Serena downs Venus to win third crown

Serena Williams clinched her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam crown with a 7-6 6-2 victory over sister Venus, the defending champion, yesterday.

The victory added to her 2002 and 2003 wins at the All England Club and shattered Venus's hopes of a hat-trick of titles and sixth overall which would have taken her level with Billie Jean King.

Yesterday's final was the fourth all-Williams title match-up at Wimbledon and eighth in all Grand Slams with the win giving Serena the edge in head-to-head meetings at 11-10.

Of the eight major finals the sisters have faced each other in, Serena has won six.

"It feels so amazing. I'm so blessed. I feel like I shouldn't really be holding the trophy, Venus should be holding it, she always wins," said Serena who currently holds three of the four Grand Slam titles.

"I can't believe I have won 11 majors. It's a real honour."

Venus, 29, admitted Serena had been the better player of the two.

"She was just too good today. She had an answer for everything and played the best tennis," said Venus after a final fittingly staged on US Independence Day.

"I don't think the loss has set in yet, that's why I'm still smiling. But I have had some great times here and I'm looking forward to coming back next year."

Serve dominated the first set with 27-year-old Serena fighting off the only two break points in the eighth game and it was the younger of the two sisters who seized control of the tiebreak.

Serena went to three set points by forcing Venus to scramble from side to side before putting away a powerful crosscourt forehand.

Venus saved the first set point but was powerless when a pinpoint lob from her sister left her stranded at the net.

It was the first set Venus had dropped at Wimbledon since the third round in 2007, a run of 34 consecutive winning sets.

Serena, who had saved match point in her marathon semi-final win over Elena Dementieva, carved out her first set point when Venus double-faulted to hand her a 4-2 lead and revenge for last year's final defeat to her sister looked likely.

Second seed Serena held to love, backed-up by her 12th ace of the match, to lead 5-2.

She then wasted three match points in the eighth game but clinched the title when Venus netted with a forehand.

Previous 10 winners

2008 Venus Williams
2007 Venus Williams
2006 Mauresmo
2005 Venus Williams
2004 Sharapova
2003 Serena Williams
2002 Serena Williams
2001 Venus Williams
2000 Venus Williams
1999 Davenport.