Sisters doing it for themselves

Venus and Serena will meet for a place in the final

Proud father Richard Williams knows one of his daughters will be in this year's Wimbledon final - but will it be Serena or Venus?

The sisters now come face to face in what will be a fascinating battle of strength, guile and sheer undiluted power.

Fifth seed Venus came through a thrilling three-setter, defeating top seed Martina Hingis, while Serena had a slightly easier afternoon's work, needing just 41 minutes to beat Lisa Raymond.

Father Richard will not actually be present to watch the family semi, as he has a funeral to attend.

Serena v Venus

1998 Australian Open R2:

Venus wins 7-6 6-4

1998 Italian Open QF:
Venus wins 6-4 6-2

1999 Lipton Final:
Venus wins 6-1 4-6 6-4

1999 Compaq Final:
Serena wins 6-1 3-6 6-3

But there was no hiding his delight at the progress of his two daughters.

"I am the proudest father in the world today and I will be there for the final, as one of my daughters is going to be in it.

"It would be tough for me to be at their match anyway. Both will be trying to bury each other so I thought it would be better for me to go to a real funeral.

"But I can tell you there is no tension between them. They have a strong relationship which is stronger than tennis."

Thumbs up: Proud father Richard Williams

As for the question of who he wanted to win, he replied: "I don't know. Maybe I will put £50 on both of them."

The semi-final clash will be the first in Wimbledon history between two sisters, the first match in the Wimbledon women's singles draw since the professional tennis era began in 1968, and only the third time in the singles since the first final in 1884.

"I feel like I can make anything happen. It's exciting for our whole family, " Serena commented.

I feel like I can make anything happen. It's exciting for our whole family

Serena Williams

"I've not really played her that much. It's just another meeting between both of us," she added, playing down any talk of nasty rivalry between the two siblings.

"I don't want to ruin something that lasts for life for something that last just a few years.

"We're really even when we play and we know at least one of us is going to be in the next round."

It seems the sisters always felt they were destined to meet in the latter stages of a Grand Slam one day - they have already met in the Australian Open when Venus knocked her sister out in the second round.

Positive

"Our parents told us that from four or five years old," Venus revealed.

"They were always very positive. Even if we weren't best, we always believed we were best. As a competitor you have to believe no one is better than you."

"One of us will be in the final and that will be great. We will be happy for each other.

"It's going to come down to who is better technically and who makes the fewest mistakes."