It is further away than most people can imagine from the icecream trucks of the black projects of Compton, Los Angeles, to Wimbledon Centre Court.

The Williams sisters have travelled a long road. While their father Richard has emerged triumphant with the elder of the two women, Venus, his "Ghetto Cinderella" now in the championship final against fellow American Lindsay Davenport, in Richard's family theatre he forgot one thing in the billing of the Williams act.

He forgot about the day when the best pair in town would have to become the best and the second best. As in all entertainment, there has got to be a support act and the main event. The separation yesterday was painful for the younger sister Serena, and dad wasn't there to watch - he opted to go instead for a three-mile walk.

It was the elder sister, Venus who started this particular rift. She first broke the serve of her 18-year-old sister in the fourth game before going on to claim a typically heavy-hitting match that in its own way marked out the future shape of the game.

As the dynamics of sibling rivalry and the obvious family tension mixed with the moment, it was as every younger sister understands. The older one always gets to do the good things first. That Venus did in one hour 27 minutes winning 6-2, 7-6 on a double fault from Serena.

"I'm always the big sister. I always make the decisions. I'm the role model for Serena. I'm always worried about her," Venus said.

Both sisters stuck to their ill-hidden fib that it was simply another game of tennis. But their body language told a different story.

Serena, normally the more effusive, was understandably withdrawn and morose, monosyllabic answers peppering her interview. Victory allowed Venus to speak more eloquently than she has throughout the championship. Indeed, if she articulated the empathy she had with her sister to her many other opponents, the charges of arrogance might never been levelled.

"I expected to play a lot better," said Serena. "I'm only 18, Venus is 20. I've a lot of years ahead of me. I just didn't play well today. I just didn't feel it. I'm very disappointed in the way I played."

The double fault that closed this chapter of tennis history in the second set was ultimately a tame submission in a match that promised more pyrotechnics than it delivered. Serena immediately covered her eyes with her hand in disbelief before coming to the net for her sister's comforting arm.

"I never usually double fault. Usually I hit two or three in the whole match. Today, I hit a lot," she said.

In contrast to the end of her quarter-final match where she shrieked and danced across the grass to shake hands with Martina Hingis, Venus simply said "Come on Serena, let's go."

But it was no classic match. Littered with errors it made a big sound but was far from symphonic as Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick watched from the wings.

Venus took two of the three service breaks in the first set to win it 6-2 before a break each in the second sent the match into a tie break. A forehand error typically bounced long for Serena at 3-4 allowing Venus serve for 5-3, a favourable net cord helping her cause for 6-3. The double fault subsequently brought the match to a surprisingly abrupt end.

"Maybe I knew her game more," said Venus. "Serena is a little bit more emotional than I am. It was really bitter. But someone had to move on. It was either going to be me or Serena.

"She's a younger sister, you know that's the way it is, you always get your way. When they don't get their way, mom and dad step in - `give her the ice cream'. When you're older, win or lose you don't get the ice cream. It's okay."

Venus, at 6 ft 1 in, is one of the few players who can look 6 ft 2 in Davenport straight in the eye. Davenport gave a master class in semi-final play beating the 17-year-old Jelena Dokic in less than an hour 6-4, 6-2.

The eight-inch difference in the height of the two players was a crude measure of their relative abilities, Dokic achieving her best run to date but unable to sustain it for her biggest moments, with Davenport moving towards a peak for the final.

Converting six out of seven of her break points, Davenport was rarely threatened despite a list of injuries that have been bothering her as well as a head cold which she has had for a number of days. Her stronger serve allowed her to dominate the tempo of the match with Dokic struggling to dictate any serious phases of play.

"I think she could have played a lot better tennis," said Davenport. "She is a very, very talented player. Maybe it's a little overwhelming, your first semi-finals. But she's good."

On the behaviour of Dokic's father and coach Damir, Davenport was equally as forthright. "It's a total shame," she said. "Whether she plays tennis or not, it is hard to have a parent that distracts from the overall good of what the child is achieving. I know it took Mary (Pierce) a long time to get out of the shadow of her father."

But the teenager, who returns to Australia before travelling to Canada as part of her preparation for the Canadian Open, refused to ignite that part of her life again preferring to stick to her tennis. "I've beaten top players so I know what to expect from them. I think with a few more improvements I can be up there," she said.