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This is an archive article published on July 5, 2002

All-sisters final after 100 years at Wimbledon

The Williams sisters wrote another page in tennis history at Wimbledon today powering their way to their third Grand Slam final leaving thei...

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The Williams sisters wrote another page in tennis history at Wimbledon today powering their way to their third Grand Slam final leaving their European opponents reeling in their wake.

Top seeded Venus defeated last year’s runner-up Justine Henin, the Belgian sixth seed, 6-3, 6-2 in 77 minutes, and not to be outdone younger sister Serena slayed French ninth seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-2 6-1 in just 55 minutes.

SISTER Vs SISTER

Dark day for Serena’s shady shadow

The duo are now set for the first Wimbledon final between sisters since the inaugural championships in 1884 when Maud Watson beat sister Lilian – after also meeting in the finals of the French Open and the US Open.

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Serena, the second seed, also overtakes Venus as world number one in next week’s WTA rankings as a result of the semi-final win. “It’s been a goal of mine, it really feels great,” said Serena of being the top women’s player in the world. “I’ve worked really hard, I deserve this.”

Serena said that her mother oracene had not told her until after the match that a German fan who has been stalking her at championships across Europe has turned up in Wimbledon, adding that she tried not to let that bother her.

“I’m very excited about saturday,” said Serena. “The past three Grand Slams I’ve competed in I’ve been in the final of all three. That’s not bad. I really want to be a member of the all England club.”

But first she has to get past venus, who wants to take a third title here and is aware of the history that is being created.

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“I think it’s good for serena and I more than anything else,” admitted 22-year-old Venus. “It’s just something that’s been unprecedented, never seen before. We make the headlines and the cover stories, all the news, because it’s Serena and I, it’s something that’s never happened.”

Both Henin and Mauresmo were unable to match their power with both saying that they felt the sister’s dominance was damaging the game, by making it boring for spectators.

Henin was unable to build on an early 2-0 lead in her match with the American taking 18 minutes to get onto the scoreboard, but then blasted her opponent off court.

Henin, runner-up to Venus in last year’s final, admitted that the sisters were now in a league of their own. “There isn’t any comparison of last year’s match with today, she was simply too strong, she was in my opinion untouchable,” admitted Henin.

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Meanwhile, Belgium’s Xavier Malisse, the 27th seed, put an end to Dutchman Richard Krajicek’s magical run when he won their quarter-final clash 6-1 4-6 6-2 3-6 9-7 today. Malisse now faces Argentina’s David Nalbandian tomorrow for a place in the final.

Nalbandian, the 28th seed, defeated Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, the 22nd seed, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4 today to reach the semis.

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