Venus and Serena Williams followed different paths to set up a family duel again at the Wimbledon women's singles final on Thursday.
Serena Williams of the United States jubilate after winning the women's singles semifinal against Russia's Elena Dementieva at the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships, on July 2, 2009. Serena Williams won 2-1 and she will play her sister Venus Williams in the final.
Two-time champion Serena saved a match point and overcame Russian Elena Dementieva 6-7(4), 7-5, 8-6 in 2 hours, 49 minutes. Five-time winner Venus needed only 51 minutes to overwhelm another Russian Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-0 and reach her eighth Wimbledon final.
Venus Williams of the United States waves to the audience after winning the women's singles semifinal against Dinara Safina of Russia at the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships, on July 2, 2009. Venus Williams won 2-0 and she will play against her sister Serena Williams in the final.
It will be their fourth all-sister Wimbledon final and eighth meeting in a Grand Slam title match. Venus is bidding to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1991-93 to win Wimbledon three years in a row.
There have been seven previous all-Williams championship matches at majors, with Serena holding a 5-2 lead. Overall, the sisters are tied 10-10.