Williams sisters sweep as Safin overcomes serving stutters

LONDON - Women followed the Wimbledon formbook Tuesday with the top four seeds powering into the semi-finals as the Williams sisters moved closer to another title showdown.

The American pair have met for the trophy at the All England club on three occasions, the last a year ago when Venus lifted her fifth singles crown.

The sibling act took a step ahead with runaway wins for Venus and Serena on a hot and sunny day. Five-time winner Venus marched over 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 while second seed Serena saw off Belarus number eight Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-3.

Top-seeded world number one Dinara Safina, who overcame 15 double-faults to finally beat upcoming German challenger Sabine Lisicki 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1. Her fellow fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva beat London-based Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-2.

“We definitely upped our level of game today,” said younger sibling Serena. “We had really tough opponents, so we had to.”

The Williams pair have figured in six of the last seven women’s finals, with Venus winning three of the previous four.

Serena also trailed a set and 3-2 down against eighth seed Azarenka, champion in Miami ove the American. “I just thought I had been serving not so well, I thought I had it coming. I had to pick up my level of play and just relax and enjoy the wonderful moment.”

World number one Safina was headed to the practice court to work out the kinks in her serve. “The serve is there, but you have to put the brain also,” said the winner of 42 matches this season and a first- time semi-finalist at the event.

“Until now it’s been working. It won’t be easy against Venus, but I have nothing to lose. I want to go out and show my best tennis.”

Safina handed over the opening set to the 19-year-old Lisicki on a double-fault and had to recover from a break down in the second to start slowly turning the tables.

“I’m happy to get into the semi-finals,” said the winner. “In the first I had chances I didn’t take and she let the second go.

“I had to hang tough mentally, that was the key today. I was like Santa Claus with my serve on court. I have to fix that.”

The third-seeded Williams needed little more than an hour on court on a day when British “heatwave” conditions were forecast to touch 33 degrees Celsius to peg back Radwanska.

“That first set for me was really almost perfect,” said the American. “The second set, I think I got a little bit impatient the first couple of games, but I was able to mentally bring it back and realised that maybe I did have to hit a few more balls, because everyone lifts their game.”

Venus will be playing in her eighth semi-final at the All England club over the past decade as she won her 19th match in a row at the venue. She has claimed 32 consecutive Wimbledon sets since the 2007 third round.

“I’m in the semi-finals, it’s right where I want to be and I’m looking to take it a step further,” said the dominating American.