Top four seeds in women's Wimbledon semis

LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Sisters Serena and Venus Williams seem on a relentless course toward a rematch in the finals of the women's draw of the Wimbledon Championships in London.

There are two matches between the Williamses and a Saturday appointment for the Grand Slam event title. Those come Thursday in the semifinals where Venus Williams, seeded third and the event's two-time defending champion, goes against world No. 1 Dinara Safina. Serena Williams, the No. 2 seed and looking for a third title in the last four Grand Slam events, plays No. 4 Elena Dementieva.

Of the four semifinalists only Safina has dropped a set in their first five Wimbledon matches. And, while struggling, Safina has shown a grit that has kept her hopes of a first Grand Slam title alive.

In Venus Williams she is facing a five-time Wimbledon champion who lost four games in a set once in the tournament and who has won two of their three previous meetings.

Dementieva is in her second consecutive Wimbledon semifinal. She lost to Venus Williams last year and has lost as many as three games in a set just twice. Dementieva is officially 3-5 against Serena Williams but, when the Olympics are added in, has won four of the last five times they played.