Serena Bully of Her Block

She was ruthless and relentless, as golden as her sneakers.

But more than anything, and for the first time in a meaningful match against her older sister, Serena Williams was as unflappable as Buddha.

In a heavily publicized semifinal Thursday that signaled the final leap to maturity of the most physically imposing player in women’s tennis, Serena beat back the emotional demons that had cursed her previous efforts, overcoming what she called a “mental block” to defeat Venus, 6-2, 6-2, and soar into the final of the Nasdaq-100 Open.

Her opponent in the final Saturday will be top-seeded Jennifer Capriati, who overcame two match points to beat No. 5 Monica Seles, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), closing out the victory at 12:17 a.m. EST.

“This definitely is a very big milestone for me and all the younger sisters and brothers out there,” Serena said after 50 minutes of powder-keg tennis in which she slashed winner after winner and was so devastating with her returns that Venus won only one of 16 second-serve points.

Serena’s smile was on high beam and her laughter spontaneous as she reveled in this watershed victory. Yet when the giddiness subsided, there were also moments of sobriety.

“I was serious at the beginning of the year when I said my goal was to be No. 1,” said Serena, bidding for her first title at Key Biscayne and 13th of her career. “I’m serious now. That’s where I want to be, at the top spot.”

No one ever doubted her skill. It was her mental makeup that had held her back in prime-time losses to Venus at the 1999 Key Biscayne final and in the 2000 Wimbledon semis.

But at 20 and with the stronger resolve that comes with age, there were no nerves Thursday, only thunderbolts. Yet to say this victory was achieved solely on raw power would be incorrect.

Serena Williams put her complete game on display with three memorable pieces of finesse.

First, with Venus serving at 2-4 in the opening set, Serena lofted a perfect offensive lob for a winner to bring the game to deuce.

Three points later, she hit a sensational short-angled backhand crosscourt pass--a shot that must be delicately stroked, not crushed.

In the second set, serving at 0-1, Serena raced wide of the forehand doubles alley to tomahawk back a shot with such perfection that it induced Venus to stroke wide. It was the shot of the match.

“Shocked” was the word Serena used after the women shook hands, but did not embrace, at the net.

Both women over the last three years have downplayed Serena’s emotional meltdowns. This time, however, Serena not only talked about it, she reveled in her newfound strength after moving to 2-5 against her sister.

“I think it definitely removed a mental block for me. But this is just one match of many. Just one win. You can’t just beat someone one time. You have to beat them several times,” she said.

Venus spoke with reporters in a barely audible voice. “I never really got into the match. Before I knew it, it was over,” she said.

It was the third time in five matches Venus had lost an opening set. Serena needed to maintain her aggressiveness, and she did.

With Venus serving in Game 1 of the second set, Serena smacked two wild forehands to fall behind, 40-love. Said Serena, “I desperately needed to calm down. Venus really likes to make a lot of comebacks. I knew she wasn’t going to give it to me. I was going to have to win it.”

She held serve at love to even the set at 1-1, then broke with another finesse shot--a floating backhand slice that broke Venus’ rhythm. She slapped her shot into the net and Serena led, 2-1.

Twenty minutes later, serving for the match, Serena walked to the service mark and bounced the ball 20 times, 11 off her racket and nine more out of her hand.

“I was just like, ‘OK, Serena.’ I was thinking I need to get a first serve in. I don’t know if I did or didn’t,” she admitted.

She didn’t. But she quickly took command of the final point off her second serve and polished it off.

“I think this is the biggest win in my career,” she said. Bigger than the U.S. Open title in 1999?

“I don’t even remember that,” Serena said playfully. “I need to go ahead and win another Grand Slam. That was so long ago. This is getting ridiculous.”

There was nothing ridiculous, however, about this victory. She’s no longer the little sister. She’s the younger sister, which makes all the emotional difference in the world.