By Amy Shipley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 6, 1998; Page D10

PARIS, June 5 — In a match guaranteed to keep a championship in the family, older sister Venus Williams and partner Justin Gimelstob defeated younger sister Serena Williams and Luis Lobo, 6-4, 6-4, in the mixed doubles final at the French Open tonight.

After the match, the sisters exchanged brief handshakes, received their awards and then shared a laugh with a French television reporter. Asked whether Arantxa Sanchez Vicario or Monica Seles would win Saturday's women's singles final, Venus and Serena both said — in French — that they didn't know.

Asked who was going to win the women's singles next year, both had more definite responses:

"I am," said Serena, a fourth-round loser to Sanchez Vicario last Sunday.

"No, I am," countered Venus, who lost in the quarterfinals to Martina Hingis.

Today, the Williams-Gimelstob team proved more consistent, more experienced and cooler under pressure. Not surprising, considering the pair won the Australian Open together in January. The sisters shared a doubles title this year, but they had never played against each other for one.

"It was a tough match — the toughest team Jason and I have ever played, ever," Venus, 17, said.

The sisters earned about $47,000 with their work today. Venus and Gimelstob earned about $29,000 apiece; Serena and Lobo earned about $18,000 each. Venus also earned about $77,000 from singles and Serena chipped in about $39,322, making it a very lucrative couple of weeks for the Williams family: The sisters will take home more than $160,000.

With the first two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles of 1998, the next challenge for the Williams-Gimelstob team will be the Wimbledon final. Gimelstob said he is eager to continue playing with Venus.

"I'm just on the train," he told Venus. "As long as I can stay on I'm going to keep playing. You just tell me when to punch the ticket."

Serena, 16, didn't seem greatly disappointed with the second-place result. She spoke with affection about Lobo, who vowed to dye his hair for an upcoming tournament for advancing so far in the mixed doubles.

"I have a very good partner," Serena said. "I love Luis and hope to be with him together forever."