WIMBLEDON 2000

REVIEWS BY MARK NEWMAN

VENUS WILLIAMS WINS FIRST GRAND SLAM TITLE AT WIMBLEDON

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(5) Venus Williams def. (2) Lindsay Davenport 6-3 7-6 (7-3)

What a delight it was to see Venus Williams leaping with joy having won her first Grand Slam title on the Centre Court at Wimbledon. So often Grand Slam champions refuse to display any more emotion than a simple pumping of the fists, but not Venus Williams. She had been dreaming of this moment since she was a little girl, playing tennis in the ghettos of the United States. She leapt high into the air four or five times, before running up to give her father and sister Serena (whom she beat in the semi’s) a hug and kiss.

Venus was always in control of the match. Her powerful forehand and backhand were working perfectly, and she even through in some finesse shots with a couple of well-placed delicate drop shots. Throughout the first set her first and second serves were impeccable, but as the title loomed in the second set it understandably wavered. At one point she served three double faults in one game, and when she served for the match at 6-3 5-4 it all went horribly wrong. But Venus recovered from 5-6 0-30 down to force a tiebreak, in which she took total control.

It was a total delight to see her win her first Grand Slam, and Lindsay Davenport, with three Grand Slam titles to her name already, will not be too disappointed to get to the final after her injury troubles. Venus will be delighted for weeks to come, and remember this is only her fourth tournament of the year after a six-month layoff with tendonitis in both wrists. What a thrill for her. She already has her ballgown for the Champions Ball on Sunday night, and I’m sure she will be hoping that her idol Pete Sampras is the one dancing with her.

Congratulations Venus. I think you and your sister will be winning Grand Slams for a good few years yet !!!

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Congratulations should also be extended to Mark Woodforde as well, who won the men’s doubles title here for the sixth time with Todd Woodbridge, their 60th title in total on the ATP Doubles Tour. It was Woodforde’s last appearance at Wimbledon as he plans to retire after the Sydney Olympics and the US Open. Wins at those two events would be a fine way to round off a supreme tennis career.