By Linda Pearce, The Age-Australia
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/05/1025667059712.html
July 6 2002

The theory that results between the Williams sisters are predetermined has been given new life at Wimbledon by beaten Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, who predicted a Venus victory in tonight's final, on the basis that Serena won their previous match at the French Open.

"I think they arrange it," Mauresmo said in an interview with French TV. "I don't have any proof, but when you see the final in Roland Garros, you can think that it could be arranged. Maybe they can exchange and it will be Venus' turn now."

Earlier, Mauresmo had told the English-speaking media that she did not plan to watch the final, the third in 10 months between Venus, the No. 1, and Serena, who will succeed her at the head of the rankings on Monday. Asked to predict the outcome, Mauresmo said: "Well, you have to ask them for that."

It is not the first suggestion of turns being taken, and the major prizes being shared between the sisters, although any such suggestions have always been angrily denied by the Williams family.

Venus has won five of the pair's eight matches, and two of the three grand slam finals, but Serena has won the past two encounters, including last month's French Open decider.

If that controversy was not enough, Serena will contest her first Wimbledon final aware that the German man arrested on Wednesday for stalking her at tournaments on three continents was released by a local magistrate on an $800 13-month good behaviour bond.