Serena defends title with win over Venus

Serena Williams claims her sixth Grand Slam title with three-set win over her sister.

By Steven Wine ~ The Associated Press

WIMBLEDON, England -- As Serena Williams waited for her Wimbledon trophy, she chatted and laughed with her big sister. Venus then asked an official to capture the moment with a quick photo.

Yes, the relationship was as strong as ever after yet another sibling showdown, this one marked by Venus' valiant effort to win despite a strained abdominal muscle.

Serena won 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Saturday -- her sixth Grand Slam title and her second straight at Wimbledon.

"I had to tell myself to look at the ball and nothing else," she said. "It's really tough. It shows what a great champion Venus is. She's really inspiring for me."

Venus aggravated the abdominal injury and hurt her groin in the semifinals, and she didn't practice Friday. Two hours before the final she warmed up for only 10 minutes before limping off the court, raising fears she might not play.

But she did -- and after one set she led.

"I came out here because I thought the people, the fans, deserved a final," Venus told the crowd during the trophy ceremony.

Later, Venus said she also felt pressure to play because the match was against her sister. The family drew boos at Indian Wells, Calif., in 2001 after Venus withdrew with knee tendinitis shortly before her semifinal against Serena.

"Everyone's quite familiar with the history," Venus said. "I had to at least show up."

The men's finalists said Saturday they're both healthy. No. 4-seeded Roger Federer will play unseeded Mark Philippoussis today, with each seeking his first Grand Slam title.

For the first hour, Venus appeared largely uninhibited by injury. The sore abdomen has bothered her off and on for two months, but she chased down shots in the corners, smacked crosscourt winners and hit her serve at up to 110 mph.

But the velocity of her serves gradually fell off, and as she hit one early in the third set, she clutched her side and grimaced. She lost the point and game to fall behind 1-0, then called a trainer and left the court to have the tape around her abdomen adjusted.

"I thought maybe she could give me a magic pill," Venus said with a smile.

She returned seven minutes later to a big ovation, and her first shot was a forehand return for a winner. But her next four returns were off, putting Serena ahead 2-0.

Venus twice held serve to stay in the set. But she double-faulted, hunching over in pain on her follow through, to fall behind 5-2, and Serena served out the victory.

When Venus hit a return long on match point, she walked to the net and embraced her younger sister. As Serena waved and blew kisses to the crowd, Venus sagged in her chair, exhaled and managed a smile.

"It tugged at my heartstrings watching Venus out there," said their mother, Oracene Price. "I didn't want her out there in the first place, but that's her choice. That's what probably made it difficult for Serena at the beginning."

Venus took the court with her upper left leg wrapped, and the bandage around her stomach was visible under her corset dress.

"With that type of injury, and what's required of those muscles during a service motion, I think she was very courageous to go out there and play," said Karen Davis, the trainer who treated Williams.

Davis said Williams most likely will be sidelined two-to-four weeks, forcing her to miss the U.S. Fed Cup team's matches against Italy in Washington on July 19-20.

Serena's victory, however hollow, gives her titles in five of the past six major events. She has beaten her sister six times in a row, with the past five wins in major finals, including two at Wimbledon.

Venus has won four major titles, but none since beating Serena in the first all-Williams Grand Slam final at the 2001 U.S. Open. The family has won four consecutive titles at Wimbledon -- Venus was the champion in 2000 and 2001.

As usual, the sibling relationship made for awkward dynamics. Serena, who consoled her rattled sister regarding the injury during a rain break in the semifinals, played at first as if distracted by worries about Venus' health.

"It was difficult," Serena said. "I didn't want her to be in any pain."

After losing two of the first three points, Venus ran off 11 in a row, breaking serve to lead 3-0. Serena, accurate and overpowering in a semifinal victory over Justine Henin-Hardenne, found herself struggling to keep the ball in the court.

When she hit a backhand into the net in the fourth game, she tossed her racket in frustration. When she did it again to make the score 1-1 in the second set, she stooped over in anger and screamed, "Come on!"

Venus closed the first set by winning a wild 16-shot rally. Serena had a chance to hit an easy overhead putaway, but she appeared to freeze and instead merely popped the ball back. Then she tried a drop shot and it floated wide, giving Venus the point -- and the set.

"I just wish it was one set instead of two out of three," Venus said.

Many exchanges found neither player at her best. Serena hit a 67 mph second serve, far off her norm, but Venus dumped a return in the net. Serena finished with 30 unforced errors to 25 for Venus.

Serena played 17 minutes before winning a game. But in the second set her play improved, while Venus began to move less swiftly and hit more stiffly. She lost four consecutive games to fall behind 5-1 and staged a brief rally before Serena served out the set to even the match.

Serena received $960,250 and won for the seventh time in their 12 meetings. In every previous match, the sister that won the opening set won the match.

That might have been the case again had Venus been healthy.

"The way I played today, and the way Venus was playing, I think definitely she would have been the Wimbledon champ this year," Serena said.

Along with the runner-up trophy, Venus received $446,725.