Venus Williams (USA) v
Lindsay Davenport (USA)
Ladies' Singles Final - 2005
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Venus Williams captured her third Wimbledon title in the
space of six years in a final of high drama when she outlasted
World number one Lindsay Davenport in the longest women's
final at 2 hours 45 minutes.
As 14th seed, Williams became the lowest-seeded player in
the Open era to win Wimbledon, a victory which sits well with
her triumphs of 2000 and 2001. In the following two years
she was runner-up to her younger sister Serena but a persistent
stomach strain and consequent lack of form had pulled her
down the rankings.
Davenport missing a match point at 5-4 in the third set,
then needing to go off court for treatment to a back injury.
Twice more she came within two points of what would have been
her second Wimbledon win, before her spirit and her legs gave
out against an opponent who simply refused to recognise the
possibility of defeat.
As Davenport's weakly-struck forehand plopped into the net, Williams shrieked and leapt high into the air, a process she repeated after receiving the Venus Rosewater Dish from the Duke of Kent.
Davenport, one of the game's most graceful servants, embraced her at the net. Twelve months after her sister Serena fought off tears in defeat, Venus wept them in triumph. The prize was hers, and she could not have been happier.
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