WIMBLEDON, England -- The inevitable became the actual. The match that seemed destined is the match that will be played. Venus Williams against sister Serena in the Wimbledon final. They're elated.
But you sense not all of tennis is.
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| Serena Williams is stoked after playing her way into the Wimbledon final. (Getty Images) |
Venus got past a disappointed Elena Dementieva 6-1, 7-6 in the first semifinal Thursday on Centre Court, Williams unleashing emotions she shows only now and then, leaping about like the kid she used to be. Dementieva's displeasure came later in statements her advisers felt obligated to have altered.
Serena defeated unseeded Jie Zheng of China 6-2, 7-6, a match that despite the similarity in the scores was, because of two rain delays that dampened the grounds and dulled the drama, somewhat different than Venus' win.
So for the seventh time in careers both successful and unusual, the sisters on Saturday will meet in the final of a Grand Slam tournament. It should be fascinating.
It's already controversial.
Dementieva hinted at what over the years some, unfairly, have whispered, that the Williams family has some agreement worked out about who will win.
"For sure we're going to see some battle," said Dementieva. "... But I think we could see a better game if one of the sisters has to face someone else. ... I cannot imagine myself playing against someone from my family. It's hard. For sure it's going to be a family decision."
When the sisters were about to play in a semifinal in 2001 at Indian Wells, Calif. -- a match that never was conducted because Venus withdrew, citing an injury -- Dementieva is the one who said, "I don't know what Richard (the sisters' father, Richard Williams) thinks about it. He will make the decision."
Something was lost in translation. Perhaps that time. Definitely this time. Dementieva is Russian. Her English is good enough, but her word choice, as is often the case with someone using a language to which they were not born, was confused.
Dementieva explained in a secondary interview that she should have used the word "situation," not "decision."
"What I meant," she said in clarification, "was it is a unique situation for a family to be playing for a Grand Slam title. I have a lot of respect for Serena and Venus. They are extremely professional in everything they do and have done so much for the sport."
Back in the early 2000s, when the sisters met and the play was less than enthralling, Dementieva's comments from Thursday wouldn't have become that big an issue.
Those days, when it was Venus against Serena, Serena against Venus, you heard again and again, without any basis of fact, that one Williams or the other had been designated to be champion. That such thoughts even arose is an indication of the Williams' standing in tennis' tight little, white little, world.
Asked about the possibility one Williams or the other would be chosen as winner, Venus was notably distressed.
"The main thing is that I find the question pretty offensive," said Venus, "because I'm extremely professional in everything I do on and off the court."
She is the defending champion. She is in her seventh Wimbledon final in nine years. She is trying to win for the fifth time.
"I contribute my best in my sport, and I also have a ton of respect for myself and my family. So any mention of that is extremely disrespectful for who I am, what I stand for, and my family."
It's always been this way for the Williams sisters. They were outsiders, African-Americans who learned the game on broken-down courts in Compton, Calif. They still are outsiders, one sister relying on the other but remaining separate from the establishment.
They were brought up proud and individualistic, believing they could rely on nobody except family. Even though they've grown and matured, Venus now 28, Serena now 26, you sense a lack of appreciation, even a jealousy, from others in the sport.
Consider Dementieva's cryptic comment, "It would be nice to see someone else, maybe."
But we won't see someone else. We'll see Venus, seeded seventh, against Serena, seeded sixth. We'll see the two most athletic players in the game. We'll see Venus' great serves and Serena's big returns.
Zheng, the tournament's big surprise, double-faulted at match point. Dementieva let a lead in the tiebreaker slip away. Others do things like that, not the Williams sisters. They don't fold under pressure.
Fifteen times Serena and Venus have played. Serena's win in India in March was her first over Venus in three years. Serena leads the competition 8-7.
"Our goal," said Venus, "was for us to get to the final. Then it's every Williams for themselves."
They got to the final. The only thing certain now is that the 2008 Wimbledon women's winner will be a Williams.