Venus wins fifth Wimbledon title

Wimbledon Final : Venus Williams has won her fifth Wimbledon Women's title after defeating her sister, Serena, in two sets this…

Wimbledon Final: Venus Williams has won her fifth Wimbledon Women's title after defeating her sister, Serena, in two sets this afternoon. In their third final at the venue together Venus looked the hungrier and took the match 7-5, 6-4.

Serena had won both previous Wimbledon finals between the two sisters - in 2002 and 2003 - but was second best despite making a superb start to the match, in which she won eight of the first nine points to lead 2-0 with a break of serve inside three minutes.

Venus was the forced to win five out of six games to battle back from 4-2 down and win the first set, before recovering from a break down early in the second set to successfully defend her title after one hour and 51 minutes on Centre Court.

"First I have to say great match to Serena," said Venus, 28. "I can't believe that it's five (titles).

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"When you are in a final with Serena five seems so far away from that first point. She played so awesome it was a real task to beat her."

Asked how hard it was to play against Serena, Venus added: "My first job is big sister and I take that very seriously!"

Serena was philosophical in defeat, adding: "She was a little better today, it didn't work out the way I planned. But it's definitely a great celebration for our family. We're really happy.

"I've been working really hard and fighting for everything and I'm so happy at least one of us was able to win. We're just glad to be in the finals again and we hope it can keep happening."

Seeking a third title at the All England Club, Serena made the perfect start with a break of serve in the opening game of the match.

The 26-year-old led 2-0 and won 10 of the first 11 points before Venus began to battle back into the match.

It has been five years since the last grand slam final between the pair, Serena winning her second Wimbledon title in 2003, but Venus broke back to level at 4-4 and gradually gained the upper hand.

Another break of serve in the 12th game gave Venus the set 7-5 after 53 hard-fought minutes.

Venus held serve in the opening game of the second set, helped by a record-equalling 129mph serve.

But Venus was unable to repeat the trick in her next service game, saving six break points but slipping over beyond the baseline on the seventh to give Serena the advantage.

That game had taken 14 minutes and many others were proving long, drawn-out battles from the baseline as the siblings traded thunderous serves and groundstrokes.

Venus immediately broke back to level at 2-2 and the next five games went with serve until Venus forged two match points on her sister's serve in the 10th game.

Serena saved the first with a thumping ace but an errant backhand on the second gave Venus her fifth Wimbledon title.