Williams sisters on course for title clash
WIMBLEDON, England - One prematch glance Tuesday at the data displayed on those fancy, new digital scoreboards at staid, old Wimbledon provided a pretty persuasive case for why Venus Williams might be considered the woman to beat.
The entry under career record at the grass-court Grand Slam: "55-7." The listing of her best result: "WINNER 2007, 2005, 2001, 2000."
Yet another reason to like the American's chances: The way she served during the ensuing 6-4, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Tamarine Tanasugarn - smacking 8 aces, saving nine of the 10 break points, tying her Wimbledon record with a 127-mph delivery.
That extended Williams' winning streak at the All England Club to 12 matches, including 19 sets in a row. Nonetheless, at least one person who knows a thing or two about tennis and a thing or two about Venus Williams flatly rejected the notion that she's the favorite: Serena Williams.
Asked after her own impressive quarterfinal victory - 6-4, 6-0 against 11th-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska - whether her older sister should be considered the likeliest champion, Serena shot back: "I would never sit here and say she's the favorite when I'm still in the draw. What are you on?"
Rather than a sibling rivalry, that response perhaps reflects nothing more than the sort of competitive drive that helped the younger Williams win eight Grand Slam singles titles. That haul includes the 2002 and 2003 Wimbledon championships, each time concluded by beating her sister.
One more win apiece, and they'll reprise the all-in-the-family final tradition Saturday. In Thursday's semifinals, Serena will face 133rd-ranked Zheng Jie, who became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals at a major tournament by upsetting 18th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Venus next plays the highest-seeded remaining woman, No. 5 Elena Dementieva, who beat No. 21 Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
Zheng is the first wild-card entrant to reach the women's semifinals at Wimbledon; only one woman ranked lower has made the semifinals at any Grand Slam.
"I just try my best to keep going," Zheng said.
In the men's draw, Roger Federer's quarterfinal opponent at Wimbledon today is the last man to have beaten the five-time champion on the grass courts of the All England Tennis Club.
Croatian Mario Ancic, who defeated Federer in the first round in 2002, will try to break a five-match losing streak against the top seed when they play on Centre Court. Since beating Federer six years ago, the 24-year-old Ancic has taken just one set against the Swiss.
Federer, 26, is aiming to better Bjorn Borg's Open era record of five straight Wimbledon titles from 1976-80.
Rafael Nadal of Spain, seeking his first title at Wimbledon after winning a fourth straight French Open in Paris last month, plays local favorite Andy Murray in the second match on Centre Court.
On Court No. 1, Feliciano Lopez of Spain plays Marat Safin of Russia, a former U.S. Open champion who beat third-seeded Novak Djokovic in the second round. Rainer Schuettler of Germany faces Arnaud Clement of France.