Close Menu
Chronicle.ng
    Trending Stories
    Guinness World Recorder holder, Hilda Baci

    Pastor Bolaji Idowu prays for Hilda Baci as world record jollof attempt begins

    September 12, 2025
    Trump's ally Charlie Kirk dies after shooting at Utah campus event

    Charlie Kirk murder suspect now in custody, Trump reveals

    September 12, 2025
    Burkina Faso junta leader pardons 21 soldiers for 2015 failed coup

    Burkina Faso govt scraps visa fees for Africans

    September 12, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Pastor Bolaji Idowu prays for Hilda Baci as world record jollof attempt begins
    • Charlie Kirk murder suspect now in custody, Trump reveals
    • Burkina Faso govt scraps visa fees for Africans
    • Anambra gov places N10m reward on gunmen over burial attack
    • Air Peace disputes NSIB report on pilots’ alcohol use, says co-pilot was cleared by NCAA
    • Gunmen kill four, injures 15 in Anambra burial attack
    • Tyler Perry faces $260m lawsuit as actor alleges sexual assault
    • Air Peace crew tests positive for alcohol after plane skids off runway – NSIB
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Chronicle.ngChronicle.ng
    Subscribe
    Friday, September 12
    • News
      • Nigeria News
      • World News
      • Headlines News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Entertainment
    • Contact Us
    Chronicle.ng

    Williams sister show is back #AustralianOpen final

    Chronicle EditorBy Chronicle EditorJanuary 26, 2017No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Telegram WhatsApp
    Venus and Serena Williams will meet in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp
    Venus and Serena Williams will meet in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time

    Venus and Serena Williams will meet in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time after the American sisters came through their semi-finals in Melbourne.

    Thirteenth seed Venus, 36, beat fellow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 to reach her first major final since 2009.

    World number two Serena, 35, saw off unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2 6-1 in the second semi-final.

    Serena is attempting to win an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.

    It would also be a seventh Australian Open victory for the younger Williams sister, while Venus hopes to win an eighth major title, first in Melbourne and first since Wimbledon in 2008.

    “It is unbelievable to watch Serena play tennis – the way she hits the ball and the competitor she is,” Venus Williams said after the first semi-final.

    “It would be a dream to see her on the opposite side of the net on Saturday.”

    Speaking after her win, Serena said: “I am really proud of Venus, she is a total inspiration and a big sister. I am really happy for her and to be in the final together is a dream for us really.

    “She is my toughest opponent, no-one has ever beaten me as much as Venus.

    “I feel no matter what that we have both won after all we have been through. I know a Williams is going to win this tournament.”

    Venus grabs ‘moment in the sun’

    Vandeweghe, 25, had played superbly in seeing off world number one Angelique Kerber and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza to reach the last four, but she could not maintain that level in the semi-final.

    36-year old Venus Williams becomes the oldest Grand Slam finalist

    The world number 35 deservedly took the first set on a tie-break but it was the experience of Williams that eventually prevailed.

    Williams converted four of five break points, but more importantly reduced Vandeweghe to just one from 13 as the younger American was reduced to throwing her racquet in frustration as the chances slipped by.

    Two double faults handed Williams a decisive double break in the second set and the seven-time Grand Slam champion broke again at the start of the third.

    Vandeweghe stayed close enough to keep the pressure on, saving three match points before finally cracking with an error on the fourth, prompting a jubilant twirl of celebration from Williams.

    “Everyone has their moment in the sun. Maybe mine has gone on a little longer than other people, but I have nothing else to do,” joked Williams.

    Serena ‘inspired by Lucic-Baroni’

    Lucic-Baroni was playing her first Grand Slam semi-final for 18 years, but it only last 50 minutes as Serena Williams dominated in her 34th major semi-final.

    It was their third meeting but their first since 1998, when the pair were teenagers.

    The story of Lucic-Baroni’s comeback from a series of personal issues that saw her career all but finished had captured the attention, and she ended the tournament by taking a selfie with crowd on her way out of Rod Laver Arena.

    “Mirjana is an inspiration and deserves all the credit today,” said Williams. To get so far after all she has been through inspires me and I wanted to give her all the congratulations.

    “It is great to see her out here. I was rooting for her through the whole tournament.”

    It is Williams who will return on Saturday to try and make history once again by surpassing Steffi Graf and winning a 23rd major singles title.

    Once she broke Lucic-Baroni’s serve in the third game there was only going to be one winner, runs of five straight games and six straight games bringing her each set.

    “The serve was a little better today. I want it to be a little better, I knew it needed to be good because Mirjana is a great returner,” added Williams.

    BBC Sport

    Share. Facebook Twitter Telegram WhatsApp

    Keep Reading

    Amusan leads 15-athlete Nigerian contingent to World Athletics Championships

    FULL LIST: Amusan leads 15-athlete Nigerian contingent to World Athletics Championships

    Fani-Kayode denies claims linking him to NFF chairmanship race

    Fani-Kayode denies claims linking him to NFF chairmanship race

    Chelsea face 74 charges over agent payments

    Chelsea face 74 charges over agent payments

    NFF condemns 'unfair' scapegoating of Cyriel Dessers, Troost-Ekong

    NFF condemns ‘unfair’ scapegoating of Cyriel Dessers, Troost-Ekong

    NFF: South Africa hold Super Eagles to 1-1 draw, leave Nigeria facing World Cup exit

    NFF blasts Dessers, faults Ekong over Super Eagles’ draw with South Africa

    Haaland scores five as Norway put 11 past Moldova

    Haaland scores five as Norway put 11 past Moldova

    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Subscribe to News

    Be the first to get the latest news updates from ChronicleNG about world, sports, politics etc

    Guinness World Recorder holder, Hilda Baci

    Pastor Bolaji Idowu prays for Hilda Baci as world record jollof attempt begins

    September 12, 2025
    Trump's ally Charlie Kirk dies after shooting at Utah campus event

    Charlie Kirk murder suspect now in custody, Trump reveals

    September 12, 2025
    Burkina Faso junta leader pardons 21 soldiers for 2015 failed coup

    Burkina Faso govt scraps visa fees for Africans

    September 12, 2025
    Anambra task force shoot, kill four in Onitsha market

    Anambra gov places N10m reward on gunmen over burial attack

    September 12, 2025
    Air Peace gets Brazil’s approval to begin direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo

    Air Peace disputes NSIB report on pilots’ alcohol use, says co-pilot was cleared by NCAA

    September 12, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Politics
    • News
    • Sports
    • Business
    • About Us
    © 2025 ChronicleNG

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.