With different names, this Australian Open women’s final would have been just another Grand Slam final. A straight-set major final.
The players made extraordinary shots, the type you would expect in a Grand Slam final.
But this was an all-time match, a historic occasion in women’s tennis. Maybe the last Venus vs. Serena in a Grand Slam final. They are getting old, a combined 71 years, 11 months — the oldest combined age to compete in an Open Era major final.
The final scoreboard read Serena Williams, 6-6, Venus Williams, 4-4.
SATISFACTION OF HISTORY, NOT OF BEATING VENUS
As Venus’ frantic short backhand lob sailed wide, Serena sat down on the court, with the satisfaction, not of beating her older sister, but of knowing she had just become the holder of more Grand Slam singles titles than any woman in the Open Era of tennis.
The sisters embraced one more time. There may be others. Maybe not. Their play was that of two much younger players than 36 and 35 years of age.
Serena Williams was back in her rightful spot, the No. 1 player in the world. Maybe they should retire that number in women’s tennis.
On this occasion, the No. 23 mattered only in the fact it was one more major title than Steffi Graf accumulated.
Viewers around the world tuned into this historic occasion. It was the middle of a Friday night in the United States.
A SIMPLE BEGINNING
Venus, fit and trim in a two-piece outfit despite the wrap on her left thigh, served first.
Serena won the first point when Venus hit a backhand wide cross court, ending a four-stroke rally. Just a simple, uneventful beginning to a match of greatness.
Serena won the second point as Venus’ backhand down the line sailed wide.
Venus finally won a point with an ace down the middle, but on the fourth point Serena nailed a clean backhand service winner cross court for a double break point.
On the fifth point, Venus hit a big serve. Serena popped up a backhand service return to the middle of the court near the net. Venus rushed to the ball, chose to let it bounce and then hit a forehand that easily could have been a simple smash. But Serena was waiting in the forehand corner and nailed a cross-court passing forehand to win the first game.
And then the match of all-time went on to history.
ENDING SYMBOLIC OF THEIR PLAY
The end was symbolic of the match, the way the two players played. All-out efforts.
Serena served for history at 40-30 in the 20th game of the match. She hit a backhand ground stroke cross court to Venus’ backhand corner. But Venus’ backhand return looped over the net. Seeing history, Serena charged up to the net to deliver a looping down-the-line forehand again to Venus’ backhand corner, setting the stage for history as Venus frantically got a backhand on the ball, only for her lob to miss the sideline. History.
James Beck is the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com. See his Post and Courier columns at
http://www.postandcourier.com
