Serena wins 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
No complaints from Venus - she was outplayed by her younger sister. Serena's serve was never in danger, and that enabled her to attack Venus' with abandon. She made plenty of mistakes while doing so, but the pressure evenutally told on the elder sibling.
Serena played a storming tie-break and Venus simply crumbled in the second set, making a host of unforced errors.
All Serena had to do was stay the course and Venus effectively handed her younger sister the title with a glut of mistakes. Manna for conspiracy theorists, but well played Serena - the deserved winner today.
Game, set and match Serena: Venus dumps one more backhand into the net and that's the title.
Advantage Serena: Another Venus error and it's match point number four.
Deuce 4: Venus keeps her head, earns a smash and finishes it off.
Advantage Serena: Venus pulls her forehand wide and it's match point number three.
Deuce 3: But it's to deuce as Serena outmuscles Venus in a groundstroke battle.
Advantage Venus: An excellent winner sends Serena on her heels.
Deuce 2: Serena had another chance there - Venus floats up a poor shot and Serena throws back a gentle forehand instead of the obvious smash, which Venus puts away.
Advantage Serena: Great point - powerful shots send both women into the corners chasing down what would be certain winners against anyone else - but Serena has the upper hand. Match point again.
Deuce: Serena misjudges the second serve and sends her return wide.
30-40: Long forehand from Venus and it's match point Serena.
30-30: Well done Venus - great approach into the corner and she smashes home Serena's floated return.
15-30: Serena goes for the winner off the second serve, but her forehand is just wide.
0-30: And Venus dumps a backhand into the net - it's all coming apart now.
0-15: Double fault from Venus.
I really don't see a way back from here for Venus - Serena is playing too well, her serve is much, much stronger today than her sister's, and - worst of all - Venus looks like she doesn't believe that she can win.
Serena leads 5-2, second set.
Game Serena: And another Venus error - that one flies off the frame and out by a distance. One more game and it's Serena's title.
40-0: Another ace. Venus trudges across, shoulders slumped.
30-0: Venus hacks at a forehand and it's long. This match is in danger of coasting to an end very soon - Venus looks beaten.
15-0: Unreturnable thunderbolt to start things off.
Serena leads 4-2, second set.
Game Serena: Venus double faults and hands the break to her sister. I don't see a way back for Venus if Serena can just keep her form going.
30-40: Serena floats up a high backhand and then Venus messes up her backhand - she's feeling the pressure. Big point coming up.
30-30: Serena is outfoxed by a slower first serve and finds the net.
15-15: Venus sends a forehand right to the edge of the line - she thought it was out - but it drops in and evades Serena.
0-15: Serena spanks one down the line off a slow second serve.
Serena leads 3-2, second set.
Game Serena: Not a sniff for Venus. If Serena can calm down when receiving, she can end the final in this set.
30-0: Two simple enough backhands sent way long from Venus. She doesn't have any conviction.
2-2 second set.
Game Venus: Another mistake from Serena and it's game. Serena's serve is so solid that she can afford to let rip on Venus', but at the moment there are too many errors on her part.
40-15: Serena pushes this backhand wide. She going for it any chance she gets.
15-15: Bad bounce catches Serena out and that one flies off the frame.
0-15: Serena gets an opening and shoots a backhand winner down the line.
Serena leads 2-1, second set.
Game Serena: It's either an unreturnable serve or a winner off a weak Venus return. Serena's serve is looking iron clad at the minute.
1-1 second set.
Game Venus: Strong, impressive hold from Venus. Her serve was under more pressure in the first set, but she wasn't brokena and she needs to find a way to trouble Serena's.
40-0: Serena dumps an easy forehand into the net.
30-0: Two excellent serves get Venus off to a strong start.
Serena leads 1-0, second set.
Game Serena: A series of unreturnable serves and it's first blood Serena in this set. Venus needs to change things up now - Serena is in control of this match.
15-0: Ace to start the second set.
Serena leads by one set to love - 7-6 (7-3).
Set to Serena: Venus chases down a net chord and forces Serena into the corner while charging the net, but Serena digs out a quite stunning topspin lob and that's the first set.
Serena thinks she hits a winner down the line - it's called out and she challenges. It is out - 6-3 Serena.
6-2 Serena: Wow - Serena taking control here - she blasts groundstrokes on both sides right into each corner with real pace and Venus is literally left on the floor. Bunch of set points now.
5-2 Serena: Uh-oh, Venus pulls a tight-looking backhand wide and it's a long way back now.
4-2 Serena: Serious forehand into the corner is way, way too good for Venus and it's advantage the younger sister now.
3-2 Serena: Serena challenges a call on the baseline - but Venus' forehand was right on the line.
3-1 Serena: Serena's return on the second serve is too hot for Venus to handle.
2-1 Serena: Venus has a chance - she's in the right place as Serena blasts a drive down the line, but she can't control the pace.
1-1: An unreturnable serve each at the start.
6-6, first set tie-break.
Game Serena: Venus goes for it down the line, but it's too far. Both sisters know that winners must be right on the line to ensure the point and more often than not at the moment, they're too long.
40-15: But three thumping serves from Serena and she's back in charge.
0-15: Venus finds an excellent approach to the corner and finishes off the point with a smash at the net.
Definitely more pressure on the Venus serve and Serena is more in control when rallys do occur, but she's also making more errors as she goes for winners. Serena has to hold now to force the tie-break.
Venus leads 6-5 first set.
Game Venus: Serena can't get the wide first serve back and Venus holds.
Advantage Venus: Serena goes for it, but her forehand is in the tramlines.
Deuce 2: But when Venus comes into the net, again she pushes her approach too long. Not an effective tactic so far.
Advantage Venus: Good serve gives her a chance to escape.
Deuce: Venus blazes a backhand long under no pressure and it's pressure on for the Venus serve.
30-30: Man they're really shouting on every shot now - it's getting serious. Serena's bombs from the baseline are very accurate and are testing Venus' speed around the court.
15-15: Excellent rally - both sisters getting the lungs working now and they can read each other's intentions so well - Serena's precise forehand into the corner is too much for Venus.
5-5 first set.
Game Serena: Powerful forehand sorts out that game.
40-15: Whomping backhand down the line from Serena right in the corner - Venus makes it, but can't keep it in.
30-15: Real lucky net chord brings Venus back into the game.
15-0: Serena serving to stay in the first set. Venus' first return is too short and Serena punishes it.
Venus leads 5-4 first set.
Game Venus: Serena's return is too long and it continues with serve.
40-15: Venus comes into the net for the first time but sends her drive long.
30-0: Wow - Venus drags Serena all over the court, but Serena really puts in the effort to track it down. Eventually, it's a stretch too far.
4-4 first set.
Game Serena: Powerful first serves get Serena out of trouble.
Deuce: Venus has the whole court to aim for, but sends her break point chance long.
15-40: A strong serve gets a quick point, but then Venus' sharp return forces Serena to throw it into the net.
0-30: Venus' return is sharper now - it's straight at Serena and the younger sister can't work her feet out of the way and pressure is on.
0-15: Yowza - Venus thumps a second serve back with serious interest and sends Serena scrambling between the corners to no avail.
Venus leads 4-3 first set.
Game Venus: First ace for the elder Williams and then a strong serve to the body ends the game quickly.
30-15: Wahey! Almost 10 strokes there as the sisters blast groundstrokes at each other from the baseline. Venus shrieks away, Serena is all silent technique. Serena goes for the backhand winner down the line, but the net gets in the way. Still - battle lines drawn at last.
15-15: Serena's return is straight to Venus' forehand and she thwacks it away into the corner.
0-15: That's more like it - Serena's return sends Venus wide and she finishes the point with a whipped forehand into the corner, which Venus can't chase down as she slips up.
3-3 first set.
Game Serena: Another series of thundering serves from Serena wrap up the game before I have a chance to write about it. Hmm.
It's all very quiet so far, dominated by serves, with neither sister able - or willing - to take hold off the match.
Venus leads 3-2 first set.
Game Venus: Serena goes for it on Venus' second serve and sends her backhand fractionally wide of the sideline.
40-15: At last some rallys - but it's advantage Venus as she bosses the points off her strong serves from the baseline and Serena eventually makes mistakes - her forehand looks a little tight as she puts two in a row into the bottom of the net.
2-2 first set.
Not even worth detailing the points in this game - Serena pounds out a series of solid serves that Venus can't get a racket on and it's Game Serena.
Venus leads 2-1 first set.
Game Venus: Another easy hold for Venus. All pretty even stephen so far.
15-0: Thundering backhand into the corner from behind the baseline from Venus and Serena can't get there.
1-1 first set.
Game Serena: Two more unreturnables and Serena cruises to an easy hold.
30-0: Serena controls the rally, sending her sister wide with a strong crosscourt forehand and then taking advantage of the open court.
15-0: Unreturnable serve from Serena straight away.
Venus leads 1-0 first set.
Game Venus: Serena casually lets a forehand come off the frame and sail long. No early fireworks.
40-30: Serena can't handle the Venus serve and dumps two returns in a row into the net.
We're underway on Centre Court and it's defending champion Venus to serve first - she's under pressure already at 15-30
