ESPN.com - Wimbledon 2002 - Williamses beat Kournikova, Rubin
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Thursday, July 17
Williamses beat Kournikova, Rubin

WIMBLEDON, England -- Heading back on court for the final set of their Wimbledon doubles semifinal, Venus and Serena Williams walked to the wrong side of the net.

It's a wonder they got confused, given how much time they're spending on Centre Court.

Two hours after Serena beat Venus there for the women's title, the sisters returned to beat Anna Kournikova and Chanda Rubin 6-7 (3), 6-0, 6-3 Saturday to reach the doubles final.

Team Williams will face French Open champions Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain and Paola Suarez of Argentina in Sunday's final. The sisters won the Wimbledon doubles championship in 2000, part of a career Grand Slam they own, plus Olympic gold.

"I would like to win the doubles, not because of Venus, but just for me, too,'' Serena said. "I don't like losing at all. I just never have and I probably never will.''

She beat two-time defending champion Venus 7-6 (4), 6-3 to win her first Wimbledon title. Serena also beat her older sibling in the French Open final last month.

"We have to hold on and win the doubles,'' Venus said, "because obviously it's all I have left now.''

During the changeover after the second set, the sisters complained to the chair umpire that Kournikova and Rubin were talking aloud too much during points.

It didn't take long for Venus and Serena to then take control in the third set. Kournikova's double fault gave them a 4-3 lead, and they won the last 14 points of the match.

Serena opened the semifinal with three straight aces, helping build a 3-1 lead that came when Kournikova double-faulted on break point. A volley error by Venus, though, led to a break of Serena's serve, and they lost the tiebreaker as Kournikova made three well-angled volley winners.

The sisters broke Rubin's serve to start the second set. It ended with an ace by Venus, whose right shoulder bothered her during the singles final.

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