London, Great Britain –We each have expectations (we form them in our day-to-day lives all the time even if we don’t want to admit it). Past experience teaches us to assume them. And if for example, we were to turn the tube on Saturday and find that the two women contesting the women’s final were other than Venus and Serena, we would be surprised –not because watching any other players contesting a final is shocking but because Wimbledon would be an unexpected tournament to see it happen in. The expectation across the board was that the luscious lawns of the All England Club would serve up a Venus, Serena sequel to their 2008 Wimbledon Final Tennis Betting. And did they ever.
Serena Williams was first up against Elena Dementieva today; and believe it or not, she had her hands full with Dementieva. At times, I would go so far as to say Dementieva looked better. Heck, she even reached match point at 5-4 in the third set; but Serena is Serena and true to form, she battled to erase that audacious match point to level at 5-5 in the third and deciding set, before capping the victory 6-7(4), 7-5, 8-6.
In the second semi-final, two-time defending champion Venus Williams steamrolled Dinara Safina in a 6-1, 6-0 Centre Court demolition. Enough said.
Prior to the start of Wimbledon a fortnight ago, London bookies as well as worldwide tennis betting markets (just like last year, come to that) tipped a sister act at the Wimbledon Championship final. Now that the women’s singles semis are done and dusted, the prophetic prediction has come to pass: we are in for another Venus versus Serena symphony at the All England Club.
So unexpected, you say? Not. It was almost as certain as the sun rising in the morning and setting at night. Admittedly –and I say this with great respect for the Williams sisters and their achievements – I was hoping for a different makeup for Saturday’s finale. There I said it. Even one that was minus a sister (any sister, I am not fussy really). Just for variety because the women’s game needs it. Like it or not, high profile losses –like Rafa falling at Roland Garros – inject a sense of drama into proceedings. Drama that acts as a stimulus. Drama that creates more drama to stir the soul. Drama that makes great things happen.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no woman right now who can foot the bill. Dinara Safina did well enough (one can be generous) to reach the semis at Wimbledon – a surface she has battled against her entire life and never quite liked. By her own admission, she is not a grassie. Yet she remained competitive; that is, until her path came across Venus and the wheels came undone. I am not sure if there is anything one can say against Dementieva. Her performance left no questioned unanswered. She gave Serena everything she had with interest. It was simply not good enough to beat Serena. Period.
So what we are left with is a landscape that is woefully inadequate. And, no player that can step up to the plate. Women’s tennis is not in a happy place (Venus and Serena excluded, of course). Hasn’t been for some time now. It is in complete disarray – or as tennis experts like to spin it: in transition. If the women’s game is in transition, Venus and Serena are its – in mathematical parlance: constants.
As much as I might have to say about the complete disarray in the women’s game, disarray that predates this tournament anyway, we have to be thankful for the Williams’ sisters. If it were not for their constant presence, we would be left with nothing but questionable variables.
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