Serena Williams (REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

Serena Williams fought off tough Russian Elena Dementiava 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6 in 2 hours, 49 minutes. Williams overcame one match point while serving late in the third set. Using sheer determination, excellent skill, and also a bit of luck, the powerful Los Angeles native willed her way to another Wimbledon final. The match featured power hitting from both ladies and a return to excitement, lacking in recent months on the women’s tour. There’s no other way to explain this match except that it was a match that we’ll remember for a long time because of the competitiveness of the two ladies. Both were unrelenting, but in the end the multi Grand Slam champion Williams ended the longest Semi final women’s match in over 40 years. Think of two boxers going toe to toe for twelve rounds, at some point someone falls and on this day, as she often does, Serena Williams was the last one standing. Next she plays sister Venus, in another all Williams Grand Slam final.