Venus claims second Grand Slam title

Venus Williams took the match in straight sets

Venus Williams (US) bt Lindsay Davenport (US) 6-4 7-5

Venus Williams followed in the footsteps of her sister on Saturday as she defeated Lindsay Davenport to clinch the US Open women's singles' title.

Williams battled back from being 4-1 down in the first set to claim her second Grand Slam singles title - taking over as reigning champion from her younger sister Serena.

In a re-run of the Wimbledon final, Davenport's serve let her down continually throughout the match, and Williams proved too tough an opponent, both mentally and physically.

Davenport battled back bravely in the second set but was unable to force the game to three sets.

Lindsay Davenport was obviously disappointed by her loss

She committed too many double faults and Williams was able to tackle the Davenport second serve well enough to stay on top.

Her win means the formidable 20-year-old has now gone 26 matches unbeaten - yet bizzarely, she is still not number one in the women's rankings.

Williams' six-month absence with tendinitis in both wrists earlier in the season means Martina Hingis retains the top spot with Davenport number two.

Never before had two women's finalists walloped shots so fiercely from both sides of the net as Williams and Davenport did in the rain-delayed, 1hr 25m duel.

They each needed to be fast to keep up with the other, and no one in the game is faster than the long-legged Williams.