Physical miss-match makes Serena win sadly predictable
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The old boxing cliche has it that a big good 'un will always beat a good little 'un; and in boxing there are different weight divisions supposedly preventing serious mismatches.
The physical miss-match on Centre Court on Saturday afternoon pitted a 155lbs middleweight against a 125lb featherweight and for 40 minutes the outcome looked sadly predictable: feathers tend to be blown away and that seemed likely to be the fate of Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska.
In that first set it was. Statisticians were checking back for the most one-sided women's final of modern times (Billie-Jean King's 6-0, 6-1 against Evonne Goolagong in 1975); and the crowd, who had paid £105 apiece, were reduced to grateful applause for every Polish point amid the fear of witnessing a humiliation. Thankfully they received better value from then on as Radwanska came out defiantly after a rain break for the second set and even managed to draw level. OPT: Perhaps Serena, subconsciously or not, was saving something for the doubles final with her sister.
Of course in there has always been a chance that a Radwanska or a Justine Henin - now sadly retired - could overcome one of the big girls with touch and grace. Yet it is fair to say that the face of women's tennis changed when the Williams sisters emerged towards the end of the 90s. Venus came from nowhere to finish as runner-up at the US Open of 1997, aged 17 and two years later her younger sister won it at the same age.
Between them, they now have the little matter of 21 Grand Slam victories. They have recorded the two fastest serves ever by women: Venus's 129mph, Serena's 128.
In the semi-final victory over Victoria Azarenkia last Thursday, Serena achieved a new world record with her 24 aces, beating her own previous best. Yesterday one of the 17 that fizzed past Radwanska beat her own record for a single tournament of 89, which was extended to 102. She reached three figures by taking one game with four in succession. In the end, this was ultimately another power-point presentation.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments