Venus WIns #5 at Wimbldeon

WIMBLEDON, England (Ticker) -- Take that little sister! Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon title at the expense of younger sister Serena on Saturday, posting a 7-5, 6-4 victory. The third meeting between the Williams sisters in the Wimbledon final had all the makings of a classic since neither had lost a set leading up to what was a highly anticipated encounter.

In a match that featured high-quality tennis, Venus was a bit better as she beat her sister - 15 months younger - for the first time in three tries on Centre Court at the All England Club. Serena had beaten Venus to claim consecutive titles here in 2002 and 2003. This time, Venus successfully defended her title and again claimed the trophy she also hoisted in 2000, 2001 and 2005. "I have to first of all say great match to Serena," Venus said. "I can't believe that it's five, but when you're in the final against Serena Williams, five seems too far away from that first point. She played so awesome. It was really a task to beat her. "It's so rewarding to perform here. Every time I come back I know I have the chance to play well and make history. My first job is big sister, and I take that very seriously." The victory also stopped Venus' struggles against Serena in Grand Slam finals.

Since beating Serena for the U.S. Open title in 2001, the 28-year-old Venus had lost her previous five major finals against her sister. "I'm so happy that at least one of us was able to win," the 26-year-old Serena said. "She's played great this year. We're just glad to be in the finals again." It marked the seventh major title for Venus, who had to fight back from a break in each set to even the all-time series with Serena at eight wins apiece.

The latest all-Williams match was played without father Richard in attendance. He had flown back to the United States because he can't stomach to watch his daughters play each other. The sisters' mother, Oracence, did watch from the players' box. The intensity of the match also was a welcome sight after some lackluster play in previous meetings between the sisters. Venus used a break of serve to win the match, rejoicing when Serena sent a backhander wide down the line. The sisters then embraced at the net, with Venus twirling and waving to the crowd on a blustery day. Bidding for her ninth Grand Slam, Serena started off in fine form, breaking Venus' serve in the opening game and winning 10 of the first 11 points. But Venus showed fight, saving a break at 3-1 down. She showed more mettle in the eighth game, breaking Serena's serve on the ninth try when she ripped a winner down the line, tying the match and bringing the normally bland crowd to its feet.

Continuing to rise up to the pressure, Venus saved two break chances in the ninth game to take her first lead of the match. Things stayed on serve until Serena sent a backhander into the net, giving Venus her second break and the first set in 53 minutes. Showing some frustration, Serena was shaking her head after Venus fought off a break chance in the opening game of the second set. After Serena held, the sisters played their best game of the match. Venus fought off six break chances before falling and giving Serena the break on the seventh opportunity. However, Venus quickly recaptured the momentum by breaking back. It remained tight until Venus broke Serena's serve one final time to claim the title. Serena saved one match point with her ninth ace, but she was unable to save another as Venus raised her arms in celebration.

Wimbledon Women's Preview

WIMBLEDON, England (Ticker) -- Venus Williams has not been the best player on the WTA Tour this season, but she still heads into Wimbledon as the reigning champion. The American won the grasscourt major for the fourth time in her career last season with a victory over Marion Bartoli in the championship.

She entered play at the All England Club a year ago ranked 31st in world and there were many question marks surrounding her after an injury-riddled 2006. But that didn't stop Williams from becoming the lowest-ranked woman to win the event. There are more question marks this season as Williams is now 28 years old and hasn't been much of a presence on the WTA Tour in 2008. If Williams is to claim her seventh major championship she will have to do something she hasn't done all season - reach a final. She is 14-7 in limited action this year and - in her seven events - has reached just one semifinal, doing so in Bangalore where she lost to sister Serena Williams.

Nonetheless, Venus' numbers at Wimbledon are notable. The former No. 1 has is 51-7 all-time at the All England Club and including titles in 2000, 2001, 2005 and last season. Also a finalist in 2002 and 2003, Venus has played in this event each of the last 11 years and has reached at least the quarterfinals on eight occasions. There will be no shortage of competition for her this year. The top seed here is Ana Ivanovic who claimed her first Grand Slam title earlier this month at the French Open. The 20-year-old Serb also reached the Australian Open final in January, but lost to Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova, who won this event as a 17-year-old four years ago, also is expected to return with a vengeance following her disappointing fourth-round loss at Roland Garros. The Russian is 30-3 overall this season with three titles. Two-time champion Serena Williams also is considered a serious contender as she is 25-3 this year with three singles titles.

Second seed Jelena Jankovic, a semifinalist at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year, also is expected to make a push toward her first Grand Slam final. The wild card of the event could be Russia's Dinara Safina, who has reached the final of her last three events played, including the French Open. She beat three top-10 players at Roland Garros, including Sharapova and world No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport is the 25th seed, but will likely have a hard time contending. The 32-year-old American is in a quarter of the draw that includes Sharapova, Safina and fifth seed Elena Dementieva.

WImbledon Men's Preview

WIMBLEDON, England (Ticker) -- Roger Federer is the world's top-ranked player and a 12-time Grand Slam champion, but he still has something to prove at Wimbledon. The Swiss superstar has not quite dominated the tour this season as he has done in year's past and heads to the All England Club with just two titles.

The 26-year-old also is without a Grand Slam title this year - he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open and was humiliated by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. While many now believe Nadal is on the verge of winning his first Wimbledon title, Federer remains the elite player on grass courts. Federer is the five-time defending champion of this event and will become the first player in the Open Era to win six straight Wimbledon titles with a victory this year. If he can accomplish the feat, the world No. 1 will secure his 13th Grand Slam title and move within one of Pete Sampras' all-time record.

Considering Federer's numbers on grass, another championship at the All England Club is well within reach. Federer, who has beaten Nadal in the Wimbledon final each of last two years, carries a record 59-match grasscourt winning streak into the year's third major. He has not lost on the surface since falling to Mario Ancic in the first round at Wimbledon in 2002. He won his lone grasscourt tuneup in Halle and in the process tied Sampras' Open Era-record of 10 grasscourt titles. He also improved to 10-0 in grasscourt finals and completed the tournament without dropping a single service game. Federer's biggest obstacles en route to another title will likely be Nadal and Djokovic.

Nadal, who cannot see Federer until the final, leads the ATP circuit with five titles and has gone 33-2 since losing to Djokovic at the Indian Wells semifinals during March. Fueling speculation that the Spaniard may be on the verge of a Wimbledon title is the fact that he claimed the first grasscourt championship this past week in London with a victory over Djokovic. Djokovic, who faces a potential semifinal clash with Federer, would likely prefer to see someone other than Nadal should he reach the championship match. Since winning his most recent title in Rome last month, the Serb has played in three tournaments and each of those events has ended with a loss to Nadal.

The United States' best hope at the event appears to be sixth seed Andy Roddick, who was runner-up to Federer here in 2004 and 2005. The 25-year-old could face ninth-seeded countryman James Blake in the fourth-round. Great Britain's Andy Murray is the 12th seed and perhaps the country's best chance of winning the championship on home soil. A British man has not won this event since Fred Perry in 1936. First prize is $1.17 million.