ESPN.com - Wimbledon 2002 - Williams sisters take doubles title, too
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Thursday, July 17
Williams sisters take doubles title, too

WIMBLEDON, England -- A day after Serena beat Venus in the women's final at Wimbledon, the Williams sisters were back on Centre Court. This time, both were winners.

Venus and Serena Williams won their second Wimbledon doubles title in three years.

With a cold wind swirling and rain clouds threatening, the sisters beat French Open champions Paola Suarez and Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 7-5 Sunday to take the women's doubles title.

They broke serve at love to wrap up the match with the same type of power that marked the first set of their singles match the day before.

Venus hit a booming forehand that Pascual mis-hit. Love-15. Serena smashed a backhand from the baseline that forced Pascual into a backhand error into the net. Love-30. Venus hit a backhand winner down the line, love-40. Back to Serena, who hit another stinging forehand. Match over.

There were no fist pumps, no major celebrations. But a big wave from Serena and a customary twirl from Venus, and the siblings had their second Wimbledon title in three years, their fifth Grand Slam title overall and a seal on their domination of this year's women's draw.

After playing seven rounds each in singles and six in doubles, the Williams' Wimbledon ledger reads 19 wins, 1 loss. The defeat belonged to Venus in the Sister Slam final, but someone had to lose. And at least they kept it in the family.

"I'm going to eat candy, rest, get off the practice court and just relax, relax, relax,'' Venus said.

Venus and Serena broke Pascual and Suarez five times in nine opportunities, including three times in the opening set when there were five breaks of serve.

Venus held in the opening game and the sisters broke in the next game to go up 2-0. Pascual and Suarez broke back, then held for 2-2.

In the fourth game, Venus, hitting from behind the baseline, plopped Suarez in the stomach near the net with a forehand blast that appeared to temporarily stun the Argentine player.

The Williams' held, broke and held again for 5-2. They won the first set on their second set point when Venus' drop shot was backhanded into the crowd by Suarez.

There were plenty of long and exciting rallies, several that involved six or seven consecutive volleys among all four players.

In the final game of the opening set, Pascual fell and spun off court after returning a ball, but the Spanish player managed to get back into the play two points later. The Williams sisters still won the point.

Venus and Serena lamented their lack of shopping time in London, but their suitcases will be packed with a miniature replica of the Venus Rosewater Dish -- Serena's for the singles crown -- and two miniatures of the Challenge Cup for doubles.

But they also left some stuff behind. Serena contributed the dress she wore in the singles final and her shoes and socks to the Wimbledon museum.

When asked whether the sisters have set a new standard for women's tennis with their performance at Wimbledon, Venus said things could get better.

"We've had a great past six weeks with the French Open (where Serena also beat Venus in the women's final) and Wimbledon,'' said Venus. "But we realize that doesn't make a career.

"We want to just keep our level up, at this level that we're playing now, and also to improve. We have plenty of time in the future to savor it.''

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