MOSCOW, July 2 (RIA Novosti) - The Williams sisters will meet in the final of Wimbledon for the second consecutive year after they came through very different semifinals against Russians Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina on Thursday.
Dementieva's nail-biting match with Serena Williams lasted a marathon 2 hours 49 minutes - the longest women's semifinal of the open era - with the Russian taking the first set 7-4 in a tie-break.
After being broken by the younger Williams in the first game of the second set, Dementieva broke back but lost her serve at 5-5, with the American No. 2 seed serving out the set 7-5.
The Russian got the first break in the deciding set, going up 3-1, but her opponent immediately struck back. Up 5-4 with Williams serving, the No. 4 seed had the American on the ropes for a moment, with one match point at 30-40, with Williams' winner bouncing off the top of net and into Dementieva's court.
Although the Russian won her next service game, Williams reeled off the next three to take the set 8-6 and set up a potential family final.
It was a possibility that Venus was not going to let go, flying out of the blocks against world No. 1 and tournament top seed Safina to win the first five games and take the first set 6-1.
The Russian, who lost in the final of both the Australian and French opens this year, failed to raise her game for the second set, which the No. 3 seed took to love.
The repeat of last year's final, which Venus won to claim her fifth Wimbledon crown and seventh Grand Slam title, was confirmed in 51 minutes.
Serena is appearing in the final for the fifth time, with both her victories coming against Venus in 2002 and 2003, and will be going for her 11th Grand Slam title.
