Sports Thread #1 for 7/4/09: 2009 Wimbledon, Ladies Final- Venus-Serena XXI

For the 21st time, Venus and Serena Williams will battle it out for the 2009 Ladies Wimbledon title, and validate themselves as the true number one player heading to the crucial hard court season in North America.

Of course though, only the Venus Rosewater Dish is on their minds at the moment right now, and the trophy title couldn't be more aptly named for the older Williams sister. Today, the five time champions is looking to become a historic six time winner at this storied tournament, which would leave her one behind Steffi Graf and two behind Martina Navratolova

But her sister on the other side of the net today wants this title badly. She hasn't won it since 2003, and has been dispatched in her last two final attempts on Centre Court by Maria Sharapova in a shocker of a final in 2004 and last year in an exciting but straight sets encounter nevertheless defeat at the hands of her doubles partner. Serena displayed her desire, as she always does of course, to win this latest installment of The Championships in capturing an epic three set win over a gamed Elena Dementieva, 8-6.

Despite Dementieva serving the best she's ever had and holding match point at 5-4 in the ultimate set on Thursday, it was Serena who rose to the occasion and overcame an awesome onslaught from last year's Beijing Olympics champion. Of course, no troubles for Venus at all, an immaculate and impeccable display against shell shocked world number one Dinara Safina. She surrendered only a game to the top ranked Russian, dusting her off the court in 51 minutes by the merciless scoreline 6-1, 6-0.

The key to this match will be whether Serena's Williams will move just as well as her sister. It hurt in last year's final, and she made up for that in beating Venus at the US Open quarterfinal en route to her recapturing the Flushing Meadows title last year.

But Venus is on a flier, and is back into that dominate zone. Nevertheless, another classic is in store even more from last year is in store.

Prediction
Venus in an epic, 10-8 in the third.

The thread is live.