TENNIS: Venus Williams has become the first African-American to win the Wimbledon women's singles title for over forty years.

She beat her fellow American and defending champion, Lindsay Davenport in straight sets.

Venus and her younger sister Serena - whom she beat in the semifinals - learned their tennis in Los Angeles, on courts which their father said were littered with broken glass and surrounded by drug dealers.

The former Wimbledon women's champion, Chris Evert, said the Williams sisters would inspire a new generation of tennis stars, changing what had always been a sport for the rich. The two Williams have the chance of taking another Wimbledon title when they play in the women's doubles final on Sunday.

The men's title will also be decided then when the American, Pete Sampras, will face the Australian Patrick Rafter.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service