| Posted 7-5-08
Serena, Venus prepare for Saturday's final
Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - For the third time in seven years the mighty Williams sisters -- Serena and Venus -- will square off in an all- American, all-sister final on the Wimbledon grass.
The sixth-seeded former world No. 1 Serena and seventh-seeded former top- ranked Venus will face-off Saturday on Centre Court, marking their fourth career matchup at the storied All England Club.
The powerful sisters battled in finals here in 2002 and 2003, with Serena winning both matchups, while Venus prevailed in a semifinal bout back in 2000, as Serena holds a 2-1 lead at tennis' most prestigious event.
Serena is 8-7 lifetime against her older sister, including 5-4 at the majors. Serena is 5-1 when the sisters meet in Grand Slam finals, as Venus' lone victory against Serena in a major final came at the 2001 U.S. Open.
The eight-time major titlist Serena beat the six-time Grand Slam champion Venus at a hardcourt event in India earlier this season.
The 26-year-old Serena owns 31 career titles, including three already this year, and is 8-2 in her previous Grand Slam finals. In addition to her back- to-back Wimbledon titles in '02 and '03, she was the 2004 runner-up here to Russian Maria Sharapova.
Venus will appear in her seventh Wimbledon final, going 4-2 in her previous ones. She defeated France's Marion Bartoli in last year's finale and also titled here in 2000, 2001 and 2005.
The 28-year-old Venus is 6-6 in her career Grand Slam finals; owns 36 titles in 58 career championship matches; and will perform in her first final of 2008 on Day 12 here.
The Williams sisters will now have combined to win seven of the last nine Wimbledon titles and at least one of them has appeared in eight of the last nine finals here.
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