WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL:IF, FOR an impossible moment, we can forget that they are sisters, today's Wimbledon final represents two of the best players and biggest draws the women's game has ever produced. While the rest of the tennis world may be struggling with the notion, Venus and Serena Williams have long got over the fact they are siblings who must periodically go to war.

Their 20 previous encounters have taught them to accommodate the view that their meeting in Grand Slams and other finals is a peculiar fact of the Williams’ existence. As close as they are off the court, the reality of their working life is that they will have to compete with each other on a regular basis if only to see who is the best player in the family.

The fact they accept it, however, does not necessarily mean the concept is emotionally uncomplicated.

“I’m happy for her to be in the final, but I have to face her and defeat her,” said Venus after her match against Dinara Safina. “I don’t necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win.

“Maybe that doesn’t make sense. But when I’m playing someone else, for sure I want them to lose. I don’t like to ever see her disappointed. But at the same time, I don’t want to see myself disappointed. You know, I need to get my titles too. So, I’m still the big sister, but I’m still going to play great tennis.”

While most players would spend the day before a Centre Court joust relaxing and considering how they were going to approach the match, the two yesterday played their way to another final when they casually demolished the world number one doubles team Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-1, 6-2 in front of 11,000 spectators.

That makes their schedule more colourful as, after they go to battle in the singles finals this afternoon, they make up and play in the doubles final later.

In the past their meetings in finals have been coolly accepted, but there seems to be a softening of attitude and some more respectful revisionism taking place as 29-year-old Venus and 26-year-old Serena approach a tennis age when they can see themselves no longer competing. They don’t travel as much as the other players do, but with Venus off the tour Serena would find great difficulty travelling without the sister who has also been her best friend.

Both have also experienced bad injuries in the past, and in this championships Venus is playing with her leg heavily taped.

Both dearly want to win. Venus is seeking her third straight win and fifth Wimbledon championship overall, and Serena is looking for her third title.

While their record is neatly rounded at 10-10, the older sister, Venus, has won five out of their last eight meetings. Serena was the dominant force for a long stretch between 2002 and 2003 during which time she won six straight matches, including twice at Wimbledon.

But in their meetings this year in Miami and Dubai, they have won a match each.

“I do like to be ahead even though she’s my sister,” said Venus. “I do. 10-10, yeah, that’s intense. I guess this will be a tipping point match.”

Intensity could be the key to winning, and it is that aspect of the younger sister’s character that Venus will have to face down.

On Thursday Venus told a story that she remembers 10 years on. Playing in White City in Sydney in 1998 against Lindsay Davenport, who then was in the top five in the world, Serena found herself trailing badly in the match.

“We were just coming on the tour,” said Venus. “She was down 1-6, 2-5. I was playing after, again. I’ll never forget. She came back and won that match. I just learned so much from that, her fight.

“I think that actually had a huge impression on my career, that one incident. We saved the article. It was called ‘White City’s Great Escape’. We read it over and over again about how she overcame all the odds and won that match.”

Yesterday the two were less prepared to talk as the final loomed closer. They were asked, if they had a question for each other, what would it be.

After a brief silence, Serena turned to Venus and asked: “Are you ready to clear out of here?”

They laughed and made their exit.