Serena wins, Kerber defeats Venus to spoil another Williams’ final

The second Friday of the championships, the 10th day, is traditionally for the two Ladies’ semifinal matches. By then, the teeming crowds have thinned down; the vehicular and pedestrian pressure on Southfields Main Street has reduced. The official souvenir stores in row houses are still doing brisk business, and the District Line trains from Edgware Road and Upminster discharging for The Championships at the small suburban Southfields station are carrying fewer passengers and the grass edges of Church road have turned brown from the daily foot pounding and overnight queues for tickets.

Even before the first ball was struck at Centre Court, the Williams sisters added another chapter to their unprecedented record in tennis. When was it that two sisters played successively, on the same court, in the semi-finals of any major tournament, let alone the penultimate? Let the archivist dig up from the first Wimbledon in 1877. Venus and Serena have played in many grand-slam finals, two at Wimbledon. They have won 12 Grandslam Doubles titles, consisting five at Wimbledon, four in Australia, two in Paris and one in their native USA.

Although Venus was the first to hit the limelight, in reaching the finals of the 1997 US Open as a debutante, Serena was the first to win a Grandslam, two years later in New York. Venus won Wimbledon the next year and retained the title in 2001. In 2002, Serena took dominance, defeating sister in Paris, London and New York, as also the next year in Australian and Wimbledon.

Despite all they endured on the road to the top, they are well-mannered; thanks to their deep spirituality, the awareness of God (they refer to as Jehovah).

In these semi-finals match-ups, their mother remained in the same seat for the duration of the two matches; not revealing any emotion. It was known from the beginning that they do not like competing against each other. A little resentment towards what Rod Laver described as “the wicked person on the other side of the net trying to beat you.”

But Oracene had the antidote. He told a speculating press corps at Flushing Meadows that the spectators would be treated to an exhibition by her two daughters. That explains their attitude when battling each other; they are relaxed but intense; as athletes are taught to have focused mind but supple body! All the cash (after tax) comes into the family coffers anyway!

Vesnina opened serving and lost first two points, picking only before dropping the game and handing Serena the first break. Serena opened serve with an ace and dropped only one point to game. Vesnina won only one point and dropped third game on a forehand return ripped crosscourt by her overpowering opponent.

The defending champion was the very epitome of calmness as she won game after game, taking the fourth at love. In the fifth game, the Russian went up 30-0, then hit a defensive lob out and netted a drop shot to be leveled. She canceled a break point with an ace timed at 107mph, delivered a service winner for the advantage and she registered on the score board to the roaring applause of the crowd.

Serena delivered three aces in the fifth to lead 5-1. Encouraged by her winning the fifth game, Elena took the first two points and lost but one to take the seventh game. Serving for the set, Serena opened hit an ace, two service winners and an ace to win game and set in 28 minutes. The second set was a one-sided affair and the match was over in 58 minutes. The defending champion delivered 11 aces for a 6-0 tally and was on to the finals. The two players walked off the court together, revealing the same height.

Kerber won toss and elected to receive; an apparent wise choice. Williams won the first point of the match but lost the second on a rally; a pattern throughout the match. She made one of her many forehand unforced errors to lose the game. It was then a tragedy of breaks. Williams will remember the third game with regret. Down 15-40, she fought to level with a forehand winner, but could not seal three advantage points. On the very first offer, Kerber took the game.

The break-streak was halted by Kerber when she held serve in the sixth game to lead 4-2. Tow breaks of serve gave Kerber a 5-3 lead. Williams held her serve for the first time to take the ninth game. Serving for the set, Kerber lost the first point but reached set point on one of the many long rallies that she won. She clinched the game after another long rally ending with a Venus’ forehand into the net.

Kerber broke Williams in the first game of second set and held her serve for a 2-0 lead. Was this going to be a reverse of the sister’s match? The five –time Wimbledon champion fought back to take the third game on her second hold in the match. Kerber followed in like manner to win the fourth game at love. Williams fought hard in the fifth game. On lead at 30-15, she dominated a long rally but Kerber hung in and took the point for 30-40; at which Venus shook her head.