WORLD No.1 Dinara Safina has compared herself to Santa Claus this week – but the Russian is determined there will be no gifts on offer for Venus Williams in their semi-final clash, writes NICK CLOWES.
The 23-year-old was less than convincing in her quarter-final victory against unseeded German Sabine Lisicki on Tuesday, grinding out a 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 win after serving 15 double faults.
Safina – who is yet to win a Grand Slam – has reached the la
st two major finals at the Australian Open and the French Open , losing to Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova respectively.
Critics believe the Russian is unworthy of her current status as the world's best, given that she has yet to win one of the sport's four major prizes.
But Safina – sister of two-time men's grand slam winner Marat Safin – has vowed to prove the doubters wrong and adopt a mean streak against Williams this afternoon.
"I have been in semi-finals at all four Grand Slams – that's something impressive," said Safina. "I guess now people cannot ask why I am number one but they probably will. I'm enjoying my tennis and taking one match at a time – at the moment it is working.
"I think it was Santa Claus serving against Lisicki at times – that would be dangerous to do against Venus. I have to go on court really pumped up from the first point."
Williams, on the other hand, has had little trouble reaching the semi-finals – the reigning champion breezed past Agnieszka Radwanska in double quick-time. The 29-year-old third seed has continually shrugged off suggestions she is struggling with a knee injury despite heavy strapping, and looked comfortable during her 6-1, 6-2 win.
Williams said: "I can't complain about anything physically or with the results. I'm doing well at the moment."
Should Venus Williams reach the final at the All England Club, she is likely to face sister Serena in a repeat of last year's showpiece.
Serena – herself a two-time winner in SW19 – is the bookies favourite to add to her 2002 and 2003 titles but must negotiate fourth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia in the semis.
The full article contains 382 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
