WIMBLEDON 2000

REVIEWS BY MARK NEWMAN

VENUS RISES IN WILLIAMS SISTERS ANTICLIMATIC SEMI-FINAL

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(5) Venus Williams def. (8) Serena Williams 6-2 7-6 (7-3)

It was the most highly anticipated match of the event, so obviously it was going to be a little of a letdown. Playing your sister in the semi-final of a Grand Slam must be difficult and it showed. Both made tentative starts and seemed reluctant to get into the match. It was difficult too to watch. You felt that whoever was the winner, was also going to be the loser as well, seeing their sisters heart broken. Serena Williams found it impossible to get into the match in the first set and had lost it 2-6 in the blink of an eye. She broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set and held the break to lead 4-2. It looked like a third set was on the cards, but Venus broke back after a dreadfully tight service game from Serena, and the second set went to a tiebreak. Venus played a good tactical match, varying service speeds and lengthening the rallies to force her sister into error. The match ended with Serena Williams throwing in a heartbreaking double fault and bursting into tears. Venus stood at the other side of the court, looking as if she too had lost the match. It was all very sad, and though there were some awesome big hitting rallies in the match it was all a bit of an anticlimax after Venus’s huge win over Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals.

(2) Lindsay Davenport def. Jelena Dokic 6-4 6-2

If the Williams match was an anticlimax, then this was worse. An error strewn, dreadful match of multiple breaks. It was over before either player had got into it. Davenport, the defending champion, is through to another Grand Slam final and will be aiming to stop Venus Williams winning her first Grand Slam title. It will be an uphill battle though if she plays like she did today.

Other News

In their last Wimbledon together Mark Woodforde (who is retiring at the end of the year) and Todd Woodbridge reached the Wimbledon men’s doubles final where they will face Paul Haarhuis and Sandon Stolle. Having broken the record for most titles won on the ATP Tour they can also equal the record for most Grand Slam doubles titles as a team if they win here and at the US Open.