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

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  1. why is everybody so upset at the the ugly sisters­ winning?? they do look like gorillas ulgy as @#$%­ gorillas at that, it don't make me racist for­ stating facts about the ugly sister, they ugly i never­ mentioned colour or where they are from, just look­ closely at there pictures especially the one on this­ report, thats a gorilla in a woman's tennis outfit­ come on guys get with the programme its all good here­ hehehehehe!! its just fun

    From lee, on Thu 2 Jul 9:48PM

  2. why arent we talking about english tennis?

    From stefi grafs ex, on Thu 2 Jul 9:47PM

  3. Serena and Venus are the best players by far on grass!­ Sharapova is second when she recovers fully. But­ Dementieva has worked so hard and it's great to­ watch a competitive match. Glad Serena came through,­ she's boss! Venus destroyed Safina ranked one cos­ she won one game!lol Well done Vee! That was a crushing­ defeat more like Serena did to both Safina and­ Sharapova Aussie finals 07 & 09! Federer does­ crush oponents in a similar fashion and we should all­ be happy for the way Venus played, absolute class!

    From Vic M, on Thu 2 Jul 9:46PM

  4. i RECKON MAC COULD TAKE ANY OF THEM!i KNOW BECKER­ WOULD!

    From liamtnl, on Thu 2 Jul 9:46PM

  5. lmfao at the kid steve o he took four hrs to come up­ with this work of art to fooking funny !!

    LEE AND SAMM­ ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS, THAT­­ CAN'T­ GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT.......................................L­ ­ ­ EE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS,­ THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT...................................LEE­­­ AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS, THAT­­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT.......................................L­ ­ ­ EE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS,­ THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT........................................­ ­ ­ ..........LEE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE­­­ RACISTS, THAT CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT........................................­ ­ ­ .................LEE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15­ WHITE­­ DUDE RACISTS, THAT CAN'T GET­ HARD0N5....FACT.LEE­­ AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE­ DUDE RACISTS, THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT.......................................L­ ­ ­ EE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS,­ THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT...................................LEE­­­ AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS, THAT­­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT.......................................L­ ­ ­ EE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS,­ THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT........................................­ ­ ­ ..........LEE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE­­­ RACISTS, THAT CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT........................................­ ­ ­ .................LEE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15­ WHITE­­ DUDE RACISTS, THAT CAN'T GET­ HARD0N5....FACT.LEE­­ AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE­ DUDE RACISTS, THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT.......................................L­ ­ ­ EE AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS,­ THAT­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT...................................LEE­­­ AND SAMM ARE SMALL PEN15 WHITE DUDE RACISTS, THAT­­­ CAN'T GET­­­ HARD0N5....FACT.......................................

    From lee, on Thu 2 Jul 9:44PM

  6. come on guys the williams sisters are men and not my­ fault they are ugly fookers to. just because i said­ they were as ugly as gorillas don't make me racist­ does it?? hehehehe!!

    From lee, on Thu 2 Jul 9:43PM

  7. taxi for robson

    From stefi grafs ex, on Thu 2 Jul 9:43PM

  8. The simple truth is that women's tennis is a joke.­ It should be banned and they should have to compete in­ the real game - i.e. against real tennis players, the­ men. It is a disgrace that these 3rd rate piff-paffers,­ best of three sets are paid any money at all, let alone­ the same amout as tennis players such as Federer and­ Nadaal.

    From Lawman, on Thu 2 Jul 9:34PM

  9. elena does not have the mental fortitude of Serena, a­ lesser player wud have crumbled, but Serena has the­ heart of a Champion

    From Joseph M, on Thu 2 Jul 9:31PM

  10. It would be much more interesting to have a final­ Elena-Venus! I believe the majority of the viewers­ agree with me. The issue here is not racism. It is to­ have a chance to watch something different. And Elena­ was not lucky.

    From otez83, on Thu 2 Jul 9:12PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy Pseudo-penis envy­ Pseudo-penis envy....

    From Stevens, on Thu 2 Jul 9:06PM

  12. so many people in tennis are racist.so what if serena­ is black?he deserves her place in the world tour.Would­ you like if someone would just put you out because you­ weren't born white.I saw the crowd, cheering every­ error made by serena and venus and falling in deep­ deppression at dementieva's or an at a serena­ winner.How do you think we make this people feel just­ because of that.remember:just because you're white­ it doesn't mean you are superior

    From THEODOR P, on Thu 2 Jul 9:04PM

  13. Hey,hey,hey.all these racists comments are bull. you­ like it or not,ITS N ALL BLACK FINAL. VIVA WILLIAMS. ­ colour does not matter.its merit,class and quality that­ matters.and they will win the doubles also. these­ racists people will never change.its an innate­ quality.they are born with it.like it or not,williams­ are HOT!!!!

    From Qasim, on Thu 2 Jul 8:58PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    MA HOOS AS A NEW HOOSE. ATS GAT FAR TAE MACH UNSALATON­ THO. FAR TAE MACH. FACKAN RASTAN N MA HOOSE.

    HUS­ ANYBADY GOAT AH SHOT AFF A FON, YEES KEN, WAN O THA­ WANS THOS SPANS ROOND

    From JEEMS, on Thu 2 Jul 8:47PM

  15. Why can't we have a world where merits count and­ nothing else?
    May be that is why racism was­ invented.

    How about those glum faces cheering every­ error made by Serena?lol

    From Gallas, on Thu 2 Jul 8:29PM

  16. The racists comments in here don't bother me.We all­ know they are signs of desperation and defeat.Its the­ brain and hands that play not skin colour.

    From Gallas, on Thu 2 Jul 8:24PM

  17. Yet again the William sister's have done it again­ show casing their natural talent. I am very proud of my­ fellow black nubian queens. Go girls

    From vivian nevins, on Thu 2 Jul 8:23PM

  18. like it or not the williams sisters are the best. so u­ racist better watch start cring before the final.­ Power, skill and talent is part of the game. u better­ get a life or die

    From kehinde, on Thu 2 Jul 8:22PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FACK AFF YA BANCH A CANTS

    From JEEMS, on Thu 2 Jul 8:20PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    as much as i like dementieva that much i dont like­ serena.. she's acting awfully , she has no­ lady's manners nor looks.. She rly has no idea how­ to behave !

    From Jane, on Thu 2 Jul 8:16PM
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