Timbledon dreams sink

Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean shattered Briton Tim Henman8217;s Wimbledon dream for another year on Thursday when he completed a 7-6, 3-6, 6...

Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean shattered Briton Tim Henman8217;s Wimbledon dream for another year on Thursday when he completed a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 quarter-final victory on Centre Court. A vengeful Serena Williams butchered Belgian rival Justin Henin-Hardenne 6-3, 6-2 in their grudge rematch to reach her second successive Wimbledon final on Thursday. In a display of brute force that left Centre Court gasping, the defending champion buried the memory of her bitter French Open semi-final defeat by the Belgian with a barrage of ferocious winners.

On court one, the bookmakers8217; favourite for the men8217;s title, American fifth seed Andy Roddick made light work of experienced Swede Jonas Bjorkman in their men8217;s quarter-final.

Play on all courts was delayed by two hours, 40 minutes due to rain but Roddick was unflustered as he booked his first Wimbledon semi-final against either Swiss fourth seed Roger Federer or Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Two sets to one up overnight, 13th seeded Grosjean wrapped up a deserved victory with some scintillating shots to deflate an expectant Centre Court crowd. Henman, seeded 10, had been hoping to reach his fifth Wimbledon semi-final in six years but the host nation8217;s hopes of a first men8217;s champion since 1936 were left in tatters by some sublime shot-making from Grosjean.

The Frenchman will play his first Wimbledon semi-final against either German Alexander Popp or Australian Mark Philippoussis, who like Popp is unseeded.

Grosjean is only the third player from France to reach the semi-finals of the men8217;s singles at Wimbledon since the game turned professional in 1968.

Meanwhile, Serena will face either sister Venus or Belgian Kim Clijsters in Saturday8217;s final. 8216;8216;I played really well today 8212; I was really focused, I had to be,8217;8217; said the 21-year-old American, who had accused Henin of 8216;8216;lying and fabricating8217;8217; in their bad-tempered game at Roland Garros last month.

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This time she was all smiles, adding: 8216;8216;I8217;m just happy to be in the final of Wimbledon again, I8217;m really excited. It8217;s a great feeling. I just have another opportunity to have another go at another championship here.8217;8217; The Federer-Schalken match was due to be completed on Thursday together with British 10th seed Tim Henman8217;s quarter-final with Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean. Groejean will now face either German Alexander Popp or Australian Mark Philippoussis, who were level at two sets all, 2-2 when wet conditions caused their quarter-final to be suspended on Wednesday. Reuters