Enduring Venus wins third title

By Bill Barclay

LONDON (Reuters) – Venus Williams outlasted fellow AmericanLindsay Davenport 4-6 7-6 9-7 to win the longest Wimbledonwomen’s singles final in history Saturday.

Venus’s staying power proved the greater in a two-hour45-minute endurance test against the top seed and world numberone, whom she also beat in the 2000 final.

She saved a match point at 4-5 in the third set beforeeventually breaking the resolve of Davenport, who had neededtreatment for a back injury, with a decisive break at 8-7.

It was Venus’s third Wimbledon title in all and her firstgrand slam triumph since the 2001 U.S. Open, capping aremarkable return to form for the former world number one.

“I have to thank God, thank you for letting me be healthy,”Venus gulped as she clutched the Rosewater Dish on an overcastCenter Court.

“Thank you for letting my family be with me. You never knowwhat life is going to throw at you and each and every day Ijust expect the sun to come up, that’s all, these days.”

At number 14 Venus was also the lowest seed to win thewomen’s title at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old also won Wimbledonin 2000 and 2001 before losing the next two finals to hersister Serena.

Davenport, the Wimbledon champion in 1999, has now failedto win a grand slam since her 2000 Australian Open triumph.

The 29-year-old took advantage of two double-faults byVenus to break her for 2-1 when the elder Williams sisterblazed a backhand long and consolidated to lead 4-2 beforebreaking again.

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

Davenport immediately lost serve to love but Venus couldnot sustain her revival and Davenport made no mistake in hernext service game, taking the set with a heavy serve whichVenus 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.

At 4-4 in the second set Davenport was incensed when aserve from her opponent that appeared to be well wide wascalled in. She vented her frustration at the umpire but to noavail and Venus held 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.

Davenport still started the third set looking the moreconfident and Venus cracked at 2-3, spraying a forehand out tolose serve.

By now, though, Davenport was suffering pain in her lowerback and lost her next serve from leading 40-15 before callingthe trainer for treatment. She then left the court for furtherattention.

When she returned Davenport bravely held 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, leapingaround the court in delight.

The previous longest women’s Wimbledon final was in 1970when Australian Margaret Court beat Billie Jean King of theUnited States 14-12 11-9 in two hours 28 minutes.