- REUTERS
Venus Williams of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning the women's final match against compatriot Lindsay Davenport at the Wimbledon championships in London yesterday. Williams won 4-6, 7-6, 9-7.
LONDON (Reuters):
VENUS WILLIAMS out-lasted fellow American Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 to win the longest Wimbledon women's singles final in history yesterday.
Venus's staying power proved the greater in a two-hour 45-minute endurance test against the top seed and world No. 1, whom she also beat in the 2000 final.
She saved a match point at 4-5 in the third set before eventually breaking the resolve of Davenport, who had needed treatment for a back injury, with a decisive break at 8-7.
DOUBLE-FAULTED
It was Venus's third Wimbledon title in all and her first grand slam triumph since the 2001 US Open, capping a remarkable return to form for the former world number one.
"I have to thank God, thank you for letting me be healthy," Venus gulped as she clutched the Rosewater Dish on an overcast Centre Court.
"Thank you for letting my family be with me. You never know what life is going to throw at you and each and every day I just expect the sun to come up, that's all, these days."
At No. 14 Venus was also the lowest seed to win the women's title at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old also won Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001 before losing the next two finals to her sister Serena.
Davenport, the Wimbledon champion in 1999, has now failed to win a grand slam since her 2000 Australian Open triumph.
The 29-year-old took advantage of two double-faults by Venus to break her for 2-1 when the elder Williams sister blazed a backhand long and consolidated to lead 4-2 before breaking again.
Venus slipped to 15-40 and the world No. 1 slapped away a forehand volley to lead 5-2.
Davenport immediately lost serve to love but Venus could not sustain her revival and Davenport made no mistake in her next service game, taking the set with a heavy serve which Venus could only net.
It was the first set Venus, who upset defending champion Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals, had lost in her run to the final.
At 4-4 in the second set Davenport was incensed when a serve from her opponent that appeared to be well wide was called in. She vented her frustration at the umpire but to no avail and Venus held to love.
Davenport was momentarily rattled and had to save a set point after double-faulting in the next game before holding for 5-5.
Venus suddenly trailed 0-40, saved one break point but slipped in the backcourt to go 6-5 down, leaving Davenport to serve for the match.
The older American faltered, however, losing serve to love as Venus went for broke and she continued in the same vein to go 5-1 up in the tiebreak before taking it 7-4 with a clubbing forehand.
Davenport still started the third set looking the more confident and Venus cracked at 2-3, spraying a forehand out to lose serve.
By now, though, Davenport was suffering pain in her lower back and lost her next serve from leading 40-15 before calling the trainer for treatment. She then left the court for further attention.
DOUBLE-FAULTED
When she returned Davenport bravely held to go 5-4 up, leaving Venus to serve to stay in the match.
She promptly double-faulted to gift Davenport a match point but saved it with a crunching backhand winner before holding serve.
Despite her evident suffering, Davenport kept holding serve until 7-7 when Venus finally broke her compatriot's resolve.
Serving for the match at last, Venus took victory on her second match point when Davenport netted a forehand, leaping around the court in delight.
The previous longest women's Wimbledon final was in 1970 when Australian Margaret Court beat Billie Jean King of the United States 14-12, 11-9 in two hours, 28 minutes.
