register to 888sport
888sport time:

Preview Based News

Williams sisters contest final

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 04/07/2009

Venus and Serena will contest an all-Williams Wimbledon final for the fourth time after the American sisters both won their semi-final encounters at the All England Club.

Online betting favourite and defending champion Venus was a straightforward winner over current world number one Dinara Safina.

She dropped just one game against the Russian world number one in a dominant 6-0, 6-1 performance on Centre Court.

However, Serena was made to work much harder for her passage into the final by another Russian, Elena Dementieva.

Serena, who was beaten by her sister in last year's final, saved a match point before coming through a marathon match 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 8-6 in two hours and 48 minutes.

"It's a dream come true to be here again and to have the opportunity to hold the plate up," said Venus, who is now aiming for her sixth Wimbledon singles title.

"But the hardest part is yet to come - to play Serena Williams."

Which Williams will triumph in Saturday's Wimbledon final - Latest Tennis Betting

In football, Motherwell's hopes of qualifying for the Europa League proper are hanging in the balance after they lost 1-0 to part-timers Llanelli.

Llanelli grabbed the only goal of the match on 28 minutes through a Stuart Jones header and held on to secure a famous victory in the first leg of the first qualifying round tie at Fir Park.

New Steelmen boss Jim Gannon had a debut to forget in the home dugout but the former Stockport County manager remains confident of overturning the scoreline when the sides meet in the second leg next week.

In cricket, Brett Lee silenced his critics with a devastating display of fast bowling as Australia continued their warm-up for the Ashes.

Lee, who has come under fire for his relatively poor performances in England, took 5-53, as the England Lions reached 302-6 in reply to the tourists' 358 on day two of the match at New Road.

However, Lee's performance was one of only a few bright spots for the Baggy Greens as Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and Nathan Hauritz all ended the day wicketless.

England fared better in their own warm-up encounter against Warwickshire as James Anderson starred with the ball.

The Lancashire seamer claimed 5-34 as Warwickshire were bowled out for just 102.

England then raced into a 373-run lead at close of play after an impressive knock of 88 not out from Ravi Bopara.

online betting