OZ Open - Venus has made the finals

[malaise]

beating fwllow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-7.6-2, 6-3
Totally emotional for Venus -all smiles here.

The dream lives - Serena up next.

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. I love me some Venus.

She made me cry.

CoCo played great tennis.

[malaise]

2. I was amazed that Venus came back so easily in the second yet

Experience did the rest because Coco fought hard. That early break in the third was enough. I'm so happy for her.

[spooky3]

3. Great player and great leader -- always knows the right thing to do and say.

She's wonderful.

[malaise]

6. Indeed

Rooting for Serena - I want a sisters' final.

Think about what they're saying - the oldest three women in the semis.
The old film is great. And yes she's a great leader.

Hope Serena wins here in two sets - I need some sleep

[Skittles]

9. AW they are fabulous

I'm a longtime fan, have loved them since they first made the scene

[malaise]

16. Damn Serena is playing well

I will get some sleep

[Skittles]

22. an ass kicking woke her up

ass kickings can be quite therapeutic; many DUers can confirm that

[malaise]

23. For real - Breaks in the second set

[malaise]

27. And now Spoiler

The Fed makes the final as well

Come on Rafa - we want the complete dream.

[BlueCaliDem]

4. Tennis and golf. The two sports that, back in the 80's I heard people say, Black people will

never be champions in.

[malaise]

7. They helped shatter the myths - once there is opportunity

we are all equal. Obama also shattered their myths.

[BlueCaliDem]

28. Oh yes! Then there's that presidential myth. Forgot that one. And yes, once given the

opportunity, all people are equal, although there's still that glass ceiling that Black people have to break through by working twice as hard for any recognition. We need to - and can! - shatter that one, too. We must. It's long past time.

The ingrained racism against Black people as opposed to other races in this country is beyond appalling.

[malaise]

29. I think the indigenous Americans would argue with your last point

They too have been victims for centuries.

Let's shatter them all

[BlueCaliDem]

30. You're correct. But I have to add, the original people of this country have their own

nations and laws, and although they've been murdered and oppressed by this Gov't in the past, the genocide happening across the country of Black people today is staggering and really, really alarming to me.

Black people can't withdraw into their own nations within this country where there are protections for them. Black people are out in the open, sharing this country with privileged Whites and they're being systematically dispersed of without much attention drawn to their frightening plight and the blatant racism against them and their children, were it not for the NAACP, BLM, Rainbow Coalition, and the Mothers of the Movement (among others).

Truly, we still have American Apartheid in full view and in all its ugliness. Venus and Serena both say that they face racism almost at every match. How is that possible in this modern era?? Indigenous people get more respect (publicly) than Black people have ever enjoyed. This particular glass ceiling feels almost too thick to shatter.

Just my observation and opinion.

[malaise]

31. The racism is palpable

Ask Obama. I'm not for a moment playing it down.
My second sister went to pick up her biracial daughter at a hairdresser (on her daughter's wedding day).
If you ever saw the two of them - their faces are identical down to the dimples. The receptionist told sis that no one looking like her was in there. At the same time her daughter walked out of an inner room. I am still angry over that one.

That said the real destruction of indigenous people continues but the worse of it was a while back. Well the Dakota pipe line will restart the hatred.

[BlueCaliDem]

32. Oh, yes, racism in this country is palpable - almost tangible, even.

I'm still mightily upset how people treated President Obama and his beautiful family.

I'm sorry about what your second sister had to experience. I'm so sorry you had to witness it, too. It just...ugh. I have no words as choked up with anger as I am when I read things like that. It enrages me. So I can understand that you're still angry over that ugly event. Truly.

It's true that the U.S. Gov't is still disrespecting the indigenous people of this country, although they don't have to worry about a Rosewood Massacre or Greenwood, Tulsa (Black Wall Street) type of event today anymore. But Black people really have a lot to worry and fear in this country still. And that breaks my heart.

[Skittles]

26. did they miss Arthur Ashe?

[spanone]

5. i just watched it coco played her tough

i loved her dance after she won

[malaise]

8. Oh yes

Now I'm sorry for her because if Serena wins this semi now, her desire to be #1 again means Venus will have a rough time winning.

[spanone]

10. 🎾🎾 🎾

but it will be fun to watch

[malaise]

13. For real

[a kennedy]

11. Shoot, I'm watching now.....on DVR.....rats, wish you would have mentioned a spoiler.

But so happy Venus won....hard to root for one over the other as just so proud of them both.

[malaise]

12. My bad

Watch the live one now - Serena breaks early 2-1

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. WOOOOOOOO!

Go Venus!

[malaise]

15. Hi sis

double break for lil sis

[Are_grits_groceries]

17. Thx!

You know I can't watch. I flit in and out checking the score.
🎾

[malaise]

18. I know

and you're not alone

[malaise]

20. That was quick

First set 6-2

[malaise]

24. Double break again

This one is over

[a kennedy]

19. Yup, watching now.....hopefully she'll meet big sister in the finals.....

i

[malaise]

21. Sure looking that way

[malaise]

25. Yes we can

This is amazing
Done and dusted - game set and match

[StevieM]

33. This is exciting. It has been 7 1/2 years since Venus was last in a Grand Slam final.

And 8 1/2 years since she last won a Grand Slam.