The two best players in women’s tennis met on Saturday and produced a memorable match. A game that none of the pretenders could have lived with. Justine Henin maybe, but she’s gone. The field is open for a new era of Williams dominance.

When Maria Sharapova stunned Serena Williams in the final at Wimbledon in 2004, it seemed like the younger sister’s reign of dominance was over. Since then she’s made only three more Grand Slam finals, adding the 2006 US Open and the 2008 Australian Open to that Wimbledon crown.

It's a good record, but not one that marks her out as one of the best. A lot of fuss in a tuxedo: Sharapova risks becoming to women's tennis what George Lazenby was to the James Bond franchise.

The other two pretenders, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, have one Grand Slam title and three finals between them. Ivanovic's French win was seen as a breakthrough but both girls look far too brittle to sustain a real challenge at the top.

So the top three players in the world have managed to win four Grand Slams. Venus and Serena have 15 between them. Henin, who came as close as any to dominating the game, won seven before burning out.

The truth is that Venus and Serena are the best players the women’s tour has. But the rankings won’t reflect that.

Sharapova, Ivanovic and Jankovic can fight it out for the world No.1 spot. But it will be a pyrrhic victory. Venus and Serena don’t play enough tournaments to triumph in the rankings. This inactivity means they can be caught cold in the Slams. But when it all comes together, as it did over two weeks at SW19, they are an irresistible force.

This pattern has been seen before. Kim Clijsters, who didn’t have the mental strength to be a true great, was able to stalk the No.1 spot by the simple virtue of playing any tournament, anywhere. Henin, too, could not be accused of laziness, especially in the earlier part of her career. It’s telling that they are both now lost to the game, both retiring at a young age, burnt out and exhausted.

There remains a distrust, if not a dislike, of Venus and Serena in world tennis. Winners aren’t supposed to come from areas more famous for gang warfare. Tennis dads aren’t supposed to be mouthy, controversial iconoclasts like Richard Williams. Tennis stars aren’t supposed to talk about ambitions in interior design, fashion or acting.

Tennis isn’t the only thing in their lives. And that’s extended their careers past what is increasingly considered the norm. Don’t expect the authorities to thank them for that, or to change the ranking system to reflect their performances at events like Wimbledon.

For the powers that be in world tennis the known quantities are easier to deal with. The identikit Eastern European gang, turning up at any event, smiling for the press, happy to do any photoshoot. Malleable and easily dominated by sponsors and marketing men. But that’s not enough to make tennis a thrilling spectacle.

As fans, we can only be thankful that the sisters are doing it for themselves.