LONDON, England (BBC) Serena and Venus Williams returned to Centre Court to retain their women’s doubles title by beating Rennae Stubbs and Samantha Stosur 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 yesterday. Serena had beaten Venus in the women’s singles final earlier in the day but looked the shakier of the pair.

She was broken in only the third game but gradually improved as Stubbs’ serving let down the Australians.

She was broken to allow the Williams back in and take the set on a tie-break and was broken again in the second set.

Stubbs held her first service game of the match, to consolidate the early break of Serena’s serve, but that was as good as it got for her.

After she lost her next one to allow the Williams to level at 4-4 in the first set, she was 30-40 down when next serving at 5-6 to give the sisters a set point.

The Australians escaped from that game after winning three successive points but it was only a temporary reprieve as the Americans converted their second set point in the tie-break.

Stubbs continued to struggle with her serve in the second set.

She first served in the third game and found herself at break point which disappeared when a Venus forehand flew long.

The Australians saved two more break points before Stubbs moved to advantage, only to hit the ball into her team-mate Stosur to take the score back to deuce.

Stubbs finally held and the third seeds led 2-1 but she was broken in her next service game to put the Williams 4-3 up.

The sisters had their first championship point in Stosur’s next service game but although she held serve they were now on the back foot.

Serena set up a second championship point in her next service game but netted after a rally before the third chance for victory arrived.

This time there was no mistake as Serena served a 112mph ace and jumped with delight before celebrating with Venus as a one hour 34 minute victory was completed at 2052 BST.