HISTORY MADE AND hugs exchanged at the Australian Open, Serena and Venus Williams took a moment to remind the watching world that there couldn’t be one without the other.
The ninth Grand Slam singles final between the First Sisters of tennis ended in a straight-sets win for Serena as she overtook Steffi Graf as the most successful champion of the Open Era.
“That’s my little sister, guys,” a proud Venus, 36, said as she collected her runner-up trophy in front of a packed crowd at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
“Congratulations on number 23. I’ve been right there with you — some of them I lost against you.
Your win has always been my win, I think you know that.
“All the times I couldn’t be there or wouldn’t be there, you were there. I’m enormously proud of you. You mean the world to me.”
It was a seventh Australian Open title for Serena, and also a seventh Grand Slam final win against her older sister. Back in a Slam final for the first time since the pair met at Wimbledon 2009, an eighth singles crown proved to be out of reach for Venus in a 6-4 6-4 defeat.
“I would really like to take this moment to congratulate Venus. She is an amazing person,” said Serena.
There is no way I would be at 23 without her. There is no way I would be at one without her. There’s no way I would have anything without her.
“She is my inspiration, she is the only reason I am standing here today and the only reason that the Williams sisters exist.
“Thank you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player that I can be and inspiring me to work hard. Every time you won this week, I felt like I’ve gotta win too. Thank you.
“She’s made an incredible comeback and I definitely think she’ll be standing here next year.
“I don’t like the word comeback. She’s never left. She’s been such a great champion.”
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Considering that racing lost the game it might be harder to negotiate such “agreements” in the future.
The omission of Casey looks like a real oversight if best isn’t available. Consistent ball from set pieces will be crucial if we are to stand a chance against SA. Casey hasn’t been tested at international level, which of course Cronin ans Strauss have been, but he’s been the form 2 in the country since the start of the season. His interaction with 2 of Ireland’s nailed on starters (poc and pj) would go a long way to getting fast ball from the lineout. Obviously a hookers job isn’t just darts, but a return rate of less than 90% here will crucify us against SA.
Best isn’t a great darts man, but he’s worth a penalty or 2 and scrums are always solid. I think Casey’s lineout consistency is a good substitute for this, with Cronin or strauss making an abrasive carrying impact from the bench in the end game.
I’d like to have seen Casey get a run-out, but against Georgia…
South Africa are one of the top two teams in the world, possibly the best. They almost certainly have the best pack in the world.
If at all avoidable, it’s not a match where I’d be giving a forward player a debut.
True, but they don’t come much more grizzly than Georgia, none of us have forgotten 2007. If you’re going to ease someone in, it may as well be against Australia!
Racing pay his bills, so I’d say they have first dibs on his services, and rightly so.
No one is saying they shouldn’t are they though