Sisters need US Open clash to silence doubters

Serena and Venus Williams need a full-blooded US Open clash to silence the critics who still believe there was something strange about their Wimbledon final.

Serena defended the title with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory but all the attention was on Venus, who was patently severely hampered by injury. Commentator John McEnroe does not believe the match was scripted and said: "The outcome was not predetermined."

However, the contest left a hollow feeling and Serena will be hoping Venus can regain full fitness to play at Flushing Meadow and give her sister a real match. Venus's personal trainer on the women's tour, Kerrie Davis, said: "Venus has a programme of treatment she can follow including both ice and heat but the only real cure for her strains is a long rest."

Venus said she had to "take one for the team" - something she failed to do in 2001 - pulling out of her Indian Wells semi-final with Serena, igniting boos and catcalls in the final that the Williams family claimed were racially inspired. They haven't gone back.

Patently, they wanted to avoid that kind of scenario at Wimbledon, having had both sisters booed by the French Open crowds last month.

At least they can return to Wimbledon next year knowing they played a two-hour final that may have lacked any emotional attachment with the crowd, but did satisfy the television companies, particularly in America.

Venus, who had her left leg and hip taped, said: "Serena and I have taken a lot of flak, so I felt I had to take one for the team. It hasn't been easy. Serena and I, we've been blamed for a lot of things that never even happened.

"I think everyone's quite familiar with the history. So today was a good effort. And I wanted to play. I had to at least show up and go out on the court."

Serena sat next to her sister as they waited for the presentation ceremony and is concerned the injury, which hampered her elder sister at the French Open, will still be a factor at the US Open next month.

"I just hope she hasn't injured herself more due to the fact she played," said the champion.

Meanwhile, Martina Navratilova tied one Wimbledon record and set another. She won her 20th title at the All England Club, teaming up with Leander Paes to defeat Israel's Andy Ram and Russia's Anastassia Rodionova 6-3, 6-3 in the mixed doubles final. She's now tied with Billie Jean King for the most Wimbledon titles.

At age 46, Navratilova's also becomes the oldest Wimbledon champion, supplanting American Margaret duPont, who was 44 in 1962 when she also took the mixed doubles title.

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