Williams sisters ready for another Wimbledon final

WHAT'S the toughest job in sports? Asking an original question to Venus and Serena Williams seems to be right up here with rodeo riding, ultra marathon running and life as the England football manager.

ALL CONQUERING: On the eve of the women's singles final Venus and Serena Williams advanced to the women's doubles final

The Williams sisters might have sport's most famous and arguably successful sibling rivalry but they still don't like to talk about it.

It would have been easier for questioners to take a point off Serena's power 122mph serve than get the sister act to engage in a bit of pre-final trash talk.

They've heard and answered all the questions before, having played 20 times in their careers, including three previous Wimbledon finals.

"Humour us with something creative," begged Venus, as her assembled inquisitors searched in vain for something novel to say.

Serena might have won a Grand Slam but she insists she still lives in her big sister's shadow.

And Venus - a five-time winner at the All England Club - certainly looks like the one to beat after dropping just 20 games on a peerless procession to another final.

"The basis of my entire career has been learning off Venus," said Serena.

"When she was starting out and I was watching in the stands, I was able to gain experience, even though I wasn't playing the actual matches.

"I get negative too easily and she has such a positive attitude. She is always so calm and that is an inspiration.

"We are used to being in this position now. It doesn't effect us, we just live our lives.

"Whatever happens in the final, it is not the end of the world."

You will have to search through a lot of archives before you find Venus say something controversial.

Even after dropping just one game against semi-final opponent and top seed Dinara Safina, she talked about beating a ‘tough opponent' and turned on suggestions the Russian was not a legitimate world number one.

Serena also believes women's tennis is in rude health - despite some critics claiming it's a two-woman show with a largely anonymous supporting cast.

"I don't think I'd change anything about the game at the moment, I think it's really exciting," she added.

"We have exciting players in the top ten and Serena and I just loving being in there with them. It's a great job and a privilege."

Venus and Serena continue to defy convention - and also reached the women's doubles final yesterday to ensure a busy weekend at SW19.

Father Richard - the architect of their careers from the early days on public courts in the poor Los Angeles suburb of Compton - willy fly out of London tonight, safe in the knowledge his work was done.

One of his girls was going to win Wimbledon again and he'd rather not watch the other one cry.

 * Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis and is backing the sport at all levels, from grassroots to world class tennis events. For further information visit www.lta.org.uk