The outsiders: All-Williams final doesn't thrill everyone

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.