ESPN.com - TENNIS - Williams sisters upset Davenport-Morariu

 
Friday, January 26
Williams sisters upset Davenport-Morariu



MELBOURNE, Australia -- Venus and Serena Williams completed a career Grand Slam in women's doubles Friday, beating Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open.

The Williams sisters won the French Open and U.S. Open in 1999. Last year they won Wimbledon and gold medals in the Sydney Olympics.

Venus, left, and Serena Williams needed three sets to win the doubles crown Friday.

The title was a nice consolation prize for the sisters, both eliminated in singles by Martina Hingis. Serena was defeated in the quarterfinals and Venus endured the most lopsided loss of her career, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals Thursday.

Venus said: "I want to thank the Australian Open committee for giving us a wild card -- because our doubles ranking wasn't good enough to get us in the draw!

"But we should qualify for a ranking after this tournament, and it will be interesting to see where we enter."

The Grand Slam title was the eighth for Venus and the seventh for Serena, including two in mixed doubles for each player.

Their 22-match winning streak in women's doubles was snapped in a first-round loss at Sydney earlier this month to Hingis and Monica Seles. The Williamses avenged that defeat Thursday in the semifinals.

The sisters jumped to a 3-0 lead in the final, breaking Davenport's serve in the second game. Davenport lost her serve twice more in the final set, including the last game.

For their latest title, the sisters won $196,878. They were unseeded because they played together in only three tournaments last year.

Davenport and Morariu, who was celebrating her 23rd birthday on Friday, collected $93,000 as runners-up.

Serena, who has shrugged off the bout of gastroenteritis which had dogged her during her quarterfinal singles defeat to Hingis, added: "This is no consolation at all for losing in the singles.

"We both want to be known as singles players. But you have to recognize that she (Hingis) just played very well. The doubles is a different competition altogether, and make no mistake, we are both very happy to have won here."

Neither could suggest another player on the WTA Tour they would like to team up with for future doubles events.

Venus said: "I can't imagine playing with anyone else but Serena.

"I think we love playing with each other. We have a great understanding -- I know that no matter what I do, Serena will always be there for me."

 




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 Venus and Serena Williams win the 2001 Australian Open women's doubles title.
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