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."
