Venus banking on Williams aggression

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:38

Venus was the first of the pair to reach the final, in 2000, and she has gathered five titles – with Serena picking up two. Only once in this decade has neither sister appeared in the title match, when Amelie Mauresmo beat Justine Henin in 2006, and in all probability there will be a fourth all-Williams final on Saturday.

“I just think the style of game Serena and I play, we play better than the other women,” said Venus. “We’re just very aggressive. I think that shows in our results.”

Venus raced into the last four with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska on Court One on Tuesday, and will take on top seed Dinara Safina on Thursday.

Younger sibling Serena was a 6-2 6-2 winner against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, and she next faces Elena Dementieva.

Both sisters are firm favourites for their matches, on the basis of their grass-court performances through the years.

Venus, who won the title last year by beating Serena, was in sizzling form against Radwanska – and Safina will need to improve considerably on the display she gave against surprise quarter-finalist Sabine Lisicki.

The world number one won 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 6-1 in almost two-and-a-half hours on a sweltering Centre Court, and did little to suggest she will end her long wait for a first grand slam title.

Safina has finished as runner-up in three grand slam finals – but after reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final, the Russian hopes she has silenced her critics.

“I’ve never got so far here, so whenever I win a match I’m really happy,” she said. “But I’m enjoying it, taking one match at a time – and at the moment it’s working. I hope people won’t say now I’m number one without a grand slam title. I’ve been in the semis at all four grand slams, so I think that’s something impressive.”

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