Williams Sisters Steamroll to Title

Serena and Venus Williams have taken the Australian Open women's doubles title with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over second seeds Virgina Ruano Pascual of Spain and Argentina's Paola Suarez.

The sisters - opponents in tomorrow's singles final - had already won all four doubles grand slam events and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and have not been beaten as a pair for 16 months.

Despite their imposing record, they needed a wildcard to enter the tournament because Venus, who did not play enough events last year, does not have a doubles ranking.

Once they had their wildcard, Australian Open officials named the sisters as top seeds to avoid them running into the best teams too early. Ruano Pascual and Suarez would have been the top seeded pair

However, the sisters had to rally from a set down after a disastrous start to the match. Serena dropped her first service game to love, double faulting at break point.

The Spanish-Argentine combination clinched the set on a disputed call when Venus's backhand return drifted wide.

Serena was broken again in the first game of the second set, but the Williams sisters battled to break Ruano Pascual twice.

In the 10th game, Serena intercepted a volley and Venus put away an overhead smash to set up set point and Serena rifled a forehand return down the line to level it the match.

Venus was broken for the first time, losing the opening game of the deciding set, but Serena saved six break points in the third game to spark a Williams revival.

They lost just one point in the next two games in a five-game winning run to seal the match. Venus set up three match points with an ace and Serena slammed a backhand volley cross court to take the championship.

"We want to dedicate this win to mom. Thanks mom, we love you and you've been there all the way and we'll be there for you, I promise," Venus said.

The Williams had beaten Ruano Pascual and Suarez 6-2, 7-5 in the Wimbledon final last year and were 1-1 going into this final

It was a second Australian Open doubles title for the Williams, who won at Melbourne Park in 2000. Their other titles came at the French and U.S. Opens in '99 and at Wimbledon in 2000 and 2002.

Suarez and Ruano Pascual had three Grand Slam doubles titles, winning back-to-back French Open finals in 2001 and 2002 and the U.S. Open title last year.

Suarez said she hoped the Williams, who were given the No1 seeding despite their doubles ranking, would concentrate on singles next time.

"I hope next year Venus and Serena don't play and we can win the championship," she said.

Venus said the pair had managed to find some time to devote to doubles practice this week, despite the stress of their singles pursuits.

"We definitely practised our doubles tactics," she said. "We know they're very good at doubles, that they're playing all the time, they're very experienced.

"They're able to see the ball a little better in a doubles situation, much better than we would."

The sisters has to rely on their superior strength to stage a comeback.

"We have to just use everything that we have, our experience," said Venus. We have so much experience of being in tight situations and still winning. That's what we used today ... and, of course, our serves."

Venus's serve was poor in the opening set and she was broken twice.

"Serena wasn't worried at all," Venus said. "I just kept missing. I was so disappointed in myself and I could hardly get past that. She helped me - that's why I play with her. I wouldn't be able to do it with anyone else."