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THE DOMINATION IS OVER
Venus slips a step as Serena takes
the big W
By
Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net
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Fred Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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It's no fun going out to defend
your Wimbledon title with a sore shoulder, especially when you know
you are confronting the fastest, hottest, most ambitious player
on the planet. But Venus Williams did so on Saturday, so at least
in that manner, she showed her champion's mettle.
But other displaying her usual mix of guts and class, No. 2-ranked
Venus took a big step backward on Saturday in 7-6 (4), 6-3 to No.
1 Serena.
Gone was the court general that was saw at Wimbledon 2000 and 2001,
the woman who concocted a Churchillian game plan and has an answer
for every straight ahead assault on sneaky counterattack. Gone was
the game's most feared server, preying mantis at the net, impenetrable
wall at the baseline, the most dependable big shotmaker.
Here was the 22-year-old Venus, playing defense much of the day,
venturing to net only a handful of times, not taking advantage of
Serena's second serve, nor delivering her normal baker's dozen of
outright winners down the line. It was a meeker Venus, one who didn't
believe she could win and never stepped on the pedal once she was
down. It was a Venus who played herself into the first set only
to see Serena run away with the tiebreaker. It was a Venus who took
a bow midway through the second set. It was a Venus who all but
conceded that Serena is better than she is right now.
It is a Venus we have not seen since 1999, the one who couldn't
figure out away to beat Martina Hingis and withdrew into a tearstained
shell.
ADMITS SHE COULDN'T KEEP UP
"That's what I'm here for, to be on top," said Venus,
who is now a very legitimate No. 2 to Serena's No. 1. "I'm
not trying to linger around at No. 2. But I've done my personal
best this year. I don't think I could do more. But then again, I
think there's a lot of times that maybe she wouldn't have gotten
it. She played very well. Really, I kept my balls most times deep
and on the line, and she kept returning them deep and on the line.
So what can you do with this?"
There is no question that Serena was the far more effective groundstroker
on today, seemingly outrunning Venus by a step in most rallies.
There was also no question who was doing the dictating; it was Serena,
who banged Venus crosscourt until she got an opening down the line
and then delivered. While every other player in the game fears Venus'
backhand side, Serena certainly doesn't, as she went deep into the
corner time and time again and dared Venus to deliver a ball that
would kiss the chalk. For the most part, Venus couldn't produce.
Serena was also more inspired and fought harder. In the first set
(easily the most exciting tennis the two have played against each
other) Serena failed to serve it out at 5-4 when she buried a backhand
into the net. Serena chucked her racket into the turf and loudly
admonished herself. Serena was grunting with a determination of
a freight train trying to reach it's destination on time, while
Venus seemed content to sit in the club car sipping Shirley Temples.
In the tiebreaker, Serena kept whipping balls at Venus while her
older sister never tried to press her. After Venus hit a lousy drop
shot approach, Serena whacked passing shot down the line to go ahead
5-3. Serena then saw Venus plop a backhand crosscourt into the net.
At 6-4, Serena teed it up, powering ace to take the set and you
knew she was in the conductor's seat.
SECOND SET … SAME STRATEGY
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Fred Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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In the second set, Venus didn't
change strategy, Serena continued to exhaust her in end-to-end rallies
and with the pace and depth of her returns of serves. How's this
for the proper manner in which to close out a match: smash a service
winner, twirl, smile and blow kisses to a crowd that was still was
nursing a Henmania Hangover.
It's a little hard to fathom that
Venus only has one more Slam title than Serena does now and has
yet to win a major this year. Serena is now tied with Lindsay Davenport
with three Slams and is now a lock for the Hall of Fame, too.
Serena has improved almost immeasurably this year, becoming a mental
rock, believing in her ability off both wings, while toeing the
line to serve and of course, when standing five feet from the service
line in preparation for a 140-mph service return.
Venus hasn't improved that much, if at all. She had a terrific run
at Roland Garros between some heady play and fine defense, but was
stopped in the final by a girl who isn't afraid to let it all hang
out. Believe it or not, the once cocky Venus who defined power tennis
the past two years has become a conservative player.
"She just had better shots,
Venus said. " I think I played well, to be honest, and high-percentage
tennis. She just was pressing and hitting a lot of forceful shots.
Really, she was just tremendous today. I think that it wasn't like
a lot between us. But just on some of those points, she was getting
some that I couldn't get. I just have get down in there and fight.
That's my best answer. For her, it's all or nothing. For me, it's
not this."
Venus has a lot of work to do in the next six weeks and when she
lands in Palo Alto in three weeks time, she'll need to start firming
up the areas in her game that have gone array but most importantly
(as she has always said), she needs to go for her shots. Courage
is called for. Because if she doesn't, you can pencil Serena in
for her second U./S Open trophy nine Saturdays from now.
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