Serena hammers sister in US Open final

Top seed and world number one Serena Williams produced a brutal display of tennis to beat sister Venus 6-4 6-3 in the US Open women’s final.

Serena was in outstanding form, hitting her traditionally powerful passing shots, but also benefited from Venus’ poor serving and unforced errors.

Venus hit 10 double faults to her sister’s one and made 33 unforced errors while Serena made just 19.

It is Serena’s third Grand Slam in a row this year, after triumphs at the French Open and Wimbledon, and her second US Open title.

Serena donned her familiar form-fitting `catsuit' in extending her phenomenal record of having won 32 straight sets in Grand Slam play.

The younger sister improved to 4-0 against Venus this season with her fourth straight-sets victory.

Venus, the two-time defending champion, was never able to get her serve working as she committed the 10 double faults that opened the door for her sister to take advantage.

Venus fought gamely and successfully thwarted eight break-point opportunities before Serena ripped a forehand winner for a break and a 4-3 lead in the first set.

Venus immediately broke back for a 4-4 tie, but her sixth double fault of the first set gave Serena a break point.

Venus followed with an unforced error and Serena held with a flourish, delivering her second ace of the night to close out the set.

Serena held serve at love for a 1-1 tie in the second set, and Venus double-faulted to give her sister a break and a 2-1 lead.

Richard Williams, the daughters’ outspoken father and coach, made his exit shortly thereafter.

It turned out to be the correct move as Serena won eight of the next 10 points for a 4-1 advantage.

Venus got back one break and closed to 4-3, but Serena held serve and saw Venus net a forehand in the next game, ending the match.

Serena became the first woman to win three grand slams in a year since Martina Hingis in 1997 and left open the question of whether she would have won all four if not for an ankle injury that kept her out of the Australian Open.