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Serena Williams reacts after winning her semi-final match against Elena Dementieva at Wimbledon - Source: Reuters -
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Second seed 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.
Click here to watch sets 1-2
In a tournament where spectacular tennis has been conspicuous by
its absence from the women's draw, the two produced a semi-final
worthy of the name with a riveting display of power-hitting from
the baseline and wily court craft.
Click here to watch sets 2-3
Serena fulfilled her part of the family bargain by reaching the
final, where she might meet sister Venus for a fourth time should
the reigning champion beat top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina later
on Friday.
"Elena played so well and we gave the crowd a wonderful match,"
Serena said in a courtside interview.
Takes the tiebreak
Both players got off to a nervous start, each losing their opening
service games, before the Russian became the first player to take a
set off the American at the All England Club this year by winning
the tiebreak 7-4.
Serena levelled the match when a series of aces got her out of
trouble when serving at 6-5 in the second before Dementieva, the
Olympic singles champion, broke to lead 3-1 in the decider.
The Russian missed match point when a slight net-cord helped a
Williams volley into play when the second seed served at 4-5.
When asked about her thoughts as the Russian held a point for the
match, Serena said: "I thought 'ace', ok it's my serve if I can
just stay calm and try and think positive."
The American then broke to lead 7-6 and duly held serve to book a place in her fifth final after a two hour and 49 minute thriller.
