WIMBLEDON 2009: Venus Demolishes Safina; Serena Guts Past Dementieva

5-time (and current) Wimbledon champion World #3 Venus Williams routed World #1 Dinara Safina 6-1 6-0 in well under and hour to reach the Wimbledon final for the third consecutive year (and the eighth of her career).

This followed an epic three-hour slugfest between 10-time major (and reigning Australian and US Open) champion Serena Williams and World #4 Elena Dementieva which the younger Williams sister won 6-7(4) 7-5 8-6.

So, for the fourth time Serena will play Venus in the finals of Wimbledon. Serena leads that series 2-1, losing for the first time (in straight sets) last year. Head-to-head the two are tied, 10-10 overall including 2-2 on grass, but Serena leads 5-2 in major finals overall.

At the beginning of the tournament, I predicted an all-Williams final (again!) on the fourth of July, and gave Serena the edge, but I need to review both matches before I make my final prediction.