Venus progresses to final with a hard fought win in a tight family affair, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.

The 25^th meeting of this rivalry started with a very lethargic Serena broken to 15. Venus opened with an easy hold, firing two 195km serves along the way. Game 3 sees Serena wake up, firing two aces of her own, along with a winner off the ground for 1-2. The next two games going with serve, before Serena breaks back to love in game 6. The match is evenly poised, and although Venus is clearly struggling with her ball toss, she saves break point before taking the match to a tie break. Serena is stronger however, and comfortably wraps up the tie breaker 7-2 to take the first set.

Venus opens the second set meaning business, holding to love. And, like the first set, Serena opens with a poor service game, broken to love. A classy hold from Venus brings up 3-0. The set then progresses on serve, with some long rallies and big serves, seeing Serena serving at 2-5 to stay in the second set. Another poor service game, including two double faults, and the match is tied one set all.

The match is evenly poised, with both sisters playing some great tennis, matching each other from the baseline, and running each other all over the court, to the delight of the packed crowd. With each holding serve for 3-2 Venus, game six proves pivotal, as Venus breaks for a 4-2 lead after a hard fought game. Venus continues her impressive serving, holding to force Serena to hold to stay in the match.

Serena doesn’t give matches away, holding well, to see Venus serving for the match. Some great play from Venus, winning a long rally brings up two match points. A Serena forehand winner saves one, but an un-returnable serve on the second sees Venus beat her sister for the first time since 2009 and progress to Sunday’s final, against Radwanska or Makarova.

With the match just over two hours, and back to back three set matches, the Montreal crowd will hope that Venus will have the energy to keep this rich vein of form in Sunday’s final.

Roddy Christie/ Front Page News