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  Saturday, 25 January, 2003, 02:33 GMT
Gamewatch: Serena v Venus
Final score:

(1) S Williams 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4 (2) V Williams


Final set:

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4 Venus
Serena adds the Australian Open title to her collection as Venus' serving demons return to haunt her. The second seed throws in a weak double fault to hand her sister two championship points and floats a forehand long for Serena to begin the celebrations.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 5-4 Venus
Serena looks to be easing towards an simple game but Venus battles her way to deuce. However, the top seed produces an ace and a pinpoint backhand to pile the pressure back on her sister.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 4-4 Venus
An incredible pick-up from Serena followed by a forehand which skims the baseline brings up two break points. But Venus has the crowd purring in admiration as she bravely fights off those and a further three to hold serve against the odds.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 4-3 Venus
Both players are mixing thunderous winners with wild mistakes, and although Serena looks slightly the more erratic she holds her serve.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 3-3 Venus
Serena dumps two forehands into the net to let Venus go 40-15 up on her serve and the top seed blazes a backhand over the baseline to hand Venus an easy service game.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 3-2 Venus
An ace seals a comfortable hold for the world number one.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 2-2 Venus
Venus again looks shaky on her serve and opens the game with a double. The second seed cannot find a first serve but for once Serena is unable to take advantage.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 2-1 Venus
The sisters produce an incredible point at 0-30 as Serena faces a barrage of groundstrokes at the net. She cannot put the ball out of Venus' reach and the second seed fires a forehand down the line to bring up three break points. Serena's fourth double fault of the match sees her concede the break.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 2-0 Venus
Serena steps up the pace on her returns and the pressure forces Venus into a double fault to bring up 0-40. A weak second serve on the first break point allows Serena to put away an easy forehand winner.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 1-0 Venus
Serena begins the deciding set inauspiciously with her third double fault of the match. It sets the tone for an inconsistent game from the world number one - a poor backhand bringing up break point for Venus. But Serena holds on.


Second set:

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 Venus
Having been broken when serving for the first set, Venus makes no mistake in the second. A trademark ace down the centre seals it.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 3-5 Venus
Serena forces the second seed to serve out the set by holding to 30.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 2-5 Venus
Venus consolidates the advantage - but it is still far from comfortable with her second serve dangerously vulnerable to Serena's searing returns.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 2-4 Venus
A shocking lapse from Serena hands Venus three unexpected break points. The second seed misses all three and looks downcast as a result. However, she battles her way to another break opportunity and puts away an ill-advised drop shot from Serena to clinch the advantage.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 2-3 Venus
Venus is struggling with her forehand, reaching 19 errors but her first serve keeps her out of trouble.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 2-2 Venus
After a long rally, Serena floats a forehand long to face deuce on her serve. But the world number one fires an ace down the middle before holding.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 1-2 Venus
Venus is taken to deuce but she shuts the door on her sister by approaching the net to dispatch a crisp backhand volley before holding serve.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 1-1 Venus
No trouble for Serena who keeps her concentration to hold serve comfortably despite the tension of the opening set.

Serena 7-6 (7-4) 0-1 Venus
Venus does well to put the disappointment of the first set behind her and appears to have loosened up. She clinches the hold with a neat volley.


First set:

Serena 7-6 (7-4) Venus
The errors return to haunt Venus at a crucial time and her serve loses its penetration. The second seed slumps to 5-1 down before producing an ace to stay in touch. Serena soon brings up four set points, and after missing the first two, Venus sends a forehand beyond the baseline to hand her sister the first set.

Serena 6-6 Venus
The crowd are fully absorbed as Venus saves a set point with a wrong-footing forehand and then finds a backhand pass cross court to move into a tiebreak.

Serena 6-5 Venus
Serena's serve fires again, helping her to a comfortable hold to 15.

Serena 5-5 Venus
Roles are reversed as Venus tenses up with the first set in sight. Serena races to a 0-30 lead before forcing a break point and recovers the break with a pinpoint forehand.

Serena 4-5 Venus
Serena shows signs of tension once again, producing a double fault and a couple of errors off the ground to find herself at 30-30 and then break point. Venus unwisely elects to drop shot her sister and, on a second, smacks a forehand into the net. But the pressure finally tells on the top seed when she misses with a forehand.

Serena 4-4 Venus
Serena senses a possible break opportunity at 30-30 but after an astounding rally, played at breakneck pace, Venus moves to game point and levels the set.

Serena 4-3 Venus
Serena recovers some form and emerges with a routine service hold.

Serena 3-3 Venus
Both players have gone off the boil since the opening few games. This time, it is Venus throwing in some errors. She faces a break point but sees off the danger with a typically punishing first serve.

Serena 3-2 Venus
Serena immediately relinquishes the advantage after some scrappy play, sending a forehand wide at break point.

Serena 3-1 Venus
The game begins with a thrilling rally, Serena winning the point with a deft volley off a searing Venus forehand. It puts the older sister on the back foot and she is broken when Serena dispatches a familiar winning forehand.

Serena 2-1 Venus
Serena leaves a ball which lands plumb on the line, putting her in danger at 15-30. Venus unleashes a backhand straight into the corner to bring up two break points. But Serena saves those and a further one with three stunning first serves.

Serena 1-1 Venus
Venus eases the pressure with a fizzing backhand winner followed by two aces.

Serena 1-0 Venus
Serena begins confidently with a love service game. Venus appears to be the more tense, her groundstrokes missing their mark.

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