Williams Sisters Win Olympic Doubles Final

S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 28 -- The Williams Invitational, also knownas Olympic women’s tennis, ended with a fittingly ferociousflourish.

On championship point, Venus Williams socked a 115-mph serve.Kristie Boogert somehow managed to return it, so Serena Williamswhacked an overhead slam for a winner and the gold medal indoubles.

The sisters dominated in Sydney from start to finish, beatingthe Dutch team of Boogert and Miriam Oremans in the final today,6-1, 6-1.

The gold was the second for Venus, who won the singles titleWednesday.

“For me, this is almost bigger than singles,” she said. “Tohave a victory like this with Serena, my sister and best friend,doesn’t happen very often.”

In fact, they’re the first sisters to win a gold in doubles. AndVenus is only the second woman to win a gold in singles anddoubles, joining American Helen Wills, an Olympian in 1924.

“To be a part of history is really important,” Williams said.“To be able to cap an opportunity and succeed is really, reallyrewarding.”

Subhead

Williams played — and won — 11 matches in 10 days.

“It’s been a good 10 days,” she said. “I didn’t really have any doubts. The only thing I was hoping was that I wouldn’t pullany muscles along the way and have to pull out. It was just amatter of how my body was going to last.”

The sisters weren’t too taxed in the doubles final, which tookjust 50 minutes. The men’s singles final lasted 3 hours, 34minutes, with Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia outlasting Tommy Haas ofGermany 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Venus and Serena lost only three points in the first threegames, and Oremans double-faulted three times in the seventh gameto lose the opening set. Then the Americans raced to a 4-0 lead inthe second set.

When Serena, who was born in Saginaw, Mich., lowered the boomwith her slam on championship point, the sisters shrieked, flungtheir rackets in the air and hugged. Holding hands, they waved tothe crowd, then skipped happily across the court carrying Americanflags.