WIMBLEDON 2008: Women's Final Preview

Serena Williams USA (6) vs. Venus Williams USA (7)

For the third time this decade the most prestigious title in tennis will be contested between two sisters: Venus and Serena Williams. Serena and Venus have played 6 major championship finals against each other. Venus won the first (2001 US Open) and Serena has won every single one since, ending with the 2003 Wimbledon championships. Serena leads the sisters' head-to-head by a scant 8-7 and earlier this year won a tight 3rd set tiebreak over her sister in the semifinals of Bangalore in a match which was never broadcast in the United States. Serena has won 8 Grand Slam titles, 2 more than Venus.

However, at Wimbledon Venus has been in every Ladies' final played this century except for the 2004 final (which Serena lost to Maria Sharapova) and the 2006 final in which Amelie Mauresmo defeated Justine Henin. Venus has won four Wimbledon championships, but lost two (to Serena).

Now, for the first time in 5 years the two sisters are playing each other again in a Wimbledon final (as well as playing with each other in the Wimbledon Ladies Doubles Final for the third time).

Many commentators are giving the edge to Serena, due to her impressive serve (14 aces in her semifinal win compared to a mere 4 for Venus and a 48-44 lead in total aces for the tournament, although Venus has the fastest serve ever struck at Wimbledon by a woman, at 127 mph).

However, in their post-2004 phase of their careers Venus has won two major finals (2005 and 2007) while Serena has only won one (2007 Australian Open).

Serena is the more intense of the two and has always seemed to be hungrier for tennis success. It will be a fascinating match, possibly of the quality of the amazing 2005 Lindsay Davenport-Venus Williams final (won by Venus 9-7 in the 3rd after saving match points) which many observers call the best woman's tennis match of the decade. I think Venus will use that tenacity to finally defeat her little sister on the tennis world's biggest stage.

Mad Professah's pick: Venus in 3 sets.