SISTERS' FIRST THREE-SET SLAM FINAL FILLED WITH SUSPENSE

Serena Williams makes her 'Serena Slam'

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Photos: 2002–Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA, Inc.; 2003–Siggi Bucher Design: Ron Cioffi/tennisreporters.net

Here's two indisputable facts that are clearly common knowledge at this point in tennis – Venus and Serena Williams are head-and-shoulders above the rest of the players in the game and Serena is head-and-shoulders above older sis Venus. If anyone questioned this pronouncement before the Australian Open, the findings of the first Grand Slam of the year should silence any disbelievers.

Serena Williams did not waltz, but clawed her way into history by completing her "Serena Slam," winning all four Grand Slam titles in a row. She was nearly dismissed in the first round of this Australian Open by Emilie Loit of France, a player that is not used to center-stage billing like Serena. In the semifinals, she had to climb back from 5-1 down in the third set and fight off two match points from Kim Clijsters, the only player currently on the tour that seems poised to challenge the sister dynasty. And she went the distance for the first time in the last four Grand Slam finals with Venus, although the match once again was not anything to write home about, before securing her place in history with a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 victory.

Having dubbed her accomplishment of four major titles in a row the "Serena Slam," it isn't a first-time novelty. The 21-year-old joins Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf as the only five women in history to hold four majors trophies consecutively.

"Winning four in a row … it doesn't happen every day," said Serena, who won her first Grand Slam trophy at the '99 US Open. "I can't believe I can now be compared to these women because they are just the greats. To be in their category is just amazing."

WANTS THE 'GRAND SLAM' DESIGNATION
And in Serena's special style, she questions why one has to win all four Grand Slam trophies in the same year to be considered a true "Grand Slam" champion. Isn't it good enough to win four in a row, even if it bridges more than one year, to receive the distinction of being referred to as a "Grand Slam" champion?
It is for Serena.

"I guess I am (a Grand Slam champion) because I think in order to win four in a row, either way, you have to be pretty serious," she said. "They're back-to-back and it's definitely very tough so I would say that I am (a Grand Slam champion)."

Call Serena a "Grand Slam champion" or just a "Serena Slam champion," it makes no difference in the big picture, unless maybe to the champion herself. She's the best in the business and that certainly raises the same interesting question that's been swirling around the tour for close to a year now – how long will Venus be able to handle the back seat?

Until the Nasdaq-100 Open semifinal last March, Venus played the older sister role to the hilt, winning five of their six encounters, only losing in the '99 Grand Slam Cup final, a tournament that was considered an exhibition. Now Venus has lost their last five encounters and the only good news was that she won her first set off of Serena in those five encounters during the Australian Open final.

The truth is that against anybody but Serena, Venus is sublime. But if Venus plans on challenging Serena again for the honor of not only being better than younger sis but the best in the world, she's got some serious work ahead, both technically with her game as well as with her mental approach to the situation.
This news will come as no surprise to Venus.

"I kind of backed off my game, wasn't nearly as aggressive as I was in my other matches," said Venus, who didn't lose a set en route to the final. "I think right now she's a little mentally tougher out there. I think maybe that's the main thing that's dropped off in me."

While it was clear to see both sisters wanted to win, it was also easy to see that through much of the match Venus seemed on edge and not comfortable. On many occasions, her stare coupled with a shake of her head said it all:Venus was at a loss as to how to counter Serena's game and believed herself to be the underdog.
As for the technical portion of Venus's problems, there are a number that come to attention.

WHERE VENUS NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Siggi Bucher

The serve is probably her biggest weakness, which should be anything but the case. At 6" 1', the serve should serve Venus well on all fronts. But surprisingly, her second serve is hardly a weapon at all. While she double faulted less than she did in the three previous Grand Slam finals, just getting it in wasn't enough to make an impact in the match. Unless Venus develops a more formidable second serve, one that can win her points, she will continue to have problems against Serena. While Venus' first serve is among the game's best, Serena has the luxury of having dealt it in thousands of hours of practices.

Another flaw in Venus's game is that she plays as if she is allergic to the net, which is disheartening since when she does venture forward, she displays a winning style with her volleys. At her height and wingspan, she should take advantage of every opportunity to come in and she watched a host of them go by in the final against Serena.

Venus also has a tendency to forget to mix up play. On too many occasions during the match she seemed content to just continue in a crosscourt slugfest with Serena, hitting the ball straight back to Serena's zone, which was a very dangerous course of action. How about changing things up and smacking one down the line for a sense of surprise?

In the first set, Venus was in position to serve for the set, up a break and serving at 5-4, but played a tentative game to open the door wide to Serena to win an eventual tiebreaker. In the third set, the serve became Venus' downfall, and while she managed to fend off five break points in the eighth game, in the final game she put herself in a hole to 15-40 with a double fault to provide Serena the one match point needed.

Now that Venus trails Serena 5-4 in Grand Slam titles – Venus won the '00 and '01 Wimbledon and US Open crowns – Venus needs to shore up her determination and tinker with some fine-tuning on her game. While she was once again loving and gracious in defeat, saying, "I wish I could have been the winner. But, of course, you have a great champion in Serena and she has won all four Grand Slams, which is something I'd love to do one day," you can bet she was extremely disappointed at posting another loss against her world No. 1 ranked sibling. Venus, however, is also is saying the right things, noting, "These are major championships at stake. This is history, a career. I don't want to be the player that won four Grand Slams. I have experience. It's a good thing to keep in the back pocket. I'm going to fight."

But for the meantime, it is Serena who is making the moves and admitting to a rare display of sentiment, saying, "I never get emotional, but I am really, really emotional now and really, really happy. You know all my life I have dreamed of being the best and doing the best. It hasn't always been easy for me and it is just so special the fact that I am making history right now."