Venus Williams To Meet Sister Serena Williams In Final

Lawn Tennis, Paris Open, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Venus Williams To Meet Sister Serena Williams In Final
By Tripp Mateschitz, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Friday, July 3, 2009 9:32pm PST USA

Venus Williams To Meet Sister Serena Williams In Final, Wimbledon 2009, Lawn Tennis Magazine

London--(lawntennis.org) The Wimbledon draw was kind to the Williams sisters, Venus Williams and Serena Williams of the USA as they landed on opposite sides of the ladies' draw. Both sisters took full advantage as they are set to face off Saturday in the Wimbledon ladies' championship final.

Last year the two time defending champion Venus defeated her younger sister Serena 7-5, 6-4. Since then the sisters split their only two WTA Tour meetings in the semifinals this year at Dubai and Miami with both contests going the distance in three sets.

Venus Williams (USA)[3] v. Serena Williams (USA)[2]
Not much separates the Williams sisters and as Venus pointed out they "had the same teacher."

Mentally either sister will fight to the last point and always consider herself the best. But physically where Serena is 5 feet 9 inches and muscular, Venus is 6 feet 1 inches and more slender.

Venus' height gives her the first serve advantage as she is the fastest server ever on the WTA Tour. Serena at times can be more consistent with her serve however and has the better second serve.

Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the USA

Lawn Tennis Magazine, Wimbledon 2009, Lawn Tennis

Venus destroyed the world number one Dinara Safina of Russia 6-1, 6-0 in 51 minutes while Serena was forced to fight nearly three hours to stop the fourth seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-7(4-7), 7-5, 8-6.

But the bad news for the two time Wimbledon winner (2002, 2003) Serena is that Venus, a five time Wimbledon singles champion (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008), could be playing better this year than she was last year in London. Venus has lost only six games in her last three matches.

Thursday in the semifinals, Venus destroyed the world number one Dinara Safina of Russia 6-1, 6-0 in 51 minutes while Serena was forced to fight nearly three hours to stop the fourth seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-7(4-7), 7-5, 8-6.

But while Venus finds her niche in winning short points, Serena better than Venus oftentimes can add additional topspin to her groundstrokes to stay in more baseline rallies. Although Venus' forehand has held steady this fortnight while Serena said hers had taken a “vacation.”

Serena failed to successfully return Venus' serve in the sisters' final meeting last year, and I think Serena's return of serve will again be a key to tomorrow's match.

Venus has the best first serve in women's tennis and nowhere is the serve more important than on the lightening fast Wimbledon grasscourts. If Venus serves at or near her full power, Serena will find herself under pressure the entire match.

Winner: Venus Williams

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