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17:57 GMT, Saturday, 5 July 2008 18:57 UK

Venus revels in 'monumental' win

By Caroline Cheese
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Venus Williams struggled to come to terms with her achievement after beating sister Serena in straight sets to win her fifth Wimbledon title.

"It's monumental," she said. "I would have been more disappointed not making history than not winning the match, if that makes any sense.

"Winning this tournament so many times puts you in the stratosphere."

Venus, 28, added it would be a "dream" to surpass Martina Navratilova's all-time record of nine titles.

"That would be the ultimate," she said. "It is not easy - her career spanned three decades and I'm not sure if I have that much time. Tennis is so much different now."

"It's definitely not any easier. I look at her at another opponent at the end of the day"
Serena Williams

Venus had lost both of the sisters' previous meetings in Wimbledon finals, in 2003 and 2003, but her greater composure at key points made the difference on Saturday.

"I felt pretty relaxed out there. When the match points came, I was a little tight, but that's normal," she said.

"I think I was maybe a little bit more relaxed than her."

The quality of the contest was all the more impressive given the blustery conditions on Centre Court.

"It was windy and it kept blowing and swirling and changing direction. It was tough," said Venus.

"I think the level of play was really high. I think a lot of the times one of us was overpowering the other.

"In between, we had some really competitive rallies and intense points where one player would come back and take the point, when it looked like the other player was going to win."

606: DEBATE
Is Venus now a Wimbledon legend?

For Serena, it was her first loss to Venus in a Grand Slam final since the 2001 US Open and she said losing to her sister was no consolation.

"It's definitely not any easier. I look at her as another opponent at the end of the day," said the 26-year-old.

Serena had a 4-2 lead in the first set before losing it 7-5, and also led by a break in the second before succumbing in one hour and 51 minutes.

"I just lost rhythm at the end of the first set and made a lot of errors," explained Serena.

"I didn't feel tight but I couldn't get the balls in and nothing I was doing seemed to work."




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Related to this story:

Venus triumphs in Wimbledon final (05 Jul 08 |  Tennis )
Navratilova verdict on women's final (05 Jul 08 |  Tennis )
Wimbledon day 12 as it happened (05 Jul 08 |  Tennis )
Wimbledon photos (05 Jul 08 |  Tennis )
Williams pair take doubles crown (05 Jul 08 |  Tennis )
Serena books showdown with Venus (03 Jul 08 |  Tennis )
Venus powers into Wimbledon final (03 Jul 08 |  Tennis )

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