SERENA Williams fought back from the brink of a shock defeat to stay on course for a third Wimbledon title with victory over Elena Dementieva in the longest women's semi-final in history.
The American was forced to produce all her battling qualities to overcome a spirited Dementieva, who produced a brilliant performance but still bowed out at the last-four stage for the second year in a row.
Williams saved a match point in the t
hird set before winning 6-7 (7/4), 7-5, 8-6 in an epic duel on Centre Court that lasted 12 minutes short of three hours.
"It was really tough," Williams said. "She's been playing so well and has won a lot of matches against me in the past. I was not on my best game but my family were so positive. Elena played so well and we gave the crowd a wonderful match."
Father Richard Williams doffed his cap and both players left to a standing ovation but it was Dementieva who earned the biggest cheers and the sympathy of the crowd after pushing the two-time champion all the way.
Williams had begun in ominous fashion with an ace, her 41st of the Championships, but the Russian produced a crashing forehand to earn a break point and followed it up with a sweet backhand down the line to draw first blood. However, Dementieva allowed her opponent to break back immediately, and Williams was not threatened again on her serve in the opening set, which went to a tie-break.
Williams put a forehand wide to give Dementieva the first mini break before the Russian moved into a 6-3 lead. A double fault by Dementieva threatened to undo the good work but Williams' accuracy on her forehand once more deserted her as she lost the tie-break 7-4.
Williams got the break in the second set and duly consolidated, but a stunning array of groundstrokes in the sixth game saw Dementieva break the American to love and get the set back on serve.
A 110mph second serve ace by the Russian averted the danger of another break and Williams had to dig deep to save two break points and avoid going 5-3 behind. With the finishing line in sight, Dementieva began to show nerves and Williams achieved a crucial break to edge 6-5 ahead after successfully challenging a call on the sideline.
Serving for the second set, Williams suddenly found herself 15-40 down but conjured more aces to save two of four break points and a 12th ace of the match to secure the set at 7-5.
A rare double fault by Williams gave Dementieva a break point in the fourth game of the deciding set and the American netted a forehand to go 3-1 behind. However, the Russian demonstrated further jitters with three unforced errors to hand the break back.
A love service game did wonders to restore her flagging confidence and amid growing tension, Williams faltered on her serve and saved match point with a brave volley at the net.
The crucial moment came in the 13th game when Dementieva failed to come from 15-40 down on her serve and Williams served out for the victory.
