All-Williams final all the rage

The inevitability of another all-Williams final was underlined in a post-match press conference which sounded more like a preview of a Saturday showdown than a tee-up of two separate semi-finals.

"I've been watching the competition a little bit. She's your opponent and you scout your opponent. I'm going to sabotage her and eat all the Wheaties so she doesn't have any chance," the younger Williams sister said.

Both Venus and Serena kept alive hopes of a sister act in the final when they won their respective quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Should they both win their semis - Serena faces Chinese hope Zheng Jie, while Venus plays Russian Elena Dementieva - Saturday's final will be their seventh clash in a Grand Slam decider.

Venus defeated Serena in the final of the 2001 US Open but the younger sibling has won their past five Grand Slam final showdowns.

Punters are finding it hard to separate the sisters in Wimbledon betting but Venus and Serena both believe they are worthy favourites.

"I always expect to be the best," said Serena. "For as long as I'm left in the competition, I consider myself to be the favourite."

Venus, the defending champion, said: "It's nice to be favourite, that's for sure."

"But I'm going to go out there and work just as hard as if I was or if I wasn't the favourite."