Wimbledon Set for All-Williams Women’s Final
Published by Aaress Lawless on Jul 2, 2009 | Print |
The Fourth of July at Wimbledon will showcase an All-American (and All-Williams) affair.
Venus and Serena Williams have advanced for the second consecutive year into the women’s final.
Serena Williams played one of the most spectacular matches of her career on Thursday. Serena, who finished as runner-up to Venus in 2008, outlasted Elena Dementieva in an epic encounter on Centre Court.
Both Williams and Dementieva brought their finest tennis to the court today, and after nearly three hours of play, Serena Williams emerged as the winner with a 6-7(4), 7-5, 8-6 victory.
Dementieva, one of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s most notoriously poor servers, gave Serena one of her toughest matches of the year as she dominated on serve.
Late in the second set it appeared as though Dementieva would break at 5-4, but Williams recovered to force a third and deciding set. Dementieva again had an opening in the tenth game, but Williams managed to save a match point at 5-4 with a gutsy volley at the net.
“I think it was a very close match, and I think we both were playing very well today. It was a good fight,” Dementieva said afterward. “Actually, I feel very satisfied the way I was playing today. The only regret I have, maybe I should take a little bit more risk on match point, should [have gone] down the line.”
By stark contrast, Venus Williams achieved her final berth with a far easier score and in one-third of the time. The defending champion swatted past reigning world number one Dinara Safina in straight sets 6-1, 6-0 in just fifty-one minutes.
Wilson Spaulding | Jul 2, 2009 | Reply
Oh, those Williams Sisters! “Declining” into yet another Grand Slam Final: their game, their spirit, their charisma….where has it all gone?
Here’s a clue (or two): The All England Club. Centre Court. Wimbledon. Saturday. The Women’s Final. Very well done, ladies (and a big, enormous tip of the cap to Elena Dementieva; she was brilliant today).
chidi | Jul 2, 2009 | Reply
I’m going to have to disagree with you Aaress, Serena did NOT bring her finest game today. Around 60% on first serve, averaging 85mph on 2nd serves and winning 40%, too many unforced errors and constantly on her back foot. Serena’s best was against Azarenka, even Serena’s game face was missing today. Dementieva played her best against Serena’s not best and for Serena to will herself for the win is why my amazement grows for this woman. I still CANNOT believe she won. Man, the guts!!!!
Suzi | Jul 2, 2009 | Reply
Talking about epic, Serena came close…if only Elena had a killer serve too, things could have reached Venus vs Lindsay ‘epicness’ at Wimbledon or that Venus versus Mary Pierce level of semi final epic at Wimbledon. Those two pushed Venus to the very edge ‘wimbledon lore’. But Kudos to Serena, she did what she had to do.
Elena’s serve is much improved with age, but Safina, dear me, she didn’t even start to fall apart. She was already out of it before the first ball was struck. Venus just nulled her from just being on court.
I wont begrudge Safina her due, she has worked hard to be number 1. But she needs a plan b like Ana Ivanovic, Sharapova, these girls need a working game plan b. Safina was a bit fortunate to come through against Mauresmo who showed exactly what she was lacking in her style of play. Venus could have made that a double bagel against the WTA number 1 in a slam semi-final.
An all Williams final may just favor Serena, unless Venus slows down the game and is in the zone with her serves.