Schumacher makes sensational return to F1

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is making a sensational return to Formula One, Ferrari announced on Wednesday.

The German motor racing legend, who retired in 2006, will replace injured Felipe Massa in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23, and possibly for the remainder of the season.

"The Ferrari-Marlboro team plans to give Michael Schumacher Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian returns to competition," Ferrari announced in a statement on its website carried by Italian news agency ANSA.

The statement added: "Michael Schumacher says he is available and in the coming days he will pursue a specific programme of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the European Grand Prix."

Schumacher, 40, commented: "Ultimately I like challenges and this is a great challenge."

"The important thing is that Massa gets better," he continued, adding that he "just wanted to help the firm (Ferrari) when they needed it".

Schumacher, who last test drove for Ferrari in April last year, was pleased, though, that the most recent update on the unlucky Brazilian was encouraging.

"The most important thing first thank God, all news concerning Felipe (Massa) is positive," he was quoted as saying on the official Formula One website.

"I wish him all the best again. I was meeting this afternoon with (Ferrari team chief) Stefano Domenicali and (Ferrari president) Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe.

"Though it is true that the Formula One chapter has been completely closed for me for a long time, it is also true that for reasons of loyalty to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation.

"But as the competitor I am I also very much look forward to facing this."

News of his comeback to the sport he virtually made his own came 24 hours after the possibility had first been raised by his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm.

"The whole thing will be considered by Ferrari. If they approach Michael, then he will consider it," Kehm had told BBC Sport.

She added: "Usually, I would say he's not interested because he's fine with his life and he doesn't miss anything but now the situation is so different - it's very hypothetical - and Michael doesn't want to step into that (discussion)."

Schumacher, who is on Ferrari's pay roll as an advisor, will be filling in for Massa, who is recovering from surgery following his horrific high speed crash in qualifying for last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Only this month he had made it clear speaking at the German Grand Prix that he was not interested in making a full time comeback.

But the offer of a temporary return to the Ferrari cockpit obviosuly proved too much to resist for 'Schumi' who has recovered from a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February.

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Phelps golden again with record-setting fly triumph

Michael Phelps regained his golden touch here on Wednesday with a record-setting triumph in the men's 200m butterfly at the swimming World Championships.

The 14-time Olympic gold medallist was stunned in the 200m free on Tuesday, when Germany's Paul Biedermann took both his world title and world record.

But Phelps responded convincingly in the fly, leading from start to finish and winning in 1min 51.51sec.

That improved on the world record of 1:52.03 that he set in winning Olympic gold in Beijing, part of his record eight-gold Olympic haul.

"I'm happy," Phelps said. "It was something that I really wanted to do last year, to break the 1min 52sec and coming into the night I just said I'm going to go for it and whatever happens, happens."

For Phelps it was a welcome ride on the world record wave that has swept through the 2009 championships, fueled by the high-tech bodysuits that are to be banned next year.

Italy's Federica Pellegrini, South African Cameron Van Der Burgh and China's Zhang Lin also claimed world titles in world record times on Wednesday.

The women's 50m backstroke semi-finals saw the world record fall twice in the blink of an eye, Daniela Samulski lowering her own world record with a time of 27.39 in the first semi-final only to be pipped by Anastasia Zueva's 27.38 in the second semi.

Pellegrini thrilled her legion of fans with a triumph in the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:52.98, lowering the world record for the second time in two days. She had set the standard of 1:53.67 in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Van Der Burgh also notched his second world record in as many days with his triumph in the 50m breaststroke in 26.67. He had set the previous record of 26.74 in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Zhang shattered the world record in winning the men's 800m freestyle in 7:32.12 - slicing 6.53sec off the previous world record of 7:38.65 set by Australian distance great Grant Hackett in Montreal on July 27 - the first time the race was swum at the World Championships.

Defending world champion Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia was second ahead of Canadian Ryan Cochrane.

Wednesday's seven world records - including Mary Descenza's in the women's 200m butterfly heats - took the total to 22 at the halfway stage of the eight-day competition.

That's well past the 15 set at the 2007 World Championships and closing in on the 25 set at the Beijing Olympics.

But this time Phelps, still swimming in the Speedo LZR suit that has been overtaken by the polyurethane marvels unveiled this year, hadn't been at the forefront.

The 24-year-old American had seemed non-plussed by his first defeat in world and Olympic competition since 2005, but he knew just what to do after the victory, raising both arms in celebration as he stood on the deck to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd.

"I do so many races that I can't get caught up in one event," Phelps said. "Last night, yeah, I was disappointed I didn't win. But I knew I had to put that behind me to get ready for tonight."

Suits or no, Phelps was never threatened as Poland's Pawel Korzeniowski and Japan's Takeshi Matsuda dueled for silver behind him.

"I tried to push on in the first 150 and get into as much open water as I could and then tried to just come up and last long," Phelps said.

Matsuda was lying second to Phelps until the final lap, when he was overtaken by Korzeniowski, who snatched the silver in 1:53.23 as Matsuda settled for bronze in 1:53.32.

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MANILA – Anne Curtis, who suffered minor injuries after figuring in a car accident, has been discharged from a hospital. Reports said the young actres

For the first time in four years, Michael Phelps touched the wall second at a major international competition. And it was his swimsuit that did him in.

German Paul Biedermann won the 200-meter freeestyle today at the World Swimming Championships in Rome, finishing more than a second ahead of the 14-time gold medalist. It was Phelps' first loss in a big meet since July 2005, when he finished behind Ian Crocker in the 100-meter butterfly at worlds. (You can watch a replay of the race at universalsports.com.)

As we wrote earlier today, Phelps seemed resigned to the loss earlier this week after Biedermann stunned the swimming world by breaking Ian Thorpe's once-untouchable world record in the 400-meter free. With his Arena X-Glide suit, Bidermann has sliced seconds off his times in a sport where dropping tenths is considered a major achievement.

To say Biedermann came out of nowhere would be hyperbole, but his emergence at these championships was certainly unexpected. After finishing fifth in the 200 at the Olympics and not qualifying for the finals in the 400, Biedermann is now a double world champion. And he isn't shy about attributing much of his success to the Arena X-Glide suit that he says improves his time by two seconds.

Phelps was wearing the once-revolutionary Speedo LZR, which has now been far surpassed by the buoyancy and stability of the new polyurethane-based Arena and Jaked suits. FINA has banned those suits from competition starting next year, a necessary move, but one that comes too late to stop the world record binge in Rome.

Because the suit will be widely credited for Biedermann's victory, the loss isn't crushing for Phelps. His worldwide reputation is based on Olympics, not world championships. Earning a silver is a bitter pill to swallow, but maybe a beneficial one for the greatest swimming champion of all-time. At least he's not in danger of getting complacent.

Plus, with the playing field leveled next year in terms of suit technology, Phelps will once again become the favorite in this race. No disrespect to Biedermann, but it's not a stretch to say that if everyone swam in those old-school Mark Spitz briefs, Michael Phelps' win streak would still be alive.

Update: After the race, Phelps made his strongest statement yet about the suit controversy. When asked by NBC's Andrea Kremer about his "inferior suit," Phelps declined to take a direct shot at Biedermann but said, "I will say that next year swimming will be swimming again. You're going to have to do all the work and there's not going to be a suit that does it for you."


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Roach draws up fight plan

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach is already in the “planning stage” as far as Manny Pacquiao’s coming fight with Miguel Cotto is concerned.

The three-time Trainer of the Year told The Las Vegas Review Journal yesterday that he plans to visit the Philippines next month just to make sure that Pacquiao is on track heading to the big Nov. 14 showdown with the reigning WBO welterweight champion.

Roach wants Pacquiao to train from eight to 10 weeks for the Cotto fight, and Day One at the Wild Card Gym should start on the second week of September or just after the press tour that will take the fighters from New York to Puerto Rico.

Even before Pacquiao goes to the US, Roach wants the reigning pound-for-pound champion to start flexing his muscles back home, getting rid of those excess pounds so by the time he reports to the gym they won’t have to start from scratch.

Meanwhile, Roach will start doing his homework in his Los Angeles home. “I know Cotto pretty well. I haven’t really studied him yet. I have a pretty good idea how we want to fight him, but until I sit down, watch the tapes and talk to Manny, we’re still in the planning stage,” Roach told the Review Journal.

The fight is pegged at a catchweight of 145 lb, two pounds short of the welterweight limit, and it remains uncertain if the 27-year-old Cotto will stake his title. Reports said WBO wants him to, but others say it just won’t happen.

Bob Arum said Cotto doesn’t want to stake his title because he doesn’t want to pay the sanction fee, whether it’s $150,000 or so much more than that. A lot of people are hoping that Cotto does put the crown on the line.

“I’ll go (to the Philippines) sometime next month and we’ll get started. For this fight, speed is going to be important. I think if you get Cotto in a fast-paced fight, he’ll tire. So we want to come out quick and set a fast pace. Speed is our biggest asset.”

Pacquiao fought Oscar dela Hoya at 147 lb last December, showing up for the weigh-in at 142 and climbing the ring at 148 1/2. Dela Hoya, who was knocked out inside nine rounds, weighed in at 145 and showed up for the fight at 147.

But Cotto is not Dela Hoya.

“He’s a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger. But I think Manny’s the better boxer, and Manny’s defense is the best it’s been. I think Pacquiao will stop him along the way,” said Roach. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)


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Pacquiao-Cotto showdown set for

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - – Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican fighter Miguel Cotto will meet in Las Vegas in November at a catch-weight of 145 pounds, ESPN and Filipino newspapers reported Monday.

The US sports network and Phillipines media reported that Pacquiao, considered the pound-for-pound world champion after flattening England's Ricky Hatton in the second round in May, will meet Cotto on November 14.

Reports also had the fight at 145 pounds, two below the welterweight limit and five above the light-welterweight category maximum.

Promoter Bob Arum handles affairs for both Pacquiao and Cotto.

The reports come after moves by unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather Jnr and World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley to try and lure Pacquiao into a deal.

Mosley, a US veteran, said he was willing to take only 40 percent of the purse and would agree to fight at the light-welterweight limit in order to strike a deal with the Filipino star.

Mayweather, whose ring return from retirement was pushed back to September due to a rib injury, is the fighter most fans would enjoy seeing Pacquiao face in a showdown between the former and current pound-for-pound kings.

But Mayweather said last week it was unlikely he would fight Pacquiao because both camps insistent on the lion's share of a 60-40 fight purse split. Mayweather also has bitter feelings toward Arum, his former promoter.


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Mosley to Pacquiao: Let's fight at 140

MANILA - Just when it seemed that he has given up chasing Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosely has suddenly come out to challenge the Filipino again.

This time, he wants to fight the pound-for-pound king in the junior welterweight division. “I'm going down to 140 [lbs.] and I want to fight Pacquiao for his belt because that's a belt I had never won,” Mosley told Fighthype.com’s Ben Thompson.

Aside from being the top pound-for-pound fighter, Pacquiao is the reigning International Boxing Organization (IBO) and The Ring Magazine junior welterweight champion.

Mosley, the current World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, earlier offered Pacquiao a 40-60 revenue cut in favor of the Filipino. He also said he was willing to go down to 144 lbs. just to get that fight.

When Pacquiao refused to budge, he reportedly gave up the chase.

Mosley, however, came back into the action as Pacquiao’s camp continues to negotiate the weight issue with possible Puerto Rican foe Miguel Cotto.

“I thought about my legacy and my history,” said Mosley. “I think that me being willing to fight and the only thing that stands between us is 143 or 144 and we're going back and forth and he's playing games with Cotto.”

With his current offer at 140 lbs., Mosley said Pacquiao will surely run out of excuses not to fight him.

“I'm ready for him to say, 'yes, let's go ahead and do it' and let's fight. I mean, there should be no excuses. There should be no hold ups for Bob Arum or nobody,” said the welterweight champ.

“I'm the only one stepping up to the plate and willing to do something, willing to fight, willing to give the fans what they want… a great fight,” he added.


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Mayweather says money dispute foils Pacquiao fight hopes

LAS VEGAS (AFP) - – Unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather Jnr declared himself fit to fight after a rib injury delayed his comeback but says money demands have foiled a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather dismissed Pacquiao's claim to the world pound-for-pound throne Mayweather vacated by retiring in December of 2007, saying, "It's like a T-Bone steak. After I eat all the meat off the steak, they throw him the bone."

Mayweather, 39-0 with 25 knockouts, will fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4 with one draw and 37 knockouts, on September 19 after this Saturday's planned date was scrapped over an injury whose origin Mayweather kept secret.

"It didn't come from sparring," Mayweather said Tuesday. "Freak accidents happen in training. It was just a freak accident.

"I tried to work through it but then it happened again and I'm like, 'I can't be a superhero. Take a little time off.' I healed. Now I'm ready to rock and roll. I can't wait to get back out there."

Mayweather will fight for the first time in 21 months, since a 10th-round stoppage of England's Ricky Hatton, who was flattened in the second round last May by Filipino star Pacquiao.

Interest is great for a Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown but Mayweather said the bout is unlikely because Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum seeks a 50-50 split of profits rather than a 60-40 break in Mayweather's favor.

"He wants a 50-50 split. That's never going to happen. If Bob Arum wasn't trying to be so greedy, that fight would happen," Mayweather said. "It still is a business even if it is a sport."

Mayweather's past two fights, with Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya, enticed 3.5 million US pay-per-view purchases, said Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, while Pacquiao "did a little bit more than half of that" against the same foes.

"It's difficult for Floyd to say it should be 50-50 because it really shouldn't be 50-50," Schaefer said. "Both fighters have a certain market value and they should get compensated accordingly."

While Mayweather said he has no grudge against Pacquiao, he neither has any great desire to fight him if the price is not right.

"Pacquiao is a good fighter. I don't take nothing from him," Mayweather said. "He hasn't done nothing I haven't done. Where was he when I was dominating in the '90s? He hasn't called me out. I'm not hard to find.

"I ain't worried about him. With or without him, I'm comfortable. I'm happy. He don't make me (nothing). I don't chase opponents. Opponents chase me. The biggest fight in boxing is Mayweather versus anybody."

Mayweather and Arum had a bitter breakup and Mayweather said Pacquiao loses 27 percent of his paydays.

"Manny Pacquiao has the worst contract in boxing with Bob Arum right now - 27 percent," Mayweather said. "I keep 100 percent of my money. Are you serious - 27 percent? Arum tells Manny Pacquiao the same bull he used to tell me."

Marquez rallied from being sent to the canvas three times in the first round to draw Pacquiao in 2004 and lost a controversial split decision to him in 2008 but Mayweather rates Marquez a better rival than Pacquiao.

"I would have to rate him ovr Manny. For a guy to knock him down three times in the first round and he comes back to get a draw, we know who lost," said Mayweather, who has recently healed strained relations with father Floyd Snr.

Fight co-promoter De la Hoya, who lost to Pacquiao last December, said that Mayweather deserves the pound-for-pound crown, not Pacquaio.

"I'd have to go with Floyd. I felt more skill coming out of Mayweather than I did with Pacquiao," de la Hoya said. "The winner between Mayweather and Marquez is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet."

Marquez dismissed Pacquiao as well, saying, "Mayweather is the best. He retired undefeated. When I fought Manny I thought I beat him both times."

De la Hoya tossed another dig at "Pac-Man", saying, "The fans are the ones who speak and we all know Marquez beat Pacquiao."


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Federer makes Grand Slam history with epic Wimbledon triumph

LONDON (AFP) - – Roger Federer made history on Sunday when he defeated brave Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14 to win a sixth Wimbledon title and claim a record 15th Grand Slam crown in a classic final.

But the 27-year-old Swiss second seed was given a huge fright by the American sixth seed who led by a set, had four set points in the second and didn't drop serve until the final, heartbreaking game of the match.

In an extraordinary conclusion, the deciding set was, at 95 minutes, the longest ever played in a men's Wimbledon final and was longer than it took the Williams sisters to contest the women's final on Saturday.

Federer now has six Wimbledon titles, five US Opens, three Australian Opens and a French Open trophy, and has surpassed Pete Sampras's mark of 14 majors.

He will also reclaim his world number one spot from Rafael Nadal, who beat him in a five-set final here last year.

"Andy (Roddick) played an unbelievable tournament. He's a great guy but there has to be a winner sometimes," said Federer after the 4hr 16min final.

"I didn't hold the trophy last year. But it feels great after such a crazy match which could have gone on for a few more hours. My head is still spinning.

"Getting 15 Grand Slam titles is not something you dream about when you are a little boy, but I've had a great career.

"It's been quite a month winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back just like Bjorn Borg did.

"I don't play to break records but it's great to have them."

Roddick, who has now lost three Wimbledon finals to Federer, was in tears at the end of the match.

"Roger is a true champion and he deserves all he gets," said Roddick.

"I hope to come back one day and get my name up on that winners' board."

When asked later if he had just lost to the greatest player of all time, Roddick replied: "Yes."

Sampras, and fellow greats Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg were on hand to watch Federer's bid for history, as were Hollywood giants Woody Allen and Russell Crowe, such was the attraction of the Centre Court blockbuster.

Sampras had flown in from his California home and he agreed with Roddick.

"In my book, Roger is the greatest of all time. He has his critics and people point to Rafael Nadal beating him, but for me he's the greatest. He is a legend and an icon," said Sampras.

"He is a great champion and a good guy. He's very humble, which I like."

Federer, in a record seventh straight Wimbledon final and 20th Grand Slam title match, saw Roddick save four break points in the 11th game of the opening set and he immediately paid a heavy price.

The Swiss went wide with a crosscourt drive, which put him set point down, and then repeated the error to hand the American the opener 7-5.

Roddick, whose only Grand Slam title came at the 2003 US Open, lost the 2004 and 2005 finals here to Federer, just two of his 18 defeats in 20 previous career meetings with the world number two.

But on Sunday he wisely adopted the same game plan he employed in his semi-final win over Britain's Andy Murray, a powerful mix of trademark big groundstrokes punctuated by regular visits to the net.

Roddick then stretched to a 6/2 lead, and four set points, in the second set tiebreaker, but Federer fought back and levelled the final when the American unleashed a wild backhand.

Roddick was now under siege, saving a break point in the sixth game of the third set before another tiebreaker was required.

Federer went to three set points, two of which Roddick saved, but the Swiss opened up a two sets to one lead when a Roddick service return fell comfortably into his hitting zone and he despatched a fierce forehand winner.

But Roddick, playing in his first Grand Slam final since the 2006 US Open, refused to surrender and broke Federer to lead 3-1 in the fourth set on his way to levelling the final.

Federer again failed to convert a break point in the second game of the marathon decider before he was forced to fight off two on his own serve in the 17th game.

But eventually Roddick, always having to play catch-up, finally wilted in the 30th game of the decider when he ballooned a weary forehand long.

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Bryant stays with Lakers after opting not to dump deal

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Kobe Bryant, who guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA championship last month, decided not to nullify the last two years of his contract and will stay with the squad, the Lakers said on Wednesday.

Bryant, the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals triumph over Orlando, had until Tuesday to make himself an unrestricted free agent by dumping the deal.

Staying with the Lakers means Bryant's agent and the club will talk over a contract extension that would bring the backcourt playmaker 23 million dollars next season and give him the chance to opt out of the deal next June.

Bryant had tipped his hand two weeks ago by saying he would not leave the team upon which he has played for his entire 13-year NBA career, one which he has inspired to four titles.

"I'm not going anywhere," Bryant said on June 19. "I know I ain't going nowhere, so it's just a waste of our breath just talking about it."


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Shaq seeks to add fifth ring with the 'King'

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) - – Shaquille O'Neal says he wants to play another three years in the National Basketball Association and use that time to help Cleveland win a championship and end the city's title drought.

"Win a ring for The King," said O'Neal regarding playing with the league's most valuable player LeBron James.

"I won't be the guy by myself. Even though I have four rings it is going to take a team to get it done. We have all the pieces here. We will be ready."

O'Neal is seeking his fifth NBA title and third with a different team. He won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat.

The 37-year-old O'Neal didn't get the job done with his most recent team Phoenix but says he is up for the challenge of trying to win with James.

"They say things happen in threes," O'Neal said. "I won with Kobe (Bryant) and with the great Dwyane Wade."

The Suns traded the 15-time all-star to Cleveland in exchange for centre Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland's second-round pick in the 2010 NBA entry draft and an undetermined amount of cash.

O'Neal, who is in the final year of his contract, is not the dominant force he was early in his career. He captured the MVP award in 2000 and was the NBA finals MVP with the Lakers from 2000-02.

O'Neal averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds in 75 games with Phoenix who did not make the playoffs.

Cleveland posted the best regular season record in the league (66-16). They are hoping O'Neal can help them get them over the playoff hump and provide an answer for power centres like Orlando's Dwight Howard. The Cavs were eliminated from this year's playoffs by Howard's Magic in six games.

"LeBron's not going to do it by himself," O'Neal stated. "I'm just here to do my part and help a damn good team get over the hump. It's LeBron's team. I'm here. He's the captain. I'm here to protect The King."

O'Neal, who has played 17 NBA seasons with Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami and Phoenix, has averaged 24.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He has won two league scoring titles and won the rookie of the year award.

Cleveland hopes O'Neal can help the city break its championship drought. The Ohio city hasn't won an American sports championship since 1964, the year the gridiron Browns won the National Football League title.

"I'll fit in just fine," he said. "They had a damn good team here already."


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Venus & Serena Williams

Serena Williams of the U.S. (TOP) returns the ball as her sister Venus runs across the court during their ladies doubles match against Anna-Lena Groenfield of Germany and Vania King of the U.S. at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London July 1, 2009.
REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN SPORT TENNIS)
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Federer highlights Wimbledon men's quarterfinals

WIMBLEDON, England – It's the men's quarterfinals today at Wimbledon as five-time champion Roger Federer, closing in on a record 15th Grand Slam title, is scheduled first on Centre Court against big-serving 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic, followed by No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain against Spanish wild card Juan Carlos Ferrero.

On Court 1, No. 4 Novak Djokovic is to face Tommy Haas, with two-time finalist Andy Roddick paired against 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt.

Wimbledon could be headed for another all-Williams final. Then again, it could be an all-Russian matchup.

The Williams sisters are one round away from another Grand Slam championship showdown, but they will first have to get past Russian opponents to set up their eighth meeting in a major final and fourth in the Wimbledon title match.

"I would love it to be a Williams final, and so would she," five-time champion Venus said, referring to younger sister and two-time winner Serena. "That would be great."

Third-seeded Venus, going for her third straight Wimbledon championship, will be up against No. 1 Dinara Safina in Thursday's semifinals. Serena, seeded No. 2, will face No. 4 Elena Dementieva.

The Williams siblings go in as solid favorites. They have put on a clinic of power tennis so far, showing why they have been the dominant force at the All England Club for most of the decade.

"Do I feel invincible?" Venus said after blasting Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 in Tuesday's quarterfinals. "I'd like to say yes, but I really do work at it."

Only once in the past nine years has there been a Wimbledon women's final that didn't feature at least one of the Williams sisters.

They have faced each other in three Wimbledon finals, including last year. Serena won the first two, in 2002 and '03. They are 10-10 in career meetings and have played in seven Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning five.

"Serena and I work really hard — that's the first point," Venus said. "And second, if it was so easy, we'd win everything. But it's not that easy. We still are definitely the front-runners in tennis as far as being some of the best players out there."

The women had the day off Wednesday, which was set aside for the men's quarterfinals.

The Williams sisters have sailed through the draw so far without dropping a set. Venus has lost only 20 games in five matches, Serena 25.

"We have a great game," Serena said after beating Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-3 Tuesday. "We have strong serves. I think we have pretty good returns. Just solid all-around court players. I think we both move pretty well. I think that's a pretty solid game."

Venus said the sisters thrive at Wimbledon not only because of their attacking, punishing styles.

"I do have strategy," she said. "Maybe it doesn't look like it but I do. I think that's my secret weapon, that it doesn't look like I'm thinking, but I am."

Venus has shown no letup in her aggressive style despite wearing a bandage on her left leg. She has been reluctant to discuss whether she has a knee problem.

"I'm doing well, thank you," she said after Tuesday's match.

One person who is convinced the sisters will meet for the title on Saturday is their father, Richard.

"I think they are both playing super well," he said. "They're playing 'The Williams Way.' And when you're playing 'The Williams Way,' it's very difficult for anyone to touch you."

Williams has a 2-1 career edge over Safina, though the Russian won their last meeting in three sets on clay at the Italian Open in May.

"I know what she's doing," Safina said. "I know her weapons. I have my weapons. ... If I play my best, and she plays the best, it's 50-50 who's going to win the match."

Safina, who has lost in three Grand Slam finals and never won a major, will have to keep her serve in the court if she has any chance of beating Williams. Safina had 15 double-faults — including three in a row in one game — before finishing off Sabine Lisicki 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1.

"Sometimes even I don't know what I'm doing with my serve," Safina said.

Serena is 5-3 against Dementieva. They met at Wimbledon in the fourth round in 2002, with Serena winning 6-2, 6-2.

"I don't remember that," Williams said. "I'm going to YouTube it, though."

Dementieva lost to Venus in last year's Wimbledon semifinals. Now playing in her 43rd Grand Slam tournament, the 27-year-old Russian hasn't dropped a set so far.

"This time I'm going to play a different player and it's going to be all new," Dementieva said. "I just want to see how tough I can be out there against her, just looking for some good fight."

By STEPHEN WILSON, AP Sports Writer
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