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Williams sisters march on

Author: Rose Young
Date: 02/07/2009

Venus and sports betting favourite Serena Williams remain on course to meet in the Wimbledon final for a fourth time after easing into the semi-finals.

Serena had little trouble seeing off Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-3 while Venus thrashed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-2.

Venus is chasing her sixth Wimbledon title and third in a row while Serena is looking to add to her victories in 2002 and 2003.

Serena faces Elena Dementieva in the semi-finals after the Russian continued her impressive progress at SW19 by beating Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-2.

The fourth seed has yet to drop a set at Wimbledon and is hoping to go one better than last year when she was beaten by Venus Williams at the semi-final stage.

Serena faces Dinara Safina in the last four after the world number one edged past 19-year-old German Sabine Lisicki in the standout quarter-final match.

Can Safina or Dementieva stop the Williams sisters? - Latest Wimbledon Betting

Just 24 hours after struggling to beat Amelie Mauresmo, the Russian lost the first set on a tie-break before hitting back to win 6-7 6-4 6-1.

In cricket, County Championship Division One leaders Durham endured a mixed first day against rock-bottom Worcestershire.

On a bowler-friendly wicket, Durham skittled out their opponents for 193 before being restricted to 40-3 by the close, something of a recovery after being 1-3 at one stage.

Former England bowler Liam Plunkett was Worcestershire's tormentor, taking 6-63 while Ashley Noffke top-scored with 50.

Second-placed Nottinghamshire recovered from 116-4 to close the first day on 369-9 against Lancashire thanks to David Hussey (126) and Ali Brown (54).

Meanwhile at Taunton, Jacques Rudolph scored a superb 191 as Yorkshire raced to 375-7 against Somerset.

Division Two leaders Gloucestershire dismissed Kent for 231 at Beckenham before replying with a first-innings total of 69-2 at the close.

Struggling Leicestershire enjoyed a rare good day as Jim Allenby (96) and James Taylor (86 not out) helped them reach 341-5 against Derbyshire.

Owais Shah made 159 as Middlesex closed the first day of their clash with Surrey at Lord's on 269-5.

England's women continued their golden summer by sealing a 55-run victory over Australia at Chelmsford in the second one-day international between the two teams.

Sarah Taylor smashed a brilliant 120 as England, winners of last month's World Twenty20 tournament, raced to an impressive 259-6 from their 50 overs.

Australia's openers, Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar, put on 85 for the first wicket but the tourists were eventually dismissed for 204 as England moved 2-0 up in the five-match series.

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