AFP
London, July 07

Russian beauty Anna Kournikova's bid to salvage a disappointing showing at the All England Club was scuppered Saturday when she crashed out of Wimbledon twice in the space of just over an hour.

The 21-year-old Muscovite went out in both the doubles and mixed doubles events to bring to an end a controversial two weeks at Wimbledon.

Kournikova, who lost in the first round of singles, and American partner Chanda Rubin threw away a one-set advantage in their doubles semi-final tie to super sisters Venus and Serena Williams.

The Williams sisters, the third seeds, came back out on Centre Court after Serena defeated Venus 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in the singles final to win her first Wimbledon title.

A lapse in concentration by the Russian early in the second set allowed the Americans back into the match and they won through 6-7 (3/7), 6-0, 6-3 and will take on Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual and Argentina's Paola Suarez, the second seeds, in Sunday's final.

Over on Court One, Kournikova then teamed up with Swedish partner Jonas Bjorkman, the seventh seeds, in their quarter-final and were defeated 6-4, 6-2 by third-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Russia's Elena Likhovtseva.

The Russian double faulted in her final service game to end all hopes of a Wimbledon title this year.

Kournikova dominated the headlines early in the tournament after she threw a tantrum during a televised interview, which led to criticism and praise from former tennis players of the Russian who has never won a singles title, but has 15 doubles titles and earns millions in sponsorship.

Meanwhile Serena warned that she and Venus were determined to win their fifth Grand Slam doubles title together here.

"I want to go home with two trophies," warned Serena.

The Americans were the 2000 Wimbledon doubles champions and have won all four Grand Slam doubles titles and the Olympic gold.

"We're going to really go out there and fight. We've won before and want to do it again," said Serena. "It's the final of Wimbledon again and I'm out there for me and for Venus."