Venus Williams captured her fifth Wimbledon title by beating her sister Serena 7-5 6-4 in a high-quality final at the All England Club on Saturday.
The 28-year-old becomes one of only four players to have lifted the trophy at least five times in the Open era.
Serena made a ferocious start, forging a 4-2 lead, but Venus clawed her way back to 4-4 before breaking at 6-5 to snatch the first set in 53 minutes.
Both players maintained a high standard throughout in blustery conditions, but Venus had the edge when it counted.
She sealed victory when Serena sprayed a backhand into the tramlines but her celebrations were muted as she approached the net to give her sister a hug.
”I can‘t believe that it‘s five. When you‘re in the final against Serena, five seems so far away. She played so awesome so it was really a task,” said Venus, now a seven-time Grand Slam champion.
”It‘s unbelievable that I have won five, especially with some of the injuries that I‘ve had. To know every time I come back I have the chance to make history. I love this place.”
Serena had beaten her sister in their two previous Wimbledon finals in 2002 and 2003, but she admitted Venus had deserved victory.
”She was a little better today. It didn‘t work out the way I planned,” she said.
”It‘s a great celebration for our family, we‘re really happy. I‘ve been working really hard and I‘m so happy at least one of us was able to win.”
Both players maintained a high standard throughout in blustery conditions, but Venus had the edge when it counted.
She sealed victory when Serena sprayed a backhand into the tramlines but her celebrations were muted as she approached the net to give her sister a hug.
”I can‘t believe that it‘s five. When you‘re in the final against Serena, five seems so far away. She played so awesome so it was really a task,” said Venus, now a seven-time Grand Slam champion.
”It‘s unbelievable that I have won five, especially with some of the injuries that I‘ve had. To know every time I come back I have the chance to make history. I love this place.”
Serena had beaten her sister in their two previous Wimbledon finals in 2002 and 2003, but she admitted Venus had deserved victory.
”She was a little better today. It didn‘t work out the way I planned,” she said.
”It‘s a great celebration for our family, we‘re really happy. I‘ve been working really hard and I‘m so happy at least one of us was able to win.”
The sisters have always struggled to produce their best against each other but their seventh Grand Slam final exceeded all expectations.
The competitive tone was set early in the way Serena took on Venus‘s serve from the outset and broke in the opening game thanks to a stunning backhand winner.
She pressed home the advantage by holding to love and if there remained any doubt that there would no quarter given, it was banished when Serena approached a short ball and hit it straight at her sister - with Venus somehow putting away the volley.
Serena had a point for a 4-1 lead but Venus saved it with another deft volley.
Serena had a point for a 4-1 lead but Venus saved it with another deft volley.
Venus clawed her way back to 4-4 but then have to save another two break points before the crowd witnessed the first sign that the two competitors might be related.
Serena hit a backhand which she thought was going wide, audibly admonishing herself as she did so, but the wind kept the ball in, and the umpire was forced to call a let.
Serena hit a backhand which she thought was going wide, audibly admonishing herself as she did so, but the wind kept the ball in, and the umpire was forced to call a let.
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