Venus still has no answers for younger sister Serena

Cory Harris, Reuters, New York

With a hesitant smile, Venus Williams watched her younger sister stand alone holding another grand slam trophy at her expense.

For the third straight grand slam, Serena Williams got the better of Venus in their sibling rivalry, this time sweeping past her older sister 6-4 6-3 to claim the US Open crown.

Serena's victory also marked the second straight time prevented Venus from a "three-peat," also denying her at Wimbledon.

After getting the best of Serena in last year's Open final, it seemed that Venus would continue to rack up grand slam titles and be number one in the world until Serena was ready to step up and challenge for the top spot.

But that challenge was met sooner than expected, and now it's Serena who is collecting majors and is the world number one, with Venus in the role of chaser.

"I think she's had a great year," Venus said.

Just like her losses at the French Open and Wimbledon, Venus' serve proved to be her undoing.

She won just 51 percent of points on her first serve, committed 10 double-faults and a total of 33 unforced errors.

"My game went down after the fourth round," Venus said. "I just couldn't do a thing to bring it back up."

As it is, Serena has not dropped a set in beating Venus in her three grand slam triumphs.

In fact a sprained right ankle suffered in January may have been the only thing that prevented Serena from completing the grand slam.

In men's event, Andre Agassi tamed defending champion and world number one Lleyton Hewitt 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-2 on Saturday, setting up a dream US Open final between two American tennis greats.

Earlier on the same sun-kissed Arthur Ashe stadium court, Pete Sampras did his part as he continued his unlikely run to the final with an efficient 7-6 7-6 6-2 win over Dutchman Sjeng Schalken.

Agassi will go into Sunday's final chasing his third US Open crown against rival Sampras, who owns four Flushing Meadows titles but has not tasted victory of any description in over two years -- a stretch of futility going back 33 tournaments to Wimbledon 2000.

With the Williams sisters Venus and Serena meeting in the women's final also on Saturday, it marks the first time since 1979 that both men's and women's titles will be contested by Americans leaving New Yorkers with a patriot weekend just days ahead of the Sept. 11 anniversary.

"This is New York baby," Agassi told the crowd at the end of his three-hour battle. "Where else would you rather be, right?

"Pete and I...we're both here again, we're blessed."

Sunday's final will also be the fifth time Agassi and Sampras have met to decide a grand slam title.

Sampras won three of those four meetings, including the 1995 US Open.