Venus Williams captures her 5th Wimbledon title; sisters dominate in doubles

Jet, July 21, 2008 by Clarence Waldron

Those Williams sisters were at it again-dominating at the recent Wimbledon championship tournament in England.

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Venus defended her Wimbledon title-at the expense of her younger sister Serena.

Reprising their Sister Slam Show in the Wimbledon final after a five-year hiatus, Venus and Serena Williams smacked big serves, hit hard strokes from all angles and chased down seemingly unreachable balls, like no one else does.

Venus beat Serena, 7-5, 6-4, for her consecutive title at the All England Club. The win marks Venus' fifth Wimbledon singles title. Venus won Wimbledon in 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2007. Serena has won two Wimbledon singles titles (2002 and 2003)-both against Venus. "I'm so happy that at least one of us was able to win. She's (Venus) played great this year. We're just glad to be in the finals again," Serena said.

After winning, Venus kept her celebration in check. "I'm definitely more in tune with my sister's feelings because one of us has to win and one of us has to lose," Venus said. "You could never detract from winning a Wimbledon, so of course it doesn't detract from that. But I'm definitely thinking about how my sister's feeling."

She added, "I have the ultimate respect ['or her game and I have a lot of respect for her serve. If I was playing anyone else, I wouldn't have to face what I had to face today."

Oracene Price, the sisters' mother and coach, said, "That was a difficult one to watch. You feel happy that the one won it, but you feel so bad because there has to be a loser, too."

Several hours after the women's singles final ended, the No. 7-seeded Venus and No. 6-seeded Serena returned to the same court-this time playing on the same side of the net. The Williams sisters beat Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-2, to win the women's doubles title.

Venus, 28, and Serena, 26, both have been ranked No. 1 and have been plagued in reeent years with injuries. The 2003 Wimbledon final was the last time, until now, that they met to decide a championship.

--Clarence Waldron with AP reports