Venus, over the moon! (V.Williams v Davenport)

Member Name: Andyc

Product:	V.Williams v Davenport
Date:	10/07/00 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A new name on the winners list

Disadvantages: Not a classic final

This match was a battle of power versus power. We'd seen the power vs. finesse in the semi's, this was supposed to be like "Gun-fight at the OK Coral!"

That said, this wasn't the game we'd expected! Only 3 aces in the whole match, all from Williams is a testament to how the game played out.

Davenport, defending her title must have started as slight favourite, having seemingly recovered from her injury, in beating Jelena Dokic. However Davenport didn't appear 100% as her usually reliable serve seemed to desert her, when she needed it most. Taking only 25% of points from her second serve will be a disappointing statistic. However, Davenport was getting 70% of her 1st serves in, but Venus didn't allow the relentless assualt to phase her.

From here the game seemed to be turned on it's head. The bain of Venus' Wimbledon campaign has been her unforced errors, costing her vital points. In the final she managed to keep them to a minimum. 31 errors to 34 from Davenport, tipped the scales in Williams' favour.

Both players, if you'll forgive the analogy, play a 'mans' game. Big servers, coming into the net wherever possible. Venus changed her game though, forcing herself to stay back and striking some wonderous passing shots, finding the corners with unerring accuracy.

Williams seemed composed in the first set, taking the vital break of serve. She stamped her authority on the game, turning it into an athletic contest she was always going to win, with the now obviously still injured Davenport. Williams was still finding both corners with startling regularity, making Davenport scamper along the base-line. When Davenport tried to return the compliment, Williams was more than ready for the challenge, chipping into the corners to give her a chance at winning volleys from the net. That said, Williams must be credited for her perseverance. The notes she read at the odd change of end
s, must have been ordering her to keep at it with the volleys. Despite the numerous failures, she persisted, finally dispatching a few winners.

The second set saw the nerves settle in, with no less than 8 breaks of serve! Both players trading blows, in the way that marks the womens game so pointedly from the mens. At this point it was a task to HOLD serve, as opposed to break it. Davenport, at a set down, clung on for dear life, breaking serve at 5-4 down when Williams could have served out for the Championship. It went to a tie-break and Williams rallied herself round to storm to a 6 points to 2 lead......... and finally clinching her first Grand Slam title on her second match point.

And how pleased she was. After dancing a jig on centre court (and trying out for the US Olympic high-jump team!) she shook Davenport's hand before racing to the precarious roof-top embrace with her family that made most newspapers.

It wasn't a beautiful final to watch, but you can't deny Williams claim to the crown. Any player defeating Serena Williams (her sister) number one seed Martina Hingis and the defending champion is obviously quite a player, but is womens grass-court tennis going the way of the mens Championship? All power and little finesse? Lets hope not.

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