There is nothing like a great match on Wimbledon finals day and Serena Williams' victory over sister Venus was nothing like a great match.

It was too short at one hour 27 minutes. Too one-sided with a disappointing second set in which Venus lost the radar on her serve.

But when Venus had pushed a limp forehand into the net to give Serena a 7-6 (7/3) 6-2 victory and the sisters had hugged at the net, and Serena had lifted high the Venus Rosewater dish which her sister had claimed for the past two years, Wimbledon 2009 did have a great champion.

And another great chapter in arguably the most compelling sports story of all-time.

What more can you say about the amazing Williamses, who have now graced every final bar one in the past decade?

Except that Serena is the hardest-hitting, most pugnacious women's tennis player the game has ever seen and that women's tennis without the Williamses would be a place minus world-class athleticism and devoid of personality.

As good as Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, who all won three consecutive Wimbledon finals?

"To be even mentioned with those people is a real honour for me," said Serena, who traced her name on the Wimbledon wall of honour after the match and added: "I felt my name should have been there at least once more."

You might not always like the introspection of Venus or Serena's penchant for frippery, but when they step onto a tennis court you have to respect them. Have to respect how Serena has returned to the tour after being dogged by serious injuries and how both retained their focus following the murder of sister Yetunde.

The story of the Williamses is well documented. From the ghettos of Compton, California, to queen of Wimbledon, Venus five times and now Serena three.

And, truly, there are few things in women's sport to compare with a sustained rally between the sisters.

All grappling arms and flying legs and every stroke accompanied by a grunt of effort from Serena and a howl from Venus.

But such is the dynamic quality of their movement and the savagery of their hitting that even such brutal qualities are things of beauty.

There was not a cigarette paper between them in the first set. Just two break points which Venus failed to take. Serena was more intuitive, Venus more controlled.

Until it went to a tie-break, at which point Serena stepped in with a series of crushing forehand winners and then a venomous spinning lob to take the set.

"I felt I had nothing to lose," said Serena.

"I just thought I would go out there and do my best and I was really excited when I won that first set. Then I wanted to stay calm and didn't want to get too pumped."

In terms of ruthless execution there cannot have been a better tie-break these Championships. Or a more devastating one for Venus.

It was the first set Venus had lost at Wimbledon since the third round in 2007. Thirty-four straight sets had gone by without her so much as tasting a setback. When disappointment arrives in such circumstances it dents the conviction.

And while Venus' game did not exactly disintegrate in the second set, her serve broke down, lost its rhythm. At one point the speed gun was registering 66mph for her second serve. Unheard of.

Not that she was making an excuse of the knee injury which saw her left leg strapped like an Egyptian mummy.

"I tried my best but she played so well, really lifted her game," said Venus. "I have no complaints. It was close. She played great, especially in the tie-break, just played a lot of great shots."

She was right. There were great shots, great rallies. And a great champion. Just not a great match.