Williams sisters ready for final clash

The Williams sisters will contest their third Wimbledon final this afternoon without the reassuring presence of father Richard in the stands.

To avoid possible accusations of bias from either daughter, Williams senior returned to his home in Florida yesterday after speaking to both players.

It is the sixth time the pair have met in a grand slam final with marginal favourite Serena winning five of those titles at the expense of older sister Venus.

“He’s gone. He always tries to give us the best of advice, so I’m sure he said something to Serena,” said Venus.

“Serena didn’t tell me what he said but basically he’s coach all the way through.”

Serena added: “He told me that his job was done, so I guess he’s feeling good. No matter what happens he’s for sure going to be a winner.

“I assume he’ll be in Florida because I knew he flew back there. I don’t know if he’ll watch the final, but I know he’ll be there.”

Serena and Venus have been head and shoulders above the competition, making a mockery of their status as sixth and seventh seeds respectively.

All four top women’s seeds tumbled out of the All England Club before the quarter-finals for the first time and there can be little dispute the Championships will be graced with the ladies’ showpiece it deserves.

“I’m not sure if the experience of playing my sister has got any easier, but the opponent has not become any easier, that’s for sure,” said Serena.

“It’s going to be a battle again. That’s just how it is. We’re both going in there playing, for me, the other best player.

“I hope that she feels she is also facing the best player. It’s going to be a tough match. We’re going for history now, trying to make the history books. We want to stamp our names in the pages.”

Defending champion Venus will be appearing in her seventh Wimbledon final and gunning for her fifth title at SW19.

It has been five years since she last met Serena in a grand slam final and the 28-year-old is thrilled the siblings are again centre stage.

“This is what we’ve been aiming for. We haven’t reached this achievement in a few years now and it’s great it’s happened,” said Venus.

Serena added: “It’s more important to us that we don’t have to face each other in an earlier round.

“The only thing I look for in the draw is to see if we’re on opposite sides. I think it definitely makes it a lot easier for us both.”