the low side of the score here, losing two Wimbledon finals to Serena, in 2002 and '03. She knows how it hurts, especially since big sister was raised to look out for little sister.
If looking after Serena meant firing serves of up to 129 miles per hour at her, along with thundering two-fisted backhands, and grabbing most of the vital points, then Venus did a fine job of baby-sitting. Would you hire her to mind your kid?
Imagine, if you can, what it must be like letting the world in on your sibling rivalry. They share an apartment, have breakfast together (Serena didn't scoop all the Wheaties as she'd playfully threatened), trade a few pleasantries, then make off to Wimbledon to try to knock each other's block off.
"We're professionals," Venus said. "We can handle it."
Most of the time their showdowns haven't been very absorbing. This one may have been the best. Aggressively they went at each other like a two-woman murderer's row, throwing caution to the wind, slugging incessantly, retrieving incredibly. And there was a lot of wind gusting about the venerable ballpark, causing Venus trouble with her serving toss, which she frequently caught, then restarted the motion.
But there was some sun on the chilly 62-degree afternoon, passing as summer in London.
Venus came to town with a meager 14-7 record in only eight tournaments, losing one final to - you guessed it - Serena at Bangalore, India. (Why would anyone of their stature venture to Bangalore in March to play tennis? Heavy cash in appearance fees, of course, but that's another story. Venus had to settle for $1,178,175 yesterday; it's safe to say the title means more.)
"It's stratospheric," she grinned, when somebody wondered if she had her eye on Martina Navratilova's Wimbledon record of nine singles titles. "Well, Martina played a couple of decades . . . but it would be nice." Martina was 25 at her fifth; Venus turned 28 June 17.
This was Venus's 12th Wimbledon, so five first prizes ain't bad. She's three ahead of Serena here, and finally caught up with little sister at 8-8 overall in intramural meetings. Serena had won seven of their last nine.
At Venus's professional debut in 1994, father Richard Williams modestly asserted that she'd soon be No. 1, "But I've got one at home who'll be even better." His record as a prophet ain't bad, either. However, maybe Venus, with her seven majors, is turning it around again, menacing Serena's eight.
Whatever, Venus, losing 10 of the first 11 points and the first two games, quickly made it evident that she wasn't going to relinquish her championship, to a family member or anyone else. She meant to add it to her 2000, '01, '05, and '07 conquests, and did because her long legs were making Serena hit too many balls, and little sister seemed wearied after an hour and 51 minutes.
"Venus lifted her game and mine went down," she said, morosely. "No, it's not easier to lose to your sister. I lost my rhythm."
Her forehand was damaging, but she was caught flat-footed often on that side in the latter stages.
Eventually, though, Venus coaxed smiles and laughter from Serena by accompanying her to the doubles title, 6-2, 6-2, over the Aussie-American team of Samantha Stosur and Lisa Raymond. The fact the Williamses took home a combined $2,377,536 didn't hurt.
Nothing personal, but Venus was trying to dust off Serena, jamming her with serves in tight, resulting in four aces and 10 service winners.
"Yeah, those body serves were my best," she said. "You have to try to do that against Serena." The 129-m.p.h. winner tied her women's speed record. She made her break points count, scoring on 4 of 7 while Serena was 2 for 13.
Venus's ripping backhand return regained the break to 4-4 in the first, and she held off four deuces and two breakers to 5-4. Serena got to 5-5 with three of her nine aces, but faded in the next two games. Despite losing the most exciting game (15 minutes, seven deuces, seven break points) to 1-2 in the second, undaunted Venus cracked Serena's serve immediately, and hurried on her way as little sister faltered.
A last ace wiped a match point, but Serena bungled a backhand on the next, and her bid for a fourth title in 2008 ended.
As customary, a military band, the Honorable Artillery Co., preceded the finalists on Centre Court. One number, "We Are The Champions," fit them both. 