Serena , Venus in 5th all-Williams final

LONDON: Serena Williams exacted sweet revenge and sister Venus displayed raw courage at Wimbledon yesterday to inflict a double defeat on Belgium and set up a repeat of last year’s women’s final. But British hopes of ending a 67-year-wait for a men’s champion were dashed when Tim Henman lost his quarter-final to Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.

Defending women’s champion Serena demolished Belgian rival Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-3, 6-2 in their grudge semi-final rematch, while Venus played through agonising stomach muscle pain to beat Henin’s compatriot Kim Clijsters 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Provided Venus, the 2000 and 2001 Wimbledon champion, is fit to play, tomorrow’s final will be the fifth all-Williams final in the last six grand slams and a sixth in total. Serena, who is now assured of keeping her number one ranking, has won the last five matches between the two siblings. Battling Venus was just glad to have made it through her match in one piece after aggravating her stomach injury early in the match.

The older of the two sisters said a rain interruption after the first set, which she lost, had probably saved her. “I had a lot of issues,” the fourth seed said. “It was tough. I think the rain saved me. I couldn’t calm myself down, I was so worried about the injury.” Grosjean outclassed Henman in their held-over men’s quarter-final, needing barely half an hour to wrap up victory. Leading two sets to one overnight, 13th seed Grosjean won the fourth set 6-4 with some sublime shot-making to seal a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. In his first Wimbledon semi-final Grosjean will face unseeded Australian Mark Philippoussis, who completed a thrilling comeback from two sets down to beat German Alexander Popp 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 8-6 on court one. The pair had been level at two sets all and 2-2 overnight.

Earlier on court one the bookmakers’ favourite for the men’s title, fifth seed Andy Roddick, made light work of experienced Swede Jonas Bjorkman in their men’s quarter-final. Play on all courts was delayed by two hours, 40 minutes due to rain but Roddick was unflustered as he won 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to book his first Wimbledon semi-final. He will play 21-year-old Swiss fourth seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals in a meeting of the two hottest young talents in the game. Federer shrugged off his back complaint to defeat Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, who was struggling with a foot problem, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on court two.