Venus sets up all-Williams final

Injury-stricken Venus Williams proved her fighting spirit by clawing her way into her fourth consecutive Wimbledon final and another showdown with sister Serena.

Things had looked bleak for the two-time champion after just three games of her semi-final against second seed Kim Clijsters when she called a medical time-out following a recurrence of a stomach problem.

She plunged a set and a break behind before hitting back from the brink and carving out a 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory.

Williams visibly cranked up her power after a one-hour rain delay at the end of the first set and in the end it was plucky Clijsters who folded first.

The Belgian, seeking a win which would have earned her a final shoot-out for the world number one spot against Serena Williams, got off to a flyer by breaking Venus in the first game of the match.

When Williams disappeared for a private five-minute time-out the odds favoured Clijsters to reach her first Wimbledon final.

Clijsters stretched her opponent all over the baseline and despite being broken back in the eighth game of the match she hit straight back and then sewed up the set before rain sent the players off the court.

Williams returned after the rain delay with strapping around her midriff and Clijsters continued to press home her advantage with another early second set break.

But that was the first of four consecutive breaks as Williams fought bravely and grabbed the crucial break in the eighth game before serving out for the set.

Unforced errors began to creep into Clijsters’ game as the pressure mounted and Williams continued to ratchet up her blistering power game.

Williams raced away with the final set with three consecutive breaks to gain a memorable victory and give herself the chance to avenge last year’s final when Serena stole her Wimbledon crown.