Sam and Rennae drop short in Wimbledon final

Sam and Rennae drop short in Wimbledon final

5 Jul 2009

Serena and Venus Williams beat Australians Samantha Stosur (pictured left) and Rennae Stubbs (right) in the Wimbledon women’s doubles final on Saturday.

The fourth-seeded Americans defeated the No.3 seeds 7-6(4) 6-4 for their fourth doubles title from the All England Club.

Just four hours before the match started, Serena beat older sister and defending champion Venus in straight sets to claim her third Wimbledon singles crown.

Stubbs and Stosur had only played a handful of matches together when they lost to the siblings in the third round of this year’s Australian Open.

And Stubbs said she and Stosur had learned from that encounter.

“They’re very intimidating and they put a lot of pressure on you,” Stubbs said.

“They put a lot of pressure on your serve because they return so well … and they serve just massive.

“Coming in here we’d had a lot more matches and more experience and we felt that we had a chance if we served well and we knew we could break them from time to time because we’d done it before.

“I think we proved today that we were one or two points away from maybe flipping that around, that score.”

Stosur said: “I actually don’t know if it’s better or worse playing them after a singles final because they’re obviously playing well and they’ve already played and felt it out there, but it’s a Wimbledon final and it’s something to be proud of.”

The Australians claimed an early break for a 2-1 lead, but the Williamses broke back to draw level at 4-4 in the first set.

Stubbs, the 38-year-old veteran playing her 19th Wimbledon, saved a break point that would have given her opponents the set with a neat half volley under pressure that Venus could not get back over the net and the Australians held serve to force the tiebreak.

But mini-breaks on the second and final points gave the American duo a one-set lead.

In the second set, the Australians fought off three break points in the third game.

But the turning point came in the seventh game when Serena converted a break point with an excellent volley that sailed past Stosur and bounced deep in the back of the court.

Stosur and Stubbs avoided being broken again on championship point but Serena sealed victory in the next game with an ace.

Serena said: “There’s nothing like winning a title with your sister. It’s really a good feeling.”

Venus agreed: “Definitely.”

The Williams sisters also won the doubles at SW19 in 2008, 2002 and 2000.

Stubbs was making her first Grand Slam finals appearance since winning the doubles at Wimbledon with Cara Black of Zimbabwe in 2004.

That victory came three years after Stubbs teamed up with American Lisa Raymond to win the 2001 title.

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  • sean

    fantastic final,and very hard luck. ye played a great match and in my opinion you will reverse the result the next time you meet. sam, you are a credit to yourself,your country and to the game of tennis. keep it going and all the best. sean, ireland

  • Marcos

    Very nice photo of both girls

  • elias

    Sam, good on ya for making it to the doubles final again! you served and played so well, and I hope you know you definitely have some new fans after your performance at Roland Garros and now Wimbledon. Can’t wait to see you kick butt at the US Open!

    Elias, California, USA

  • Yuki

    Well Done Sammy! You and Rennae have worked hard for this but I guess Venus and Serena are just to good for everybody at Wimbledon! Congratulations on a great week in singles AND doubles!

  • Sten82

    Unfortunately 1 set’s tiebreak was cruicial moment in the match.But i’m sure,Sam & Rennae just nead a little beat more joint practice,and Tney could win Grand Slam,maybe US Open 2009.Moreover,i have good reason to believe that Sam could win in the mixed,doubles and singles Grand Slams in the future.Why not? Sam is unique tennis player.

  • Adeline from France

    It was a great finale, your team is certainly most interesting, and you have done the Show, ladies!! See you soon!

  • Ben

    A good two weeks from Sam at Wimbledon getting to the 3rd round in singles & reaching the dubs final, hopefully she can do well during the US Summer hardcourt season. Good luck Sam :)

  • tj

    awesome well fought out final. good to see :)

  • Wayne McCluskey

    Times are a changing!
    Your results are improving, game is dynamite and with a bit more consistency with the 1% ers you’ll get to the top, no doubt! Your style and physique are the best on tour and i can’t wait for you to blow them out of the water and win a grand slam. Stay positive!!!

  • Des Platt

    No one has mentioned how unlucky Sam and Rennae were in the tie break . One net chord and one complete mishit lob that fell in; how crucial every point is in a tie break.

    Being British based with no SKY TV , I will hardly see my favourite present tennis player for another year now.You are a lady Sam and so nice to see a player who doesn’t have to make an enormous noise with every shot.You also have the loveliest smile in all sport ;if I have one minor criticism I wish we saw it more often on court . Yes it is serious pressure stuff but really enjoy yourself out there.

    Enjoy your break now and I want to see you a winner in the US!

    Des
    Liverpool England

  • http://www.facebook.com/Badgeraz?ref=profile Raz

    Congrats on your Wimby Final, you guys played a great match! Good luck with your upcoming singles and dubs tourneys! Oh and tell Stubbsy all the best chefs make a mess in the kitchen ;)

    Raz, Scotland

  • NT

    Stolen! I was bounding round my living room like some kind of jacked up kanga – and for a brit, that’s pretty emotional.

    You ladies TOTALLY deserved that final. You’d better be back next year, or I’ll be well disappointed!

    PS: Nothing makes me feel worse on the inside at the mo than seeing runners up trying to smile for the photographers – but don’t be disappointed! You played awesomely. Come back next year and take the top spot where you belong.

  • Saskia

    You did a great job. Unfortunately the others a little bit better.

    Cheer up next time it’s your turn and i will be there to support

    Saskia, The Netherlands

  • Jaime

    SAM AND RENNAE ARE MUCH BETTER NOW!!! Just listen to this!!! Yan/Zheng def. Stosur/Stubbs in Roland Garros. Williams/Williams def. Yan/Zheng in Wimbledon 6-0 6-0. Also they defeated Black and Huber 6-1 6-2. And Sam and Rennae gave them lots of troubles!!! Wow, if you keep like this you’re the best doubles couple out there (well the best human one because the Williams are not human)

  • Jaime

    I mean not human playing, don’t think strange stuff

  • sten82

    Hi Sam! I haven’t been seen You for a long time.I miss You!

  • tj

    samson has cibulkova first rd of stanford. serena is lingering in same quarter, an out of form jankovic, an in form lisicki and a who ever really knows-bartoli for the semi. Good to see shaughnessy make a comeback :)

  • moca

    cibulkova sammy 2nd match on centre. we have crap live stream with no sound. california are like 9hrs behind europe? some completely crap time no doubt.
    gd luck sam :)

    has admin gone on holiday?

  • Marcos

    Very nice photo of both girls

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