4.05pm Another unforced error from Serena, an easy forehand into the net, gives Venus a chance at 15-30. After a runaround from her sister she claws her way back to set up two Championship points. Serena saves the first with an ace, her ninth of the match. But another unforced error from Serena means that Venus successfully defends her title. The two embrace under the umpire's chair and then Venus stands next to her chair with a smile as wide as the net, while Serena packs her bags with a look of frustration wrought clear on her face. There will be great debate as to whether Serena more lost the match, rather than Venus won it, but the latter showed a ruthlessness when the breaks came and was more consistent in the conditions and deserves her fifth Wimbledon title to confirm her place as the best women's grass-court player of her generation. Venus wins 7-5, 6-4.

3.58pm Serena is increasingly showing signs of exasperation as things fail to go her way, more by way of unforced errors than bad luck. Venus holds to 15 and now Serena must serve to stay in the match. Venus leads 5-4 second set.

3.54pm Serena, who holds serve comfortably, is looking for a fourth title of the year and her first major since the Australian Open in 2007. Venus is looking for her first title of the year and first major since Wimbledon last year. 4-4 second set.

3.50pm Venus holds her serve to love and it is difficult to see how Serena will turn this match around. Venus leads second set 4-3.

3.45pm After an early wobble, Serena gets her elder sister running around the court. Maybe the 26-year-old is hoping that the 15 months of age gap will make a difference. But she then concedes another break point, before her serve comes to the rescue and she levels at 3-3.

3.40pm Venus's serve struggles a little, but it is enough to see off Serena, who is looking a little disheartened, rueing the opportunities that she has missed. Returning to the fashion stakes, it appears that Venus is wearing a sophisticated toga, while, on second thoughts, Serena's earrings are closer to ladies' clutch bags. Venus leads second set 3-2.

3.35pm Venus immediately earns herself a chance to break back and, showing a ruthlessness that Serena lacks, takes it to level up the second set at 2-2.

3.30pm Serena is comfortable enough on her own serve, and also on Venus's serve until it gets down to the important part. She lets pass two more break points at 15-40, then a third, a fourth and a fifth. A wonderful, stretching volley that hits the net cord in much the same manner as her sister did in the first set stops her sister winning the game. A few more deuces are exchanged before Serena spurns a sixth break point. Finally, it is lucky seven for Serena, who converts her seventh break point of the game, taking advantage of a slip from Venus. This game seemed to be a microcosm of the match itself: a fast, gruelling, intense battle. It was long as well, lasting 14 minutes. Will Serena's break mark a change in the tide? Serena leads 2-1 second set.

3.10pm Serena has a couple more break points, but once again she fails to convert them. She has only converted one of six break points. A heavy serve from Venus means that she starts the second set better than she did the first. The players seem to be coping well with the blustery conditions. Venus leads 1-0 second set.

3.05pm Again Venus looks to have made an opportunity, but this time Serena shows a deft touch at the net to level at 30-all. But she loses the next point and then an unforced error gives Venus the first set, 7-5. However, Serena can take comfort in the knowledge that five years ago in the Wimbledon final she lost the first set 6-4, but went on to win the next two, 6-4, 6-2 to take the title. Venus wins first set 7-5.

3.00pm The defending champion looks to have opened up an opportunity to win the set, but Serena's serve comes to the rescue to level the match up. Venus then wins her serve comfortably to lead 6-5. This is the seventeenth meeting of the sisters with Serena leading 9-7 on all surfaces. On grass, all at Wimbledon, Serena leads 2-1.

2.52pm Venus survives a break point, then Serena shows her lack of net craft compared to her sister in failing to put away a volley. Serena works herself another break point, her fourth of the match, but is unable to make it count. After another deuce Venus holds and Serena, resplendent with earrings that look like hanging baskets, has to hold serve to stay in the first set. Venus leads 5-4.