FanHouse ElenaDementieva

In a classic Wimbledon semifinal match that left both players exhausted and the spectators exhilarated, Serena Williams beat Elena Dementieva 6-7, 7-5, 8-6 to advance to the Wimbledon final.

"It was really, really tough," Williams said afterward. "Elena played so well and we gave the crowd a wonderful match."

Dementieva played very well in the early going, and it looked like it was going to be her day. She broke Williams' serve in the first game, and although Williams returned the favor in the second game, Dementieva was strong throughout, winning the first set 7-6.

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WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- When Roger Federer misfired on an important shot Friday, his knees buckled and he stomped behind the baseline, miffed at his mere mortality.

The moment quickly passed, and Federer advanced to the second week at Wimbledon by beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1.

Federer lost a set for first time this week, with two errant forehands costing him the tiebreaker. That merely extended his Centre Court workout by half an hour.

American Serena Williams has been eliminated from the women's singles competition at the Olympic Games, falling to Russia's Elena Dementieva 3–6, 6–4, 6–3.

It's not much of an upset -- Williams was seeded fourth; Dementieva was seeded fifth -- but it is a huge disappointment to Williams, who had high hopes for these Games after an injury forced her to stay home in 2004.

Williams and sister Venus remain alive in the doubles competition and are favored to win the gold, which they also won in 2000. Venus plays China's Na Li in singles today.

American Serena Williams has been eliminated from the women's singles competition at the Olympic Games, falling to Russia's Elena Dementieva 3–6, 6–4, 6–3.

It's not much of an upset -- Williams was seeded fourth; Dementieva was seeded fifth -- but it is a huge disappointment to Williams, who had high hopes for these Games after an injury forced her to stay home in 2004.

Williams and sister Venus remain alive in the doubles competition and are favored to win the gold, which they also won in 2000. Venus plays China's Na Li in singles today.

Venus Williams defeated Elena Dementieva 6-1, 7-6 today at Wimbledon, dispatching her toughest opponent of the tournament so far and advancing to the seventh Wimbledon final of her career.

She could meet her sister in Saturday's final; Serena Williams plays Zheng Jie in the other semifinal later today. The Williams sisters have met in six Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning five of them.

Venus Williams overpowered Dementieva in today's first set, looking just as dominant as she has throughout the championship. In the second set Dementieva settled down and gave Williams a run for her money, and when it went to a tiebreak both players got a little sloppy. But Williams ultimately showed that she was the better player -- and the best player in the world on grass -- by winning the tiebreak 7-3 and getting one match away from her fifth Wimbledon title.