Jul 3, 2008 - 3:12 PM
0 shoutsWIMBLEDON, England (Ticker) -- For the first time in five years, there will be an all-Williams final at Wimbledon.
Venus Williams and Serena Williams both won their semifinal matches in straight sets Thursday, setting up the seventh Grand Slam final meeting between the sisters.
The reigning champion and a four-time winner of this grasscourt major, seventh-seeded Venus silenced No. 5 Elena Dementieva, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), on Centre Court.
Nearly four hours later, sister Serena held up her end of the bargain by defeating tournament upstart Jie Zheng, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), in a match that was delayed by rain.
Saturday's showdown will mark the third time that the Williams sisters have squared off in a Wimbledon final.
"Our main focus is obviously both of us getting to the final," Venus said. "Then from there, it's every Williams for themself."
Venus, who claimed her sixth major title here last year, also won this event in 2000, 2001 and 2005. But she has lost both of her previous Wimbledon final meetings with Serena, who defeated her older sister to claim consecutive titles here in 2002 and 2003.
"It's so exciting," Venus said. "I'm looking forward to the final. ... It's my seventh final and I'm looking forward to playing Serena in our third final."
"(Venus) is a tough opponent," Serena added. "I think she'll be the toughest person I've played. I'm excited."
When asked about the possibility of another all-Williams final, Dementieva admitted that it would be difficult for her to play against her sister.
"It's really hard," Dementieva said. "It's going to be a family decision. They know their game very well. So maybe there is not so much fight in the end."
In what could have been a misinterpretation of Dementieva's response, a reporter asked Venus about the idea of a predetermined outcome between herself and Serena.
"I contribute my best in my sport and I also have a ton of respect for myself and my family," Venus said. "So any mention of that is extremely disrespectful for who I am, what I stand for, and my family."
Serena owns a 5-1 all-time record in major finals against Venus, whose only major championship victory in the sibling rivalry came at the 2001 U.S. Open.
Before securing another berth in the final here, Venus had to get past Dementieva, the highest remaining seed left in the women's draw who was making her first career Wimbledon semifinal appearance.
Screaming and grunting audibly throughout the 102-minute match, Dementieva delivered a sloppy performance, committing three double faults and 22 unforced errors.
After looking completely overmatched in the first set, Dementieva battled in the second, converting an early break to set up a tiebreaker. But the 26-year-old Russian ultimately was no match for Venus, who owns a 6-2 record in the all-time series.
Dementieva's overall frustration was exemplified during the eighth point of the tiebreaker, when she rifled a forehand into the net to fall behind, 5-3. Immediately after the ball hit the net, Dementieva let out a prolonged scream of aggravation, perhaps signaling that she was doomed in the match.
It was an eerily similar victory later in the day for Serena, who dominated the opening set before being slowed by Zheng - and the weather - in the second set.
Zheng, the first Chinese woman to ever reach the a Grand Slam semifinal, played defensively in committing just six unforced errors.
But despite a tournament resume that included upsets of four seeded players - including world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, Zheng was no match for the 26-year-old Serena, who will bid for her third Wimbledon title and ninth career major championship Saturday.
"I wanted to do more than make a Wimbledon final," Serena said. "I'm just happy to be back in a Grand Slam final."
After being outclassed in the first set, Zheng performed better at the start of the second set - and it was no surprise when she secured her first break of serve to open a 4-2 lead.
However, Zheng's nerves returned in her next service game, as Serena raced into a 0-40 lead before taking the second of her three break points.
The unseeded Zheng battled to hold serve before forcing a set point, as Serena served at 5-6 only to miss her golden chance with a forehand error.
After firing a 122 mile-per-hour ace to take a 5-2 lead in the tiebreak, Serena committed a pair of unforced errors to fall into a 5-5 tie.
But after rifling a winner that was upheld by a challenge, Serena finally won the match when Zheng double-faulted.
"(Zheng) definitely pushed me," Serena said. "Unbelievable - not only that she played a great game. She played like she had nothing to lose, and she didn't."
