Wimbledon 2009: Venus defeats Safina in straight sets

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 18:46

Venus Williams ensured the Wimbledon final would be another family affair with a devastating performance against Russia's Dinara Safina.

Venus was a picture of power and precision as she defeated Safina 6-1 6-0 in just 51 minutes, after sister Serena earlier had won an epic three-sets semi-final against Elena Dementieva.

There was no way Venus, the five-times champion, was being sucked into such a dogfight.

Her semi-final was a much more subdued affair as she outclassed the world number one from the moment she settled into her big-hitting groove, winning the first nine points of the match and breaking the Safina service in the process.

Safina simply could not cope with the Williams serve, with one ace in the third game clocking in at 124mph, the fastest in the women's tournament.

Safina managed to get her side of the scoreboard ticking in the sixth game but it was no consolation as Venus, if anything, stepped up the power on her groundstrokes.

It was becoming a lesson in intimidation and when Venus promptly broke the Safina service at the start of the second set the match essentially was over.

Safina's mind appeared scrambled with the humiliation which was befalling her and Williams raced into a 4-0 lead, her opponent winning just four points in the process.

Unforced errors sprayed from Safina's racket as she began to panic, rushing her forehands, and a double fault in the fifth game handed Williams another break of serve.

The end eventually came when Safina dumped another forehand into the net to allow Venus to take the match, after which she expressed her delight at another all-Williams, all-American final on July 4.

Venus said: "This is my eighth final and it is a dream come true to

have another opportunity to hold the plate up.

"I was able to stay focused and I have so much experience on this court. But the hardest part has to come, to play Serena in the final."