Serena Williams paid tribute to her ‘inspiring’ sister Venus after the No 1 seed beat her older sibling to march into the last eight of Wimbledon with a 6-4 6-3 win on Centre Court.
Familial ties did not soften the momentum of the Serena juggernaut as the five-times Wimbledon champion saw off Venus in one hour and eight minutes.
It was another awesome display from the 33-year-old who ominously snaffled up the first eight points of the match before dominating Venus with her superior service.
The win leaves Serena on course for a Wimbledon title that would complete three-quarters of her second career ‘Serena Slam’, but Victoria Azarenka will stand in her way in the quarter-finals.
Serena said: “I always say I wouldn’t be the player I am today if it wasn’t for Venus.
“Just having an opportunity to watch her win matches, watch her go to the top, and me wanting to be there because she was there.
“Her practicing next to me on the court. That inspiration, her inspiring me. I would never be here today in this chair if it wasn’t for her.
“I look forward to tomorrow. I feel like my tournament has finally begun. This is where I feel really comfortable in a Grand Slam.”
Venus showed her mettle by clawing her way back to 2 2 in the opening set and took a 3-2 lead in the second.
But she had no answer to her sister’s serving game,with Serena raining a steady fusilade of 100 mph rockets – including seven aces – in Venus’s direction at the All England Club.
It was the fourth time Venus has lost at Wimbledon to the current Australian and French Open champion, and she was quick to salute Serena’s impact on the sport.
Venus said: “She’s a champion. What else could you say about that? The ultimate.
“When we play in the final, one of us is going to win. It’s definitely a climax.
“So that’s always been exciting and it’s always been intense, because you know the person across the net is so good and is the person you respect the most.”
Feature image courtesy of Wimbledon, via Youtube, with thanks
