07.03.08 News Break
Venus and Serena Williams won in straight sets Thursday to set up their third all-sister Wimbledon final and seventh Grand Slam championship matchup.
Defending champion and four-time winner Venus beat Elena Dementieva 6-1, 7-6 (3), then two-time champ Serena overcame two rain delays and served 14 aces to down China’s Zheng Jie 6-2, 7-6 (5).
It will be the first all-Williams final at any tournament since 2003, when Serena beat her older sister in the Wimbledon title match for the second year in a row.
Serena holds an 8-7 career edge over Venus, including 5-1 in Grand Slam finals. Since Venus won the U.S. Open in 2001, Serena has won five straight of their major finals.
“She’s a tough opponent,” Serena said. “I think she’ll be the toughest person I’ve played. I’m excited.”
Said Venus: “It’s every Williams for themself.”
Venus overpowered the fifth-seeded Dementieva in the first set and then prevailed in an error-filled tiebreaker to improve her record to 7-0 in semifinals at the All England Club.
“I am dying for S. Williams to get through,” said the 28-year-old Venus, who hasn’t dropped a set in five matches and will be going for her seventh Grand Slam title. [source]