Wimbledon - Venus romps into all-Williams final

Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 08:27:00 2009

Reigning champion Venus Williams demolished world number one Dinara Safina 6-1 6-0 to set up a clash with her sister Serena in the Wimbledon final.

TENNIS Venus Williams Wimbledon - 0

The five-times Wimbledon champion was in imperious form and brushed aside the first seeded Russian with an air of disdain.

Earlier, Serena Williams had beaten Elena Dementieva in an epic contest on Centre Court and the Williams sisters will now face each other in an All England Club final for the fourth time.

It was another sweltering day in SW19, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees on a dry and sunny afternoon, but Williams barely broke sweat in thrashing her opponent in just 51 minutes.

Williams began the match with a serve of 112mph, and followed it with the fastest delivery of the tournament at 124mph to consolidate her early break in the second game.

Safina knew that she must dramatically improve her serve against the number three seed if she were to have any chance of making a first final appearance at Wimbledon.

But the Russian's demise seemed inevitable as early as the opening game, when the 23-year-old was broken to love.

The American pounced on some indecision from Safina, who looked hesitant and nervy, to ruthlessly seize the initiative from the outset.

From there on Williams maintained her ascendency, and was unflinching in her attacking approach, as Safina grew ever more despondent at the other end.

In all, number three seed Williams broke her opponent's serve five times as she bludgeoned first serves and big forehands to utterly confound the Russian.

After being broken comprehensively in the second and fourth games, Safina could only watch on helplessly as Williams hammered winner after winner to clinch the first set in just 26 minutes.

The solitary game which Safina mustered, at her third attempt to hold serve, was still a real struggle, with Williams lashing a forehand long with her opponent racked with self doubt at 40-30.

If the opening seven games were one-sided, the second set was an absolute thumping, with the American rattling through it without conceding a game.

Safina was broken in the opening game of the set, and her look of bemusement and sheer embarrassment at her coaches exemplified the manner of her capitulation.

The Centre Court crowd, who had been left in raptures after the excitement of the first semi-final, were left underwhelmed and subdued at the lack of a battle which unfolded.

Despite suffering the ignominy of this defeat, Safina will remain the world number one regardless of whether Venus or Serena Williams seals victory in the final on Saturday.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 234 - 253 of 253

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  1. Whats the f**k going on with this site? Freaks around.­­ Eurosport, plz do something!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Olga, on Fri 3 Jul 9:34PM

  2. SERENA IS GOOD BUT I WILL BE ROOTING FOR VENUS BECAUSE­ SHE IS THE BEST THAT EVER HAPPENED TO GRASS

    From franklin b concience, on Fri 3 Jul 7:32PM

  3. AMERICA MUST BE LUCKY TO HAVE THOSE LOVELY TALENTED­ SISTERS AS CITIZENS....

    From franklin b concience, on Fri 3 Jul 7:09PM

  4. THE SPINKS BROTHERS,WILLIAMS SISTERS,MAYWEATHER SNR AND­ JUNIOR....FAMILIES AMONG OTHERS THAT HAVE MADE AMERICA­ PROUD.....GO GIRLS GO GOGOGOGOGO

    From franklin b concience, on Fri 3 Jul 7:02PM

  5. I AM SO HAPPY THE SUCCESS OF THE WILLIAMS SISTERS IS­ GIVING PEOPLE LIKE SAMM SLEEPLESS­ NIGHTMARISH,HYPERTENSIVE NITES....THANK GOD I DONT­ THINK OF JUMPING OUT OF A TEN STORY BUILDING ANYTIME­ SAFINA,SHARAPOVA WINS....

    From franklin b concience, on Fri 3 Jul 6:58PM

  6. I LOVE U VENUS AND SERENA,SOME GUYS FEEL THE FINAL WILL­ BE BORING BECAUSE ITS WILLIAMS/WILLIAMS WELL I THINK­ ITS GOIN TO BE ONE GREAT FINAL....I AM TIPPING VENUS TO­ WIN....

    From franklin b concience, on Fri 3 Jul 6:52PM

  7. By the point system that generates points through the­ amount of tournaments that you play in.

    From Pearlina K, on Fri 3 Jul 6:27PM

  8. please tell me how is it that Safina will remain number­ 1 after the final.

    From chipomare, on Fri 3 Jul 5:06PM

  9. william sister's we love you so much please keep up­ the good work,good luck both of you.DOWN WITH THE­ HATTERS.

    From chipomare, on Fri 3 Jul 5:04PM

  10. come on venus make it 3 in row come saturday.

    From lopezmaxi92, on Fri 3 Jul 4:22PM

  11. ah jims mccCANT, ah kin...bat am a heedthaboll­ yannerstan? ah canna hilp i...thas waw ma bors sez an­ hees from scortland sew he shud nor. tha rite? ya­ kin?

    but you got to admit it's good poetry. Come­ on. Pity you can't see the hidden bits but­ you're a clever wee man so I'm sure you can­ figure the 4 letter word out - only one change of vowel­ and it ain't E, I or O. I think it's brilliant.­ Go on, tell me you agree. I hope we can still be­ pals???? please???

    From wendy, on Fri 3 Jul 4:12PM

  12. Its so funny that he talks alot of @#$% and he is still­ watching there matches .So who is the bigger fool. Go­ Williams you are good for the game of tennis.

    From Karen, on Fri 3 Jul 4:06PM

  13. Can we all have a look at your Mother and Father ­ Ferrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! I am sure they are two of the best­ specimens on the planet. Then lets have a look at you.­ I am sure the union of your Mother and Father has­ produced the pinnacle of the human species. I doubt it­ though.
    I have a feeling that you are a low achiever,­ overweight, not a picture of beauty, and have realised­ that you dont have a talent for anything. Where as the­ Williams with all the problems with their looks, as you­ see them, have 17 Grand Slams between them, Have more­ talent than your entire family going back to the 18th­ century. More money, More success, more houses, more­ cars, more travel, more real friends, "MORE­ INTELLIGENT" Need I say More......You ignorant­ cave dwelling, Halfwit!!

    From Gavin F, on Fri 3 Jul 3:57PM

  14. No.244- How is Venus bad for "feminine"­ tennis? Your another tw*t with a simple bird brain.­ Your knowledge of tennis is so obviously very limited­ but answer this-
    Is Safina more feminine? What about­ the French open winner and Dementieva is no oil­ painting either - am sick of these nonces chatting @#$%­ about the greatest female grass court player of our­ generation. You need to recognise her ability to­ outplay any pretender to her throne

    From The football genius, on Fri 3 Jul 2:59PM

  15. Honestly who can stop the Williams sisters?

    You have­ to be a Williams to beat a Williams which they will­ prove Saturday 4th of July. Very fitting for the­ American Beauties of tennis.

    From frith, on Fri 3 Jul 2:59PM

  16. No.246 talks about the theory of evoultion and I doubt­ someone who makes such simple minded comments is­ educated enough to know much about Darwins theory, and­ I bet your pig of a mother is much worse than the­ Williams mother in terms of looking like an animal you­ TW*T.

    From The football genius, on Fri 3 Jul 2:50PM

  17. The Williams sisters just don't know the meaning of­ losing. Tere going for another doubles­ championship.

    WOW!!!!

    From frith, on Fri 3 Jul 2:47PM

  18. SAMM SAMM SAMM ARE YOU WATCHING THE WILLIAMS SITERS­ JUST QUALIFIED FOR LADIES DOUBLES FINAL WOW AL THAT­ MONEY GOING TO THE WILLIAMS, AM COMING FOR YOU AM STILL­ WATCHING FEDERER'S MATCH

    From stine147, on Fri 3 Jul 2:42PM

  19. And the funny part is....

    They're gonna do this­ all again next year!

    From frith, on Fri 3 Jul 2:26PM

  20. Post 246; Ferrrrrrr, Your mother and father are pigs.­ That is why you are a stupid little piglet. I saw your­ mother the other day and threw her an apple, and she­ rolled on her back with all her four legs in the air.­ She has a smelly f@*y.

    From mepaulward, on Fri 3 Jul 2:15PM
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