Injured Venus Opens Wimbledon Final

Venus Williams, hampered by an abdominal strain, practiced for only 10 minutes and then limped off the court two hours before the scheduled start of her Wimbledon final Saturday against her sister, Serena.

Venus later took the court and served to open the final of the storied event, but the brief workout left in doubt whether she would be able to finish it.

Williams didn’t practice Friday. She aggravated the injury, which has bothered her off and on for two months, in the third game of her semifinal victory Thursday over Kim Clijsters.

The final between the sisters is their sixth in a major event, and it’s not the first time Venus has been hurt. She was hindered by a right shoulder problem during the Wimbledon final a year ago, and two months later took on Serena for the U.S. Open title with tape on her right hand to cover a blister.

Both times Venus lost but discounted the significance of the injuries.

Venus won the Wimbledon title in 2000-01, and Serena is the defending champion.