Day 10

FED IN FINAL

Roger Federer reached a record 20th Grand Slam final and a seventh straight Wimbledon title match with a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 win over German veteran Tommy Haas in the semi-finals on Friday.

F i v e - time Wimb l e d o n champion Federer, who is chasing a record 15th Grand Slam crown, watched by Grand Slam greats Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver, comfortably installed in the Royal Box, put on a magnificent show of serving against the German 31-year-old, not giving up a single break point.

"Tommy played great so I knew that there was a danger. I'm happy with my performance and it's unbelievable to be in another final," said Federer.

"I have had a lot of pressure over the years but I am looking forward to another great match and a chance to get into the history books."

Federer said he was looking ahead to the challenge of the final. "I have had great matches with Roddick. You can never underestimate him with that serve," he said. "Murray's at home. My record against him is not that good. He's shown over the last 18 months that he can be a Grand Slam contender." The opening set on Friday was dominated by serve, but the Swiss second seed was the strongest in the tiebreak.

He went to three set points when Haas unleashed a loose forehand with the world number two wrapping up the set when the German, stranded behind the baseline, pushed a backhand into the net. It was the dream start for the five-time champion after the nightmare beginning he suffered against the same opponent at the French Open last month when he had to recover from losing the first two sets in the fourth round.

Former world number two Haas, playing in his first Wimbledon semifinal, had to save a set point, which was also the first break point of the match, at 4-5 in the second set.

But the Swiss broke through in the 12th game for a two-sets lead when another Haas forehand went long.

Haas cracked for the last time in the eighth game of the third set when he netted an easy approach having saved four break points.

Federer then wrapped up the semi-final in just over two hours on his first match point with a spectacular, athletic smash.

SISTER ACT: PART IV

Serena and Venus will meet for the fourth time at the Wimbledon final, a day that also coincides with the United States' Independence Day.

For the eighth time in 10 years, the Wimbledon women's trophy will be lifted by a Williams. The Williams sisters are back in the final again-- Venus for the eighth time and Serena for the fifth. And it's the fourth Williams vs Williams final at the All England Club and eighth in a Grand Slam title match.

Fittingly, the show will take place on the July 4, Independence Day in the United States. "The more we play, the better it gets," Serena said. "When we play our match on Saturday, it's for everything. This is what we dreamed of when we were growing up in Compton (California) 20-something years ago. This is what we worked for, and this is what we want."

If the semifinals are anything to go by, five-time winner and two-time defending champion Venus is clearly the one to beat. Two-time champion Serena had to save a match point and use all her fighting skills to overcome Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6 in a tense match on Thursday that lasted two hours, 49 minutes-- longer than any Wimbledon women's semifinal in at least 40 years.

"It's definitely one of my more dramatic victories for sure," said Serena, who hit a backhand volley winner off the netcord to erase match point in the 10th game of the final set.

The Centre Court spectators barely had time to pop out for a refreshment and settle back into their seats by the time Venus completed a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Dinara Safina in 51 minutes-- the most lopsided women's semifinal since 1969. "The hardest part is next to come-- to play Serena Williams," Venus said.

Venus won Wimbledon in 2000 and '01 before Serena beat her older sister in the 2002 and '03 finals. Venus won again in 2005 and 2007 and beat Serena in last year's final. Serena holds a 5-2 lead in all-Williams championship matches at Grand Slams. Overall, the sisters are 10-10. "That's intense, huh?" Venus said. "I guess this will be a tipping point match. My hope is that there will be many more to come."

Venus is bidding to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1991-93 to win Wimbledon three years in a row. Venus was cheering for Serena to win on Thursday, but will now do all she can to stop her sister and win her eighth major title.

BIG SISTER

"I'm happy for her to be in the final, but I have to face her and defeat her," Venus said. "I don't necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win. I don't want to see myself disappointed. I need to get my titles, too. I'm still the big sister, but I'm still going to play great tennis." Serena considers herself the underdog. "I feel like going into this final I have nothing to lose," she said. "I feel she's playing the best tennis at the tournament."

The sisters' mother, Oracene Price, said anything could happen. "Serena hates to lose," she said. "And Serena played so raggedy today that she might be on her game on Saturday. It's just whoever's mind is better on the day." Father Richard Williams said: "All I know is a Williams is going to win."

First, the sisters will set aside their rivalry to team up Friday in the women's doubles semifinals. They have already won three Wimbledon's doubles titles and are the defending champions. "I'll be telling her tomorrow, You can do it. You're the best. Your serve, let's hold," Serena said.