Will it be the Williams way or a Russian sweep?

“I would love it to be a Williams final,and so would she,” five-time champion Venus said of younger sister Serena. “That would be great.”

Third-seeded Venus,going for her third straight Wimbledon championship,will be up against No 1 Dinara Safina in Thursday’s semi-finals. Serena,seeded No 2,will face No 4 Elena Dementieva.

The Williams siblings go in as solid favourites. They have put on a clinic of power tennis so far,showing why they have been the dominant force at the All England Club for most of the decade.

Subscriber Only Stories

View All

The K Arun Prakash Interview: ‘My style is to highlight the composition a...

At international checkpoint, online system helps vehicles cross over sea...

Experts say Adani Group stock sell-off may not affect market, but deepens...

Delhi Confidential: Lok Sabha Speaker wants MPs to learn lessons from Pad...

Apply New Year promo code SD25

“Do I feel invincible?” Venus said. “I’d like to say yes,but I really do work at it.”

Sibling rivalry

Only once in the past nine years has there been a Wimbledon women’s final that didn’t feature at least one of the Williams sisters. That was 2006 when Serena was absent injured. They have faced each other in three Wimbledon finals,including last year. Serena won the first two,in 2002 and ‘03. They are 10-10 in career meetings and have played in seven Grand Slam finals,with Serena winning five.

“Serena and I work really hard — that’s the first point,” Venus said. “And second,if it was so easy,we’d win everything. But it’s not that easy. We still are definitely the front-runners in tennis as far as being some of the best players out there.”

The Williams sisters have sailed through the draw so far without dropping a set. Venus has lost only 20 games in five matches,Serena 25.

“We have a great game,” Serena said. “We have strong serves. We have pretty good returns. Just solid all-around court players. We both move pretty well. That’s a pretty solid game.”

Venus said the sisters thrive at Wimbledon not only because of their attacking,punishing styles. “I do have strategy,” she said. “Maybe it doesn’t look like it but I do. That’s my secret weapon,that it doesn’t look like I’m thinking,but I am.”

One person who is convinced the sisters will meet for the title on Saturday is their father,Richard. “They are both playing super well,” he said. “They’re playing ‘The Williams Way.’ And when you’re playing ‘The Williams Way,’ it’s very difficult for anyone to touch you.”