Serena Williams won her eleventh Grand Slam singles title on Saturday at the 2009 Championships at Wimbledon.
After finishing runner-up to her sister last year, Serena returned the favor by beating Venus in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-2. In a blistering display of powerful serving, Serena won the championship match without dropping serve once. Venus attempted to spark a comeback late in the second set, but Serena finally converted her fourth championship point when a backhand by Venus ended in the net.
“Today she was too good,” Venus said. “She had an answer for everything. She played the best tennis today.”
Saturday marked Serena’s first Wimbledon trophy in six years after losing in finals to Maria Sharapova in 2004 and Venus in 2008.
“It feels so amazing,” Serena said during the trophy presentation. “I am so blessed.”
For nearly a decade, the Williams family has dominated at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Venus Williams has hoisted the Venus Rosewater Dish at the end of the fortnight five times, while today gave Serena her triple crown.
Serena became just the second player in the Open Era at Wimbledon to rally from a match point down on the way to the singles title. Williams played one of her best matches of the season on Thursday against Elena Dementieva, where she stormed back from match point down to win in three sets.
The only other player in the Open Era to do so in women’s singles was Venus Williams (2005 Wimbledon final, d. Davenport 46 76(74) 97 after being one match point down in the third set at 4-5).
Some are saying that Venus was flat today because she had no real challenge on her way to the final (well, that was certainly true in the semi-final). Maybe. But looking at the first set there were no breaks and a tiebreaker; a very competitive set with crushing forehands garnering quick points and short rallies.
Venus lost her serve (her rhythm) in the second set and the hungrier player ate up the flood of second serves that were coming her way. Oh yes, Serena was hungrier and she wasn’t giving any ground to her sister today. Once Venus lost her serve she could not recover. It’ll have to be “wait until next year” for a shot at her sixth Wimbledon title. Serena? It’s her third Wimbledon title (after 2002, 2003) and, as Aaress noted, her eleventh Grand Slam title overall. Beautiful Serena, just beautiful.
Serena is the best!