Can
there be a more extraordinary story in all of sport than Venus and Serena
Williams? The two Compton girls both won their semi-finals here on Thursday,
continuing a dynasty that has lasted the best part of 20 years.
History
will repeat itself on Sunday night when Venus and Serena meet in the Australian
Open final. And this is ancient history, in tennis terms. In 2003 - the last
time they played for the trophy here - there was no Wimbledon roof, no
Hawk-Eye, and Andy Murray was just a Scottish kid with messy hair.
In
the intervening years, it feels like few women have been able to lay a hand on
them. The two Belgians, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, came closer than most.
But really the sisters have been playing a different ball game throughout their
careers. On the evidence of the past fortnight, even Father Time has given up
the fight.
Williams-Williams finals were a regular feature of the last
decade, but have not played been seen at any level since 2009. In the old days,
the sisters always had to bat away claims that the result was arranged over
breakfast. Yet the one-sidedness of the series hardly suggests collusion. In
eight previous major finals, Serena won six to Venus’s two. She must be
favourite again here; having won all 12 sets she has played to date, and dispatched
Konta – the only top-ten player that either sister has faced - in comprehensive
style.
Not
that Venus is ready to cede the foreground just yet. “When I'm playing on the
court with her, I think I'm playing the best competitor in the game,” Venus
said. “But I don't think I'm chump change either.
“You
have to control yourself, then you also have to put your opponent in a box.
This opponent is your sister, and she's super-awesome. It's wonderful.”
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