WIMBLEDON LIVE: Williams sisters aim for another final at the All England Club
Date published :
02 Jul 2009 - 15:27:32
Semi-final latest: Serena Williams v Elena Dementieva 15.20: Serena responds in the perfect fashion, breaking back to go 2-3 behind in this deciding set.
15.16: Dementieva breaks, courtesy of a double fault and a couple of unforced errors from the American.
15.01: Serena Williams wins the second set 7-5 to level the match.
And that's what champions do. Serena faces break points on her serve, and Elena wastes a golden chance to convert when she screws a backhand wide.
Serena takes advantage and she sends down two booming aces in succession to win the second set and take us into a decider.
14.55: Twenty thousand pounds to watch a game of tennis - has the world gone mad? Totally obscene in this recession.Caroline, London
Hello Caroline - it's hard to disagree with your view from a moral point of view.
14.52: Well I never - facing break point Elena seems to have the luckiest of breaks with a net cord, but Serena challenges the call and (despite the American shaking her head) Hawkeye shows the ball to have dropped out. Serena has broken for a 6-5 lead.
14.48: Elena and Serena share service games, and we're level again at 5-5 in the second set.
Alex Kay is there for us.
To mark your card for the second semi-final, we will also have live coverage. Laura Williamson will be your guide for that one.
14.40: For the time being I've switched my attention away from your entertaining correspondence and on to Centre Court, and my timing is good. Serena saves two break points to level at 4-4, the first in highly dramatic fashion when a booming forehand just clips the sideline (according to Hawkeye, which I know we pretty much trust - but by golly it was close).
Elena Dementieva serving on Centre Court
14.35: Dementieva has broken back in the second set and now leads 4-3. The Russian is playing some superb stuff out there right now.
14.30: One of my associates was just wondering what sort of person would pay £20,000 for a final ticket. Somebody with a lot of spare cash floating about obviously. But it made me wonder just how much you would be willing to pay for a top sporting event?
14.24: Serena has a break early on in the second set and leads 3-2. You have to still fancy her to win this in three sets.
Andy Murray with his coach Miles Maclagan during a practice session today
14.17: What do you think to the whole 'to roof or not to roof' debate? Personally, I loved the late night action, made a change from Big Bother. Surely though Wimbledon always has been an outdoor tournament and the rain was part of the drama. For me it's a TV money spinning issue. And is the fact Murray seems to be getting clear Centre Court preferential treatment part of the reason he is in the semis? One last point, should Andrew the brave be triumphant in his quest to a) be liked and b) win Wimbledon will it be less of a victory due to the fact that Nadal wasn't involved?Mark, West Byfleet, Surrey
Good day to you Mark and will you be so kind as to pass on my regards to a dear village which has quite literally been central to so many of my days and years. On the roof you raise some interesting points. It does seem a shame in a way that we will never again see rain breaks (think how much they added to that Federer v Nadal epic last year for example) but in this television age I think the All England Club did the right thing to bring it in. The goalposts certainly moved on Monday night though - from the All England Club telling us that Wimbledon would always remain first and foremost an outdoor event to that indoors spectacular. The deal was never supposed to be 'we'll play indoors on Centre Court when the weather is beautful outside'. The bottom line is I think we'll let them off that one. The whole thing had become such a saga during this tournament that i think they just wanted to get it over with and play under it.
On Murray, I do think he's lucky to play every game on Centre (I'm sure Henman used to play the odd match on Court One? I could be wrong) and John McEnroe for one thinks it's wrong that television dictates that Murray is always last game up. I'm sure the Scot would hit straight back though and say that worked against him on Monday, having to play under the roof.
I don't think it will be less of a victory because Nadal isn't there. Injuries are part of sport, and there is still a certain Swiss legend to contend with. For the record I think Murray will reach the final, but will find Federer is too strong on Sunday.
14.10: One for the old schoolers among us on Court Three - Wimbledo legend Martina Navratilova and Helena Sukova are taking on Jo Durie and Hana Mandlikova.
14.05: Good from Dementieva - she has won the tie-break by seven points to four and is one set up against Serena. You can continue to follow this match live from Centre Court.
Elena Dementieva stretches to return the ball to Serena Williams on Centre Court
13.59: We're into a tie-break in the opening set in the first semi-final.
13.57: The great Bryan brothers are in doubles action on Court One, and they've won an opening set tie-break against WesleyMoodie and Dick Norman.
Serena Williams in action against Elena Dementieva in their semi-final showdown
13.51: Dementieva has real pressure on her latest service game. She's 5-6 down in the opening set.
13.43: Surprise surprise Cilla is at Wimbledon. Top Cilla memories? Those lovely Blind Date winter nights. Alfie. Her and Carolgees reuniting familes. So many.
So much to talk about: Sir Cliff and Cilla Black share a lifetime of memories on Centre Court
13.28: Feel free to send in your thoughts, banter and memories to the usual email folks. We seem to have a small window for me to reply to your correspondence.
13.22: Serena breaks back instantly - I think I'm going to leave this to Alex K for now.
13.18: Super start for Elena Dementieva on Centre Court. The Olympic champion breaks Serena's serve in the opening game of the semi-final. Our Alex has a lot more from Centre Court in our live game-by-game coverage.
Andy Murray showing his football skills during practise today
13.12: More on that line I brought to you earlier about the Queen and the prospect of Her Majesty watching Andy Murray in the final (should he get there ... I know).
Queen offers royal approval as Her Majesty plans to watch Murray in final13.00: The very top of another new hour to you on this women's semi-finals day at Wimbledon. Serena Williams is taking on Elena Dementieva on Centre Court, and you can follow it live with Alex Kay.
Game-by-game latest: Serena Williams v Elena Dementieva12.55: Look at these pictures of the Williams sisters from 1997 - sometimes you can forget how long they've been part of our sporting lives.
See you in 97: Venus adjusting her hair during a game against Japan's Miho Saeki in Eastbourne, and Serena returning a shot to Monica Seles in Chicago
12.40: I've seen a few scalpers hanging around my local tube station Southfields this fortnight. Having spent my adult life chasing my own shadow around the world to the latest sporting extravaganza I could never criticise touts. It is thanks to that lot that I've seen some of the truly great moments in sport.
And I tell you what - those lads (there are no ladies in that game) won't be able to contain their delight if Murray does reach the final. Tickets are already reported to be changing hands for around £20,000.
SPORTSMAIL'S TWITTER TATTLEJust saw Venus hitting on Court 16 as her dad watched on. Great to see her up close. She looks in top shape. Alex Kay, 12.40pm 12.32: So what do we think about the women's semi-finals then? Are we in for a couple of crackers? Are we heading for another all Williams final? Have your say via the usual channel.
12.20: It's an absolute scorcher in south-west London again and punters would be wise to seek out as much shade as possible.
12.12: Speculation is growing that the Queen will attend Wimbledon on Sunday if Andy Murray reaches the men's final. She hasn't attended the Championships since Virginia Wade's famous win in the women's singles in 1977. Her Majesty congratulated Murray on winning the Aegon Championships at Queen's just before the tournament began. I have heard many times that Her Majesty doesn't (allegedly) care too much for tennis, but duty will surely call for an event that would be so historic in British sport.
Queen Elizabeth was last at Wimbledon when Britain's Virginia Wade won the women's singles in her silver jubilee year of 1977
12.05: We're under way at 1pm on Centre Court folks. Both semi-finals are between those two great powerhouses America and Russia. First up, Serena Williams plays Elena Dementieva. Straight up after that is defending champion Venus Williams against world no 1 Dinara Safina.
11.58: The rulebook says 'Don't talk about your journey to work, the readers don't care'. My main rule has always been that there no rules.
Another wait on a sweaty tube on Her Majesty's London Underground today. You would have thought they would have a bit more dignity in this weather. I've never been to another country in the world where trains and tubes stop so often.
11.55: Some wonderful morale boosters again on the jukebox of our lives the wireless this morning. Queen's 'I Want To Break Free' (I still miss Freddie), Elvis taking us on a 'Saturday Night at the Movies'. All sorts of memories coming out of that little set.
11.50: It's the business end now folks. Welcome to the tenth day of Wimbledon and the women's semi-finals.
Serena Williams aims to reach another Wimbledon final
Martin Samuel: Murray hits new heights -: No need for any late-night heroics as Andy is done by teatimeRESULTS: The updated scores from the All England ClubSW19 Twitter - Wimbledon stars keep you updated with their every move
Explore more:People:Virginia Wade, Andy Murray, John McEnroe, Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva, Cilla Black, Serena Williams, Martina NavratilovaPlaces:Chicago, London, Russia, Japan, AmericaOrganisations:All England Club, Centre Court
