Serving for the second set at 6-5, Serena erased four break points — Dementieva blew one with a bad backhand — and had four aces in the game, including at 122 mph and 114 mph on the last two points.

There was still nearly an hour left to play, and at the end, Serena barely was better.

"That was intense. I mean, Dementieva was there mentally, physically," said the sisters' mother, Oracene Price, who helps Richard coach their daughters. "Serena was fortunate to get out of that one."

Coming off the court afterward, Serena said, "I'm going to come out and watch Venus and cheer her on and hope for the best."

Alas, she never made it to the Centre Court stands to support big sis. Venus was too dominant, and finished too quickly.

Here is all you need to know: Venus compiled 16 winners, one unforced error.

"She's just too good on grass," Safina said. "She gave me a pretty good lesson today."

Now two sisters who were taught the game by their parents will meet on tennis' most famous lawn one more time to settle a Wimbledon championship.

"We both play such a similar game," said the 29-year-old Venus, who is 15 months older than Serena. "I mean, we had the same teacher."

Serena beat Venus in the 2002-03 all-in-the-family finals at the All England Club; Venus won last year.

"Let's just say," Mom noted, "they take home all the money."

Wimbledon glance

Stat of the Day: 20 — Number of points won by Safina; Venus Williams won 54.

Quote of the Day: "I don't necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win." — Venus Williams on facing younger sister Serena in a Wimbledon final for the fourth time.

On Court Friday: No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 24 Tommy Haas, No. 3 Andy Murray vs. No. 6 Andy Roddick in the men's semifinals.

TV: ESPN2, 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.; NBC, noon to 5 p.m.