One was a battle. The other was a slaughter. But two vastly differing matches produced a familiar result. The Williams sisters will contest the Wimble�don ladies singles final for the second consecutive year.

One was a battle. The other was a slaughter. But two vastly differing matches produced a familiar result. The Williams sisters will contest the Wimbledon ladies singles final for the second consecutive year. They found two ways of reaching their shared destiny on Centre Court tomorrow.

Every figure tells a story. The matches took somewhat short of four hours. Serena Williams' defeat of Elena Dementieva 6-7, 7-5, 8-6 was both the longest ladies semi-final at Wimbledon and a classic.

Venus Williams' 6-1, 6-0 destruction of Dinara Safina took 57 minutes and was not. It was an embarrassment. Safina won 20 points in the match and goes home with the consolation of £212,500. The Russian, the world No.1, another fascinating figure, described the result as "disappointing".

But it is more edifying to concentrate on the first semi-final that captivated a crowd increasingly sensing an upset. It was, perhaps, decided by one shot and two Hawk-eyes.

Dementieva was honest about both. She had a glorious chance to convert a match point. "The only regret I have," she said, "is maybe I should take a little bit more risk on match point, should go down the line."

She tried to go cross-court and Williams volleyed the saver. "Passing shot is my favourite shot to make," added the Russian, almost bemused at her decision. "She was very close to the net. Down the line or a lob would work. But . . ."

The words trailed off before Dementieva could consider two Hawk-eye judgments that settled matters against her on breakpoints. "Sometimes I wish there were no challenges,"

she said of appeals to technology.

The margins of error in top-class sport are fine. Dementieva came up just that millimetre wide on touch, that indefinable scintilla short on judgment. She did not lack courage, however.

Dementieva took the game to her opponent, serving with power. She always tried to go on the front foot and produced some exquisite winners.

"It was a good fight," she said. But she came up against a champion.

The Williams sisters have been ludicrously castigated as some sort of bullies at Wimbledon but both possess other attributes rather than just a booming serve. But Serena had to rely heavily on her serve yesterday since her forehand deserted her as her game came under sustained pressure.

But she kept on keeping on. It should be no surprise when a Williams sister saves a match point. It is almost the family business. When Serena avoided the yawning trapdoor of being a point away from a devastating loss, she simply had to go on to win.

"I was down pretty much the whole match," she said of a long afternoon playing catch-up. "So to come out on top was a great feeling."

She rightfully praised her opponent, saying: "I definitely had to dig deep because I was playing someone who did not give me an inch, did not make too many errors, was playing 100%."

Asked about her part in the longest semi-final in Wimbledon ladies singles history, she said: "I'm always trying to do something to make history, so here I go again." History will beckon tomorrow when she plays her sister. Venus has won Wimbledon five times, Serena has lifted the title twice. They have taken the salver in seven of the last nine years.

Venus will be favourite but Serena was seemingly cruising through Wimbledon before colliding with the rock that was Dementieva. She did not sink, however. The Williams do not do sinking here. They do finals, however.

Venus was in sparky mood at her post-match press conference, defending women's tennis against sceptics who suggested that the world No.1 capitulating in such a manner was, at least, an indictment of the rankings. She swatted away such questions by claiming they were "down" on women's tennis.

The truth endures, however, no matter how unpalatable it may be. Safina's place at the top of the seedings was absurd. Ranking points are awarded over the long term and the Russian has been consistent, though she has yet to win a grand slam title.

But the idea that she should be seeded No.1 contender for the title is the punchline to a joke rather than a viable tennis argument. Safina, though, can laugh all the way to the bank with that £212,500 cheque.