Venus Williams wins third title

By Bill Barclay

LONDON (Reuters) – Venus Williams beat fellow AmericanLindsay Davenport 4-6 7-6 9-7 to win the Wimbledon women’ssingles title for the third time Saturday.

Venus outlasted the top seed and world number one in thelongest women’s final in the tournament’s history to win herfirst grand slam title since the U.S. Open of 2001 and a fifthin all.

The 25-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001before losing the next two finals to her sister Serena, hassuffered from poor form over the last two years and was seeded14th in the draw, making her the lowest seed to win the titlein Wimbledon history.

Davenport, the Wimbledon champion in 1999, also lost whenthe two players met in the 2000 final and has now failed to wina grand slam since her Australian Open triumph earlier thatsame year.

Venus, who was playing in her fifth final in six years atthe All England Club, started nervously under sullen skies onCenter Court.

Davenport took advantage of two double-faults by Venus tobreak her for 2-1 when the elder Williams sister blazed abackhand long and consolidated to lead 4-2 before breakingagain.

Venus slipped to 15-40 and the world number one slappedaway a forehand volley to lead 5-2.

Davenport immediately lost serve to love, however, and asuddenly dominant Venus held to love to reduce the arrears to5-4.

The younger player could not sustain her revival, however,and Davenport made no mistake in her next service game, takingthe set with a heavy serve which Venus could only net.

It was the first set Venus, who upset defending championMaria Sharapova in the semi-finals, had lost in her run to thefinal.

Davenport, 29, saved a break point at 1-2 in the second setand a shaky-looking Venus saved two in the next game.

The rallies became longer, however, as Venus started tofind her range down both flanks.

At 4-4 Davenport was incensed when a serve from heropponent that appeared to be well wide was called in. Shevented her frustration at the umpire but to no avail and Venusheld to love.

Davenport was momentarily rattled and had to save a setpoint after double-faulting in the next game before holding for5-5.

BACK PAIN

Venus suddenly trailed 0-40, saved one break point butslipped in the backcourt to go 6-5 down, leaving Davenport toserve for the match.

The older American faltered, however, losing serve to loveas Venus went for broke and she continued in the same vein togo 5-1 up in the tiebreak before taking it 7-4 with a clubbingforehand.

Despite the setback Davenport started the third set lookingthe more confident and Venus cracked at 2-3 under siege fromDavenport’s heavy groundstrokes, spraying a forehand out tolose serve.

Davenport, though, was suffering pain in her lower back andlost her next serve from leading 40-15 before calling thetrainer for treatment. She then left the court for furtherattention.

When she returned Davenport was moving gingerly but bravelyheld to go 5-4 up, leaving Venus to serve to stay in the match.

She promptly double-faulted to gift Davenport a match pointbut saved it with a crunching backhand winner before holdingserve.

Despite her evident suffering, Davenport kept holding serveuntil 7-7 when Venus finally broke her compatriot’s resolve.

Serving for the match at last, Venus took victory on hersecond match point when Davenport netted a forehand to end herrun of five grand slam final defeats in two hours 45 minutes.