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Serena gunning to upset Venus hat-trick as players cry foul

Venus Williams

London July 5. As Venus and Serena Williams prepared to take to Centre Court at Wimbledon on Saturday for their third Grand Slam final together in less than a year, the sisters were fending off criticism that they have reduced women's tennis to a family duel.

Venus won the first round when she successfully defended her US Open title last year, and Serena came back to win the French Open in an error-strewn match where neither of the sisters played to their ability.

Amid allegations that dad Richard, who has been conspicuously absent from the sidelines at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, chooses who will win, players admitted that they were finding it hard to keep up with the Williams.

``Well, you have to ask them for that,'' said France's Amelie Mauresmo curtly when asked to predict who would win after her 6-2 6-1 semifinal loss to Serena.

``To me I think it's a little bit sad for women's tennis. Because first I think people are going to get bored about it. I'm not counting how many people told me `We don't want a Williams final'.''

Belgian sixth seed Justine Henin, who went out 6-3 6-2 to Venus, echoed the French player.

``That's good for them but I think that maybe the crowd would also like to see the other players in different Grand Slam finals. But if they are in the final that's because they're playing well. It's a difficult situation.'' But for the sisters playing together doesn't seem to pose as big a problem.

In fact Serena, 20, admitted she would rather play 22-year-old Venus than anyone else because they could make the maximum amount of money."

"You guys seem to have more of a problem with it than us,'' said Serena. ``I try to put it as if I'm facing other players. But obviously I'm not. I'm facing the best player in the world right now and it's going to be difficult.''

Serena Williams

Venus, bidding to emulate Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova by completing a hat-trick, is aware Serena who will take her world number one spot next week as a result of reaching the final here is snapping at her heels.

``When I walk out there, I realise I'm playing the number two player, a real powerhouse, I've got to be on my toes,'' said Venus. ``I didn't win the French Open, but I'm going to do my best here at Wimbledon. That's all I can do.''

But the problem for them is that, by avoiding playing in the same tournaments apart from the Grand Slams, both have become used to winning with Venus having 25 WTA titles to her name and Serena 15.

``We both love to win,'' said Venus. ``I'm not used to losing. It doesn't happen that often. It's quite the same with her. You know when I go home, I've managed to lose, I can't believe it. I just don't get there that often. I think that's hat makes it the same for us.''

Serena, who was injured earlier in the year, lags behind in titles and has two Grand Slams compared to Venus' four.

She does not want to be 5-2 down but knows that it will be hard to beat her sister who has the advantage of having being champion here before, as she had at the US Open.

``You know what happened at the US Open, I think I was too satisfied. I was very satisfied with my game. I thought - I really thought I was going to win, just because I'd beaten some other players. I went in there a little over confident, a little cocky. She really beat me that day. I think I've grown mentally more than anything,'' said Serena.'' But she admits that Venus really knows how to play on grass.

``This is going to be the most difficult surface for me to face her serve. She's been doing well here,'' said Serena. ``I'm going to have a lot of fun out there really. I'm going to go out there and really try to win Wimbledon. I want to belong to the All England Club.''

But so far the sisters, who become the first siblings to play in the women's final since the inaugural championships in 1884 when Maud Watson beat sister Lilian, can't quite believe what is happening to them.

``I'm still waiting for the catch,'' said Serena. ``There's always a catch.'' — AFP

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