Wimbledon 2009 Women's Semi-finals Preview

Elena Dementieva vs. Serena Williams

If it wasn't for the Williams sisters, Elena Dementieva's dominating performances at Wimbledon this year would get more coverage. She has dismantled all her opponents easily and efficiently. Most surprising about her play has been the serve which has held up remarkably steady so far. The ground strokes continue to be brilliant.

Serena Williams is playing some exceptional tennis so far. Apparently facing her toughest test in the quarter-finals, it was scary how Serena just managed to change gears effortlessly just when Azarenka seemed to be challenging her. The serve remains as strong as ever, and the winners from the back seemed to have increased in frequency.

Hopefully Dementieva will at least manage to get Serena to a tie break. If this wasn't a match on grass, a case could be made for Dementieva on the basis of her baseline game. However, one just gets the feeling that Dementieva will be broken a few times, while its almost impossible to see Serena losing her service games. That essentially will be the difference.

Dinara Safina vs. Venus Williams

While it has been quite easy to lambast Dinara Safina for her mental frailty in the big matches, there is no denying the fact that the Russian is now a consistent performer who knows how to win matches against opponents she should be beating. Already a runner-up in the first two grand slams, Safina has shown tremendous character to make it to the semi-finals over here. While her tennis has hardly been of the highest standard, she has done amazingly well to win scrappy matches many didn't expect her to.

For the first time in the tournament, Venus Williams clearly did look to be the better player than Serena when she thrashed Radwanska in the quarter-finals. There didn't seem to be a single aspect of her play that was questionable. It could easily have been a double bagel for Venus, such was her authority. Her net play has been exquisite to say the least, and backed up by the power of her ground strokes, Venus is the clear favourite.

While Safina certainly has dug in well so far, the fact of the matter is that against Venus the match isn't going to be a scrap. Venus will dictate play on most points, and her superior mobility and brilliant volleying should be enough to see off Safina in straight sets.