AFP
London, July 6

Not content with deposing older sister Venus as world number one Serena Williams spoilt the top seed's dreams of a Wimbledon hat-trick at the All England Club on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Serena, the second seed, claimed her third Grand Slam title with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win in 78 minutes over 22-year-old Venus, who had been bidding to become just the third women in the Open Era to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles.

"I just tried to take it easy here because Venus is really hard to beat here, it was now or never," said Serena whose best previous performance in her four attempts here was last year's quarter-final.

"The tie-break was crucial. I tried to serve well but she wouldn't stop running balls down.

"But to win here is really exciting," she added clutching the champion's trophy which is ironically called the Venus Rosewater dish.

Venus, whose serve was impeded by a shoulder problem, was gracious in defeat giving her sister tips on what to do during the trophy-giving ceremony.

"No one told me the first year that you have to curtsy. I was running around like a fool," she said.

"She played the better shots. It's a shame that I lost because this was where it all started for me. But at least I know I can take a look at the trophy from time to time."

And given that dad Richard, who did not attend the match, had in the past been accused of dictating who would win, Venus said that they were happy that the crowd at Centre Court enjoyed the show.

"We're entertainers, always want people to be entertained," said Venus. "I think that everyone there thorughly enjoyed the game."

Less than a month after lifting her first French Open title against Venus at Roland Garros, Serena reaffirmed her status as the new world number one which she takes from Venus on Monday.

Serena, the 1999 US Open champion, is now just one Grand Slam win from joining the ranks of just eight women tennis greats who have won on all surfaces.

It was their third Grand Slam final together in less than a year and Venus won the first round when she successfully defended her US Open title last year.

Since then she has been struggling to keep up with Serena, who has now won their past four matches and whom their father always predicted would emerge as the better player.

Serena, now on a 19-match winning streak, had made no secret of her determination to become a member of the All England club.

She came out gunning for victory earning the first break of the match following an untimely double fault by Venus in the third game.

But then the younger sister double faulted at break point to allow Venus to draw level again 2-2 in the next game.

Another costly double fault in the fifth game handed Serena a break point once again which she converted when Venus hit into the net.

But Venus was not going to give up her Wimbledon crown without a fight and hit back, coming from 30-love down in the ninth game when Serena was serving for the set to level 5-5.

A frustated Serena slammed down her racket as Venus shifted the momentum back her way.

Serena forced a tie-break which she won 7-4 with an ace despite umpire Jane Harvey calling let, but as neither player heard with the crowd applauding Harvey simply shrugged her shoulders as the duo took their seats.

Serena kept the pressure up in the second set breaking in the sixth game, but a worried-looking Venus broke back straight away to 3-4. Serena broke again, stealing her nerve serving for the title to love and taking the crown on her first match point.

"When I was able to win the first set, I think I got a bit lackadaisical. And I hit a couple of ridiculous shots," said Serena who read notes during the changeovers to keep herself focused.

"Then I said to myself 'you're going to be telling your grandkids about this day, how you didn't take your opportunity'."

The power of her game was just too much slamming down four aces compared to just one by Venus who hit 11 winners to 16 for Serena, and had six double faults to Serena's two.

Venus had been bidding to emulate Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova by completing a hat-trick but looked a shadow of herself.

But she can take heart form being one ahead with four Grand Slam titles and 25 WTA titles to Serena's 16.

The sisters take home a total of 729,000 pounds between them from the final - Serena winning 486,000 pounds and Venus 243,000 - a far cry from the previous sisters to play the final in Wimbledon in 1884.

Maud Watson beat sister Lilian 6-8, 6-3, 6-3 in the 1884 final and won a silver flower basket worth 21 guineas, while Lilian took home a silver brush and a glass hand mirror worth 11 guineas.