AN ELATED Venus Williams paid tribute to her sister after clinching her fourth Wimbledon singles title. The American, whose inspired run at SW19 followed Serena’s success in Australia this year, said: “Serena, she inspires me. The Australian Open champion I wanted to be like her.”
Her journey from a series of injuries to success yesterday was “a long road back”, admitted Williams. “I brought it together here against some of the best players in the world. I really had to focus on my game and overcome a lot of challenges, including being seeded low, those kind of things. But all in all it’s wonderful.”
She also thanked Billie Jean King after becoming the first women’s champion at Wimbledon to earn as much money £700,000 as the men’s winner. “Now we have equal prize-money. Billie Jean King fought for years and no one deserves this more than her,” she said. “She’s done so much for women’s tennis and I wouldn’t be here without her and thank you to the All England Club for playing under equal terms.”
Her opponent, Marion Bartoli, said: “Venus played unbelievable tennis. She reached some balls like I have never seen one person reach on a tennis court and then she would hit it back harder to me.
“She served 120mph on first serve. Sometimes it was hurting my wrist so bad because the ball was coming so fast to me. I played a great match but in the end she was just too good.”
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The French player, who surprised Justine Henin with a brilliant comeback in the semi-finals on Friday, added: “I hate to lose. Tomorrow I won’t be that disappointed because I will realise what I achieved this year, which is already awesome of course. And everybody will tell me that.
“I thought after the first set that Venus stepped it up. She tried to hit as hard as she could and serve to my body. Considering all the fatigue and all the stuff I had to get through, it was my first final and I think I did a pretty good job overall.”
Bartoli, the 18th seed, reflected: “Tomorrow I will be back at home. I will be in my garden with my cat and everything will come back as usual. I think it’s very good stuff to put you back to earth.”