Sisters sweep to doubles crown

Four finalists line up: Serena Williams,Venus Williams,Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs. The Williams sisters conquered Wimbledon again after they won a battle of power against guile to retain their doubles crown. Venus and Serena triumphed 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 against the Australian pairing of Sam Stosur and Rennae Stubbs in a late, enthralling match on Centre Court. They had to survive a first set scare as Stosur and Stubbs raced into a 4-2 set lead. Stosur, who was beaten 6-2, 6-2 with previous partner Lisa Raymond by Venus and Serena in last year’s final, was in particularly inspired form early on, helping to break the Serena serve at 2-1. The Williams sister unsurprisingly looked a little tired following Serena’s earlier victory over Venus in the singles final. But they soon came back, their renowned power game helping them to break the Stubbs serve and level at 4-4. Stosur and Stubbs continued to produce some high quality tennis to take the set to the tiebreak. But they were overpowered with Serena and Venus winning it 7-4 on their second set point. The Australians did well to remain in contention early in the second set as they wowed a near capacity Centre Court crowd with some exciting tennis and battling spirit, which was later acknowledged by their opponents. "They're a really good team, so they definitely pushed us to play our best tennis on the most important points," admitted Venus. Despite many long rallies the Williams sisters eventually broke Stosur and Stubbs’ resistance in the seventh game of the set. Stubbs once again lost her serve thanks to a fine volley by Serena at break point. Serena celebrated as if the game was up. And there was, indeed, no way back for the Australians despite Stosur holding serve in the next game. Serena closed out the match at 5-4 to ensure another Williams clean sweep of the ladies’ trophies. Serena admitted she was just as happy to add the doubles title to her earlier singles win. "It feels great to win the doubles," she said. "You can go home with two titles. There's nothing like winning a title with your sister. It's really a good feeling." Centre Court - Ladies' Doubles - Finals Serena Williams USA (4)/ Venus Williams USA (4) 77 6 Samantha Stosur AUS (3)/ Rennae Stubbs AUS (3) 64 4

Aussie pair in ladies' doubles final

Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs plan their next move against Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual. Sam Stosur and Rennae Stubbs will line up against the three-time champions Venus and Serena Williams in the ladies’ doubles final after defeating second seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascal in three entertaining sets. The fired-up Australian partnership came from a set down to defeat the Spanish pairing - the double French Open winners - 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and seven minutes. It was the Spanish pairing who got off to the better start, beautifully lobbing their opponents at will and firing frequent return winners. Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascal took a deserved lead when they gained a break of the Stosur serve in the fifth game after Stubbs netted a great passing shot. However going behind did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Australian partnership. The crowd seemed to be enjoying Stubbs' gung-ho attitude as she either berated herself after an error or pumped her fists following a winner. She and Stosur hit back to even up proceedings in the eighth game when a spectacular smash by Stubbs down the centre of the court broke the Ruano Pascal serve. The third seeds then had three opportunities to take the set on the Ruano Pascal serve but she held on after great net play by Medina Garrigues to level at 6-6 and force a tiebreak. Supported at courtside by former Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion Conchita Martinez, the Spaniards then turned the match in their favour. A solid tiebreak, coupled with two double-faults by Stosur, helped them seal the first set in 51 minutes. Moving into the second set, the Australians reversed tactics successfully, flooding the net after almost every point. Whereas before they had simply sent points back into play, the third seeds now showed their power and started to put away winner after winner at the net. They quickly raced to a 4-1 lead after two successive breaks of the Spaniards' serves. The two-time French Open winners gained one break back, but it wasn't enough as Stubbs solidly served out the set 6-4. Moving into the third, Stubbs and Stosur were a joy to watch, showcasing a great display of serve and volley doubles. They looked formidable as they gained breaks in the third and fifth games to seal a comeback victory and set up that clash with the all-conquering sisters. Court 3 - Ladies' Doubles - Semifinals Samantha Stosur AUS (3)/ Rennae Stubbs AUS (3) 63 6 6 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP (2)/ Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP (2) 77 4 2

'I'm playing my best tennis ever,' says Ana

Ana Ivanovic glides into the second week with a straight sets victory over Samantha Stosur. Having summarily dismissed her third round opponent, Samantha Stosur, 7-5, 6-2, the 13th seed Ana Ivanovic is oozing confidence, calm and poise and believes she is playing better now than when she was ranked world number one. “I think my game is probably even better than it was," she said. "I feel also much more experienced and much more mature in some way. I went through a lot over the past year, being number one, having some disappointing losses and some tough times. That made me stronger and made me appreciate some things, not to take every match you win for granted, but just to appreciate the hard work that was put in.” Talking of her victory over Stosur, she said: “I think my tactics and my game plan prevailed over my emotions. That's something I'm really happy about. I stuck with my plan and kept playing the best I can every point.” Grass is also providing new-found pleasure for Ivanovic. She is enjoying playing on it, and says she’s been making changes in the way she approaches this very specific surface. “I worked a little bit on consistency in my game and just being more patient. That's what I try to apply in my matches this week. It's been working well. So I just want to stick with that and try to realise I have to hit few more shots in a rally, but I'm fine with it.” Having taken a few tips from watching a certain Roger Federer, Ivanovic feels she’s beginning to get to grips with what is needed to do well. She said: “I think my game suits grass very well. This is the first year that I feel I'm starting to use grass for my advantage, and trying to work it”, adding: “Federer does that so good. So it was great to see, and it gave me encouragement.” Ivanovic will now play defending champion and number three seed Venus Williams in the next round, having met her here previously in the semis two years ago. "I'm very excited” to play Venus, she said. “She plays really well here and the last two years here she's the champion.” She added: “I’ve felt like every match I was playing better and better, and that's what you want to feel going into the second week of a Grand Slam.” Ivanovic will undoubtedly need to draw on that newly-found maturity if she wants to get past Venus, although she is optimistic. “She's a very dangerous opponent, but I think I have a great chance and I feel very comfortable going into that match.”

Improving Ivanovic downs Stosur

Ana Ivanovic celebrates another winner against Samantha Stosur in their third round match. Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, the 13th seed, finished the first week at Wimbledon far more confidently than she started it. Her 7-5, 6-2 victory over Samantha Stosur of Australia in the mid-day heat on No.2 Court was ample proof that she is ready for the quarter-finals where Venus Williams will be her opponent. Stosur received the usual Australian support from group of yellow-shirted, noisy fans chanting her names but she did little to justify their backing Ivanovic dominated most of the important points in the sunshine. For Stosur to try to out rally Ivanovic was a lost cause in the fast conditions and the shorter ball that might have caused the Serbian a few mobility problems was rarely utilised. Ivanovic has been building her confidence through the first week after being match points down in her opening contest and this match was a further example of her improvement. She took the Australian’s serve in the first game and served three aces in the second to lead 2-0, although she was pulled back to 4-4 in a loose game. Ivanovic’s next break of serve was more significant . Stosur fell behind 6-5 after being beaten by the best backhand drive of the day and then served two double faults. After 37 minutes, the match was virtually over because Stosur’s resistance and confidence faltered as she fell behind 4-0 in the second set. Ivanovic missed a match point at 5-1 but seized her the chance to serve out for victory, hitting four winners in a row. It was a sound and solid display by the Serbian. Nowshe has to go up a gear or two. Court 2 - Ladies' Singles - 3rd Round Samantha Stosur AUS (18) 5 2 Ana Ivanovic SRB (13) 7 6

Stosur triumphs in stamina test

Samantha Stosur Samantha Stosur needed more than two hours to overcome qualifier Tatjana Malek 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 to keep Australian interest in the women’s singles alive into the third round. Green and gold were the dominant colours on Court 18 as Stosur’s compatriots flocked to support the 19th seed against the 21-year-old German, who had eliminated Jelena Dokic, another Australian, in the previous round. Despite looking businesslike in her sponsor's white cap and designer sunglasses, Stosur ran into early problems against her 101st-ranked opponent through errors of her own making, dropping serve to love with four unforced errors to fall 2-3 behind. There appeared little chance of recovering that break as Malek served solidly. Stosur, a world number one doubles player with 22 titles, reached her first Grand Slam singles semi-finals at Roland Garros this month, but it was her good doubles-style work around the net that helped to stave off crisis, if only briefly, when she saved four set points on her own delivery before Malek routinely served out to take the set 6-4 in 38 minutes. The German continued her fine play into the second set, moving into a 4-2 lead and looking good to clinch a spot in the next round. But Stosur was not done yet. After breaking back as a strong breeze started to play its part, she took the set into a tie-break, which she won 8-6 to steal the set. Malek appeared unfazed by the setback, racing to a 4-1 lead in the decider and again looking to have the match in the bag. But the lengthy rallies were beginning to take their toll and as Stosur battled back to 3-4, exhaustion started to creep in to the German’s game. Stosur, looking the stronger, held serve to level at 4-4 and after another break served out the set to win a gruelling match after two hours and four minutes. Court 18 - Ladies' Singles - 2nd Round Samantha Stosur AUS (18) 4 78 6 Tatjana Malek GER 6 66 4