Venus Williams mounted one last comeback, capping her career revival by winning another Wimbledon title.
Williams overcame an early deficit and a championship point Saturday to beat top-ranked Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6 (4), 9-7 for her fifth major title and her first in nearly four years.
"I just spent so much time behind," Williams said. "The only time I think I was in front was when I won the match."
PHOTO: EPA
When Davenport hit a forehand into the net on the last point, Williams raised both fists and grinned. After the players hugged, Williams hopped, sank to her knees and patted the grass. Then she rose and hopped some more, laughing all the while.
"I could have jumped for a lot longer," Williams said with a laugh two hours after her victory. "I was just so excited. I can't help myself when I get excited. I show it all."
In the postmatch ceremony, Williams was presented with the championship trophy that coincidentally bears her first name -- the Venus Rosewater Dish. She also won Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001, and was runner-up to sister Serena in 2002 and 2003.
PHOTO: EPA
The men's final is a rematch of last year, when Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick to win his second straight title. Roddick completed a two-day semifinal suspended overnight because of rain, beating Thomas Johansson 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (10), 7-6 (5) on Saturday.
Williams versus Davenport climaxed with the longest third set in a Wimbledon women's final since Louise Brough beat Margaret Osborne duPont 10-8, 1-6, 10-8 in 1949, and it was full of suspense.
Davenport's back tightened and bothered her for several games midway through the set, and she required treatment from a trainer when ahead 4-3. She reached championship point leading 5-4 and receiving serve, but Williams kept the match alive with a backhand winner, then hit another to win the game for 5-all.
Both players held to 7-all. One rally lasted 25 strokes, by far the longest of the match, with both players running side to side and slugging shots into the corners.
Williams earned three break points in the next game and converted the third, hitting a forehand winner to close a 14-shot rally.
She won the first three points of the next game to reach championship point. After belting a backhand winner for 40-love, she pumped both fists and gritted her teeth, then finished the job two points later.
"Every time the chips were down for Venus, she played unbelievable," said Davenport, who said the sore back wasn't a factor in her defeat. "I thought I played really well and I thought I had a lot of chances, and I feel like she never let me take advantage of those chances."
With Williams' victory, six women have won the past six major titles. She snapped a streak of losses in her past five Grand Slam finals, all against her sister.
Williams had lost five Grand Slam finals in a row, all to her sister. With her victory, six women have won the past six major titles.
At No. 14, she became the lowest-seeded women's champion, surpassing 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, who was seeded 13th. Williams beat Sharapova in the semifinals.
Davenport, who was mulling retirement at this time last year, has staged a career comeback of her own, and was seeking her first major title since 2000. Instead she's a two-time Grand Slam runner-up this year -- she lost the Australian Open final in January to Serena Williams.
Controversy flared briefly in the second set. Williams was serving at 4-4, 15-0 when her serve was ruled an ace, even though TV replays showed the ball clearly out. The mild-mannered Davenport pleaded in vain for chair umpire Gerry Armstrong to overrule the call.
"If I did my job that poorly, I wouldn't be able to be out here," she told Armstrong. "I don't understand why you're sitting here. It's not even close. You don't have the guts to overrule?"
Asked later about the dispute, Davenport smiled and said, "Gosh, I wish I could remember more of the second set."
Williams went on to win the game at love for 5-4, then earned a set point in the next game. Davenport saved it with a service winner, then won the next two points as well for 5-all.
Davenport regrouped and broke in the next game when Williams slipped and fell on her backside chasing a shot on the worn turf behind the baseline. From a prone position, Williams got her racket on Davenport's final shot but pulled the ball well wide.
Down but not out, Williams rallied, breaking at love when Davenport served for the match. Williams then hit six winners in the tiebreaker to even the match.
She won despite 10 double-faults and some shaky early play, and hit 49 winners to 30 for Davenport, who converted only four of 12 break-point chances.
Williams received ?600,000 (US$1,062,000). Davenport settled for ?300,000 (US$531,000).
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely