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Serena Seizes Crown and Thanks God
By Tom Whitehead, PA News
Wimbledon champion Serena Williams tonight said she was blessed by God after seizing tenniss most prestigious crown.
The 20-year-old outclassed her 22-year-old sister, Venus, to take the title in a power-hitting final on Centre Court earlier today.
It was the first Wimbledon final between sisters since the first ever womens clash in 1884 when Briton Maud Watson beat her sibling Lilian two sets to one.
And next door on Court One, Argentinian David Nalbandian smashed the record books to reach tomorrows mens final against world number one Lleyton Hewitt.
In a glory run that has stunned the tennis world, the 20-year-old South American outsider has reached the final on his debut senior visit to Wimbledon.
He is the first to complete such a feat and is also the first Argentinian in a Wimbledon final.
When the number 28 seed steps on to Centre Court tomorrow it will be his first time on the hallowed turf.
He should have played there in yesterdays semi-final but had to switch to Court One because rain delays had caused a backlog of matches.
But today was Serenas day as the new womens world number one showed why she is top, beating her sister 7-6, 6-3.
Serena said after the match: Im a Jehovahs Witness. Obviously we believe in God and the Bible.
Without Him, I wouldnt be here right now. I really thank Him for everything. Ive been blessed really.
Serena admitted Wimbledon was the title she wanted more than anything and thanked her parents, Oracene and Richard, for their support.
She said: My dad always said that one day we would play in the finals at Wimbledon and here we are 10, 15 years later. Its really amazing if you think about it.
My dad, and my mom, its hard to get one champion, but now he has two.
Todays match was the ninth time the sisters have met in a top tournament with Venus just ahead of her younger competitor five wins to four.
Serenas victory ended Venuss hope of becoming the first black woman to win a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles.
American flags were few and far between and most onlookers would have struggled to know the nationality of either player if they relied on the crowd.
The scenes were a far cry from many of the previous matches witnessed over the Wimbledon fortnight, especially during Tim Henmans clashes and his ever present Henmania crowd.
Asked if she was disappointed at losing, Venus said: Well obviously, a Grand Slam this is where it is at and especially at Wimbledon, this is where it all started.
At least, I know, that sometimes I can look at the trophy.
Venus also revealed she gave her sister advice on how to curtsey to royalty during the trophy presentation, which was carried out by the Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra.
All eyes in SW19 will now focus on tomorrows mens final between Nalbandian and Hewitt, the man who dramatically ended Henmans dreams of Wimbledon glory in the semi-finals.
And the two players could not be further apart in their careers with Nalbandian earning less than 400,000 so far while Hewitt has amassed millions and already won the US Open.
The Argentinian earned his spot after beating Belgiums Xavier Malisse in a five set thriller, 7-6, 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 6-2.
Nalbandian said: I think this is the best week of my life. This is very great for me. For me, this is a dream.
Asked if he was worried about his first Centre Court appearance, the Argentinian said: No, I never played on Court One, so its the same.
Last year Croat Goran Ivanisevic stunned the tennis world when he won the Wimbledon title after entering the tournament as a wildcard.