Wimbledon - Serena into final after epic

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 22:01:00 2009

Serena Williams recovered from match point down to beat Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva 6-7 7-5 8-6 in a nail-biting semi-final at Wimbledon.

Serena Williams - Wimbledon 2009 - 0

The match lurched in fortunes continuously on the way to becoming the longest women's semi-final in the Open era at two hours and 49 minutes.

Williams's victory set up a fourth all-Williams final at the All England Club, after Serena's sister Venus thrashed world number one Dinara Safina 6-1 6-0 in the other semi-final.

After a low-key women's tournament to-date, the thrilling clash was played in energy-sapping conditions on Centre Court, with temperatures soaring to 34 degrees.

The opening two games saw both serves broken with neither player able to settle or find sufficient rhythm, but from then on the contest was of the highest quality.

Dementieva won the first set, having seized control of the tie break to win it 7-4 after 12 cagey games, with both players battling hard to gain the ascendency.

Williams hit back to take the second set, an incredibly tense affair in which two breaks of serve were exchanged before the crucial advantage was taken by the American in the 11th game.

Under intense pressure the twice Wimbledon champion closed out the set to level the match after Dementieva had squandered numerous opportunities to hit back.

The Russian edged closer to victory with a crucial break of serve in the fourth game of the deciding set, but she then imploded under the scrutiny of her opponent's advances, and Williams broke straight back in the following game.

Williams held her nerve impressively with a crisp volley to save a match point at 5-4 down, and the American battled her way through a gutsy service hold.

The final set was finely poised throughout, and it took until the 13th game for Williams to finally make the crucial breakthrough.

Having capitulated on her serve, Dementieva had nothing left to give as Williams stepped in to close the match out.

The American held her composure superbly in the final game with a controlled service hold, which prompted a shriek of delight from her at its conclusion.

Given Venus's serene progress in her semi-final, conceding just one game, the onus will be on Serena to recover her energy for Saturday's showpiece match.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 183 - 202 of 222

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. radeta, you are wrong Dementieva is not a better player­ than Serena. If she was she would have won that game.­ Why don't you acknewledge the supremacy of the­ Williams. It seems to me you have forgotten how long­ they have been in this business. They have proven to be­ the best. May I ask you a question? Are a white guy or­ bird? if your answer is yes then I can understand your­ stupid comment and if your answer is no then I will say­ you are a miserable fun go counselling because­ something is not right in your head. I shouldn't­ think this is a forum for people to try to be racist.­ Remember they had to play different player to get to­ the final and don't think all of them were from the­ Williams family. So why don't you guys and birds­ acknowledge them?

    From ntoni, on Fri 3 Jul 9:57AM
  2. it is nothing to do with race here. People should have­ freedom of word. Yes Serena foought hard to win the­ game yesterday just because she wasn't at her best.­ Dementieva played well but you cannot compare her with­ Serena. Somebody said if she had a better 1st serve. oh­ please that why she lost. As a black guy and a tennis­ lover and also the Williams fun, I loved it when Henin­ and Kim were there. It made the game more exciting. I­ wonder how Dinara got the number 1. Tennis­ confederation should think about this because it­ doesn't make sens. How can somebody who has 1 grand­ slam be ahead of the one who has 10. It's­ ridiculous. for the final I will go for Venus to win.

    From ntoni, on Fri 3 Jul 9:44AM
  3. Lol.. who on eart expect Dinara to be in the Finals.­ She should have just retired. Its a waste of time to­ even see her match for 1 hour. A total dissapointment­ display from world no.1

    From Bblee, on Fri 3 Jul 9:25AM
  4. One of the best matches for ages, the kids should learn­ from Serena who never thought she would lose, and not­ from Dementieva who never had the look of someone­ thinking "i'm going to win" - far far too­ fragile mentally, looking to the Mum every point. I­ thought Serena did not hit her forehand like she­ normally does so to come through the winner is a great­ achievement. Both women far too noisy though, Elena­ seemed to change her noise to a shriek for some strange­ reason!!!

    From justgetsnasty, on Fri 3 Jul 8:47AM
  5. Good place for all big and tall singles, please check:­ ---Tallconnect Co M ---- ,More fun waiting for you...

    From morelamm22, on Fri 3 Jul 7:19AM
  6. I AM HAPPY ALL YOU RACISTS ARE IN SO MUCH EXCRUCIATING­ PAIN, AND VERY FUSTRATED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE­ MATCHES...LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Stil, on Fri 3 Jul 5:05AM
  7. Let's be clear. What you white people are doing and­ saying in your comment in any aspect of life where­ black are growing up, W e black people are listing and­ will tel our children.
    No matter what you do , you can­ not kill us all and we are growing stronger.
    i believe­ that there is some white people very good and there is­ also lot of KKK. wherever they are open KKK or not we­ are watching you carefully .Specially Me .
    What i want­ you know and my Black people to know is We are many and­ we are everywhere.
    We are peaceful , more powerful­ .
    give up your KKK evil way or you force us to choose­ the evil OBL way .
    i believe we will be the winner if­ you choose that way.
    We will always remain Peaceful­ .
    Kokou in Hong Kong

    From ALAVO, on Fri 3 Jul 4:04AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WHAT A VERY,,VERY BORING LADYES FINAL????THY NO WHO IS­ GOING TO WIN???THY AR VERY ARROGANT,,,,,,,,,

    From tdeddy, on Fri 3 Jul 4:03AM
  9. now we shall return our pair of final tickets to­ Wimbledon box office fore resale

    Surplus to ­ requirements

    From ace.firstserve, on Fri 3 Jul 3:59AM
  10. WHAT A SAD SAD UNDESIRABLE RESULT TO THIS­ SEMI~FINAL

    TALENTED ADORABLE ELENA DEMENTIEVA ~~ ­ ONLY ONE POINT AWAY FROM FINAL SLOT ..!

    sadly now ­ today she is home in Moscow with her little pet dog

    From ace.firstserve, on Fri 3 Jul 3:58AM
  11. PEOPLE SHUD JUST QUIT DISSING THESE TWO BEAUTIFU SOULS!­ ....DEY R OUT THERE DOING STHG THEY LOVE AND PROPSERING­ IN IT....ALL THOSE DISSING THEM I HOPE YALL R­ PROSPERING IN WHAT U R DOING TOOOO.
    THIS is tennis­ mannnn...a freakin sport lets just watch n hav fun n­ enjoy n stopdissing or judging others.

    abt­ serena's semi final with dementieva i must rlly­ give it to elena her she did a great job even tho­ serena had sooooooooooooo many unforced errors. i dint­ understnd wt was goin on but then again in d end she­ snatched the win.serena just proved dt she is more­ experienced and a better player, bette rind sense she­ made d best use of d opportunity dt cmae her way and­ did not luk back. elena had so much opportunites to­ finish d match but dint had winnnner forehands or sthg.­ BUT AL IN ALL ITS D BEST GAME SO FA RIN THE­ TOURNAMENT!!! KUDOS GURLS!
    WE SET UP FOR AN ALL­ WILLIAMS FINALS JUST LIKE I DREAMT....VENUS IS TAKIN­ THIS ONEEEEE !!!!

    From Olucci N, on Fri 3 Jul 2:51AM
  12. Serena you are the best, but your sister is coming for­ you. I know will make it

    From salamatu, on Fri 3 Jul 1:59AM
  13. get a life

    From A.Adam, on Fri 3 Jul 1:40AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bitter racist white who cant accept that the black race­ is stronger n smarter than the white.

    From A.Adam, on Fri 3 Jul 1:40AM
  15. I DONT KNOW WHY HUMAN BEING ALWAYS ABDICATE THEMSELVE­ FROM TRUTH,, SERENA AND VENUS ARE GREAT WORLD TENNIS­ PLAYER, EVEN AT LATE TWENTIES, THEY ARE STILL MOVING SO­ NICELY AND WELL LIKE THAT,THEY ARE GREAT, YOU TALK­ ACTIVES SHOULD LEARN TO HONOUR GREAT PEOPLE WITH OUR­ MOUTH, SOMEBODY IS RULLING YOU, YOU DONT WANT TO­ ACCEPT HES LEADING YOU, YOU BETTER WAKE­ UP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, LARRY DONALD,,,,

    From LarryD, on Fri 3 Jul 1:21AM
  16. #195, you are as daft as a novice.if power serves makes­ a player you can say that to Kaarlovic against Federa,­ who fought the power serve to win. it would also appear­ that you don't understand tennis but hatrate..

    From Augustine A, on Fri 3 Jul 12:18AM
  17. @Lee...Empty vessels make the loudest­ noises...Its' sad reading yor comments,i can see­ your just a vaccum.Ask yourself where would tennis be­ without the Williams sisters,they are worthy­ competitors and icons of the ladies game.Even at their­ late twenties they still show such resilience and aura­ of true champions.please give credit do whom credit is­ due rather than been such a loser.If not for those­ ladies what would u have been watching sitting in that­ lonely pub you freaking idiot.If you want to see tits­ please go buy a playboy or page 3 mag you @#$%!

    From Anthony, on Thu 2 Jul 11:15PM
  18. Serena once again showed the wordl that tennis is about­ thinking, knowing and assuring yourself of your ability­ and having a fighting spirit that even when test will­ stand the test of time. The match would ahve been over­ had Dementiveva mind been in check she know that the­ passing shot at match point was the shot not only that­ that was the shot she had been playing all match so­ suddenly the chance present itself and guess what she­ forgets her winning shot. Unlike her Serena didn't­ need a second invitation once she broke at 6-6 she­ didn't look back. Perosnally i don't­ understand why people though Demi was a cake walk if­ peple actually watch her match then her resistance­ would not come as a shock. Serena f.h was missing but­ came up on the big points which was what mattered in­ the end when it counted Serena stood up and was­ counted. This was by far the best match of the­ Championships and off course Venus; was the worst­ showing i have seen for a world number 1. Safina­ should just step aside

    From janice m, on Thu 2 Jul 11:15PM
  19. Why would I be scared to say it say it. The williams­ are not conventinal beauties. The conventional thought­ of Beauty is white. white features. In the west that­ is. But I like the williams.... I find them­ sexy......But I like Venus most. She does it for me.­ Tall and fit. Strong too. They are good looking to me.­ Just cos you dont like the look of them dont diss them.­ They have more talent and ability than you will ever­ have, even if you live to be 200. More money too. And­ in the West that is the measure of success is it not? ­ Not looks. Let me see now who has made the most money­ in womens Tennis...........Oh dear it Serena...and­ second place...Oh no! its Venus. Seems the gorillas­ are kicking it.

    From Gavin F, on Thu 2 Jul 11:13PM
  20. Dementieva is better player than Serena,and only good­ serves were holding her in life.Without serves she is­ average player.Also I think that her sister Venus is­ the best player in the world at this moment.

    From radeta01, on Thu 2 Jul 11:02PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account