Gamewatch: Williams v Mauresmo

All the action as top seed Serena Williams books her place in her third Wimbledon final after a 6-7 7-5 6-4 victory over seventh seed Amelie Mauresmo.

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Third set Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 6-4 Mauresmo
A double fault on 15-30 gives Serena two match points - and she duly converts them when Mauresmo fires a forehand wide of the service line. Williams will now play 17-year-old Maria Sharapova in the final on Saturday.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 5-4 Mauresmo
Williams surrenders a 30-0 lead with a double fault and a sloppy forehand return into the net. An ace gives her game point, but her long forehand takes the game to deuce. Williams finally wins the game with an ace.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 4-4 Mauresmo
Mauresmo starts the game with a lucky net call, which lands past Williams at the net. But she takes the next three points to win the game to love.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 4-3 Mauresmo
Both players are really fired up with emotion now. Williams finally takes the game after getting the better of her opponent in a couple of long, pulsating rallies.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 3-3 Mauresmo
Mauresmo goes 30-0 up but then commits her eighth double fault and floats a backhand long to allow Williams back into the game. Williams yelps with anguish as she blasts a backhand volley so long it almost lands in the crowd.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 3-2 Mauresmo
The bizarre mix of great shots and howlers continues as Williams double-faults to put herself under pressure at 30-30. But a solid volley and a weak Mauresmo forehand allow her to edge ahead in the set.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 2-2 Mauresmo
As the match passes the two-hour point, Mauresmo, who had been 40-15 up, goes long to give Williams the first break point of the final set. But the French player comes up with three good first serves - one an ace - to avoid the danger.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 2-1 Mauresmo
Williams serves both an ace and double fault in the game - symptomatic of how the match is at the moment, with both players making sublime shots yet also basic errors. Mauresmo has a nasty-looking slip which won't have done her back problem any good.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 1-1 Mauresmo
Mauresmo manages to keep on terms in the set by holding to 30.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 1-0 Mauresmo
Williams has begun to come to the net a bit more and the tactic pays off as she holds to take the opening game in the deciding set.

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Second set

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 Mauresmo
At 30-30, the umpire over-rules after a Mauresmo shot is called long and orders the point to be replayed. Williams is disgusted but uses her displeasure in determined fashion, winning the next point to earn a set point. Mauresmo then double-faults to allow her opponent to level the match at one set all.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 6-5 Mauresmo
Williams' serve is again crucial as she holds serve for the loss of just one point.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 5-5 Mauresmo
Three unforced errors from Williams ensure that Mauresmo enjoys a relatively comfortable service game.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 5-4 Mauresmo
The rollercoaster continues as a lucky net-cord gives Mauresmo two break-back points. Williams' serve saves her on the first but she nets a forehand on the second to allow Mauresmo to stop the rot after losing four games in a row.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 5-3 Mauresmo
Mauresmo shows no ill-effects of her physical problems as she races to 40-0 but Williams pegs her back to deuce. The seventh seed's sixth double fault hands Williams a breaking opportunity and the American then mis-hits the ball, which loops over Mauresmo's head and lands bang on the line - the champion has a break and will now serve for the second set.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 4-3 Mauresmo
Mauresmo concedes the next game somewhat limply and calls for the trainer at the change of ends. The French player then leaves the court to receive treatment.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 3-3 Mauresmo
Williams has decided to step in on Mauresmo's serve and her ploy works, intimidating the French player into a double fault on the opening point. Williams attacks the net and lets out a shout of triumph as she earns a break point. Mauresmo saves it but then puts a very nervy forehand into the net. She saves it but then two weak forehands cost her dearly and Williams has the break-back. Mauresmo's woes could be deepening as she looks as if she is struggling with her back.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 2-3 Mauresmo
Williams uncharacteristically slams her racquet on the ground after a woeful backhand slice plops into the net. Her racquet is cracked but she continues to play with it until it buckles later in the game. She manages to hold. It is beginning to drizzle very slightly - will the weather come to Serena's rescue?

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 1-3 Mauresmo
Mauresmo consolidates her break by holding to 30. Proof that Williams is rattled comes when she queries a call.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 1-2 Mauresmo
Mauresmo is moving really well around the court and her agile shot-making is really causing Williams problems. Mauresmo earns two break points and sweeps a backhand across the court to clinch what could be a crucial break.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 1-1 Mauresmo
Mauresmo throws in a double fault and goes from 40-0 to 40-30 before managing to secure the game.

Williams 6-7 (4/7) 1-0 Mauresmo
Mauresmo has the bit between her teeth now and earns herself a chance to break. But Williams throws in a slower serve (75mph) which foxes the French player. Williams then puts a bread-and-butter backhand volley wide to allow Mauresmo another chance. The top seed saves it again and goes on to hold.

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First set

Williams 6-7 (4/7) Mauresmo
Both players drop their opening service points before Mauresmo goes long with an approach shot to give Williams the advantage. The American floats a forehand wide but makes amends with a lovely backhand cross-court pass on the next point. Williams then dumps a forehand into the net and faces two set points. When she goes long with the forehand, Mauresmo pumps her fist in delight at securing the first set.

Williams 6-6 Mauresmo
Williams has been showing signs of frustration in the last couple of games but she holds serve to force the tiebreak.

Williams 5-6 Mauresmo
Mauresmo, whose nerve has often been questioned in the past, looks rock-solid as she holds serve to move ahead for the first time in the match.

Williams 5-5 Mauresmo
Williams serves her third ace on her way to earning her first set point. Mauresmo saves it with a sweet backhand cross-court pass. Williams squanders her second set point with her first double fault of the match. A cross-court forehand winner gives Mauresmo a chance to break but she rushes an attempted pass. However, on her next opportunity, she attacks the net and levels matters in the first set.

Williams 5-4 Mauresmo
Despite serving her third double fault, Mauresmo holds to force Williams to serve out for the first set.

Williams 5-3 Mauresmo
A love service game for Williams. Mauresmo needs to get cracking if she is to retrieve her deficit in the opening set.

Williams 4-3 Mauresmo
Mauresmo keeps herself in the first set by holding to 30, clinching the game with a delicate drop volley at the net.

Williams 4-2 Mauresmo
Mauresmo is the victim of a bad call which could have put her up 0-30 but the French player's appeal to the umpire to over-rule is in vain. The point of the match follows with Williams slipping twice on the grass before finally losing out. The top seed then dumps a forehand into the net to give Mauresmo a break-point. But Williams saves it with an ace and goes on to hold.

Williams 3-2 Mauresmo
Mauresmo seems to have shrugged off her earlier nerves and enjoys a love service game.

Williams 3-1 Mauresmo
Williams is in a rhythm on her serve and holds comfortably without dropping a point.

Williams 2-1 Mauresmo
Williams again makes a couple of unforced errors and this time Mauresmo takes full advantage to hold, landing her first game of the match with her first ace of the match.

Williams 2-0 Mauresmo
A couple of unforced forehand errors from Williams give Mauresmo a chance for an immediate break-back. But the American sidesteps danger with three unreturnable first serves.

Williams 1-0 Mauresmo
An edgy start from Mauresmo. Two missed volleys and two double faults from the French player allow Williams a break point - and the top seed produces a winning inside-out forehand to clinch the opening game.