Safina battles back against Lisicki

Top seed Dinara Safina recovered from a set down for the second day running to book her place in the Wimbledon semi-finals with victory against German teenager Sabine Lisicki.

Lisicki had already knocked out fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki to reach the quarter-finals, and threatened another upset after taking the opening set on Centre Court.

However, Safina, the world number one despite being without a Grand Slam title, hit back to win 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 6-1 in two hours and 28 minutes to seal a last-four clash with defending champion Venus Williams on Thursday.

Safina served a total of 15 double faults and admitted: "My service today, I think I was Santa Claus serving so many double faults. On the practice court I don't serve a single double fault.

"The serve is there, I just have to put the brain there. I know what I have to do, I'm just not doing it.

"It's not going to be easy against Venus on grass but I have nothing to lose. I want to go out there and enjoy it and show my best tennis.

"I'm happy that I'm in the semis, I was tough mentally and I think that was the key today."

Safina struggled desperately with her serve in the early stages, committing three double faults in the third game to fall a break behind and shanking another serve embarrassingly wide off the frame of her racket.

The Russian did at least break back when Lisicki served for the set at 5-3, but that was merely delaying the inevitable as the German took the set in the tie-break.

The 19-year-old squandered two set points from 6-3 ahead, optimistically and incorrectly challenging a line call after a terrible miss on the forehand at 6-5, but was then gifted the set courtesy of yet another double fault from Safina.

Lisicki started the second set superbly, winning her first three service games without dropping a single point.

Safina was being made to work much harder to remain on level terms, but finally managed to put pressure on her opponent's serve and quickly reaped her reward.

Lisicki saved one break point in the seventh game but then served a double fault on the next, repaying the favour following Safina's crucial double fault in the first set tie-break.

Safina then had to save a break point in the 10th game and crucially had a double fault overturned with a successful challenge as she served out to take the set 6-4 and level the match.

For the second match in succession Safina was attempting to come back from a set down, having trailed former champion Amelie Mauresmo in the fourth round yesterday.

And the 23-year-old made the perfect start with a break in the opening game of the decider, only to give it straight back after saving three break points in the next game.

That meant there was nothing between the players after almost two hours' play, but parity did not last long and a third consecutive break of serve gave Safina the upper hand once more.

This time Safina consolidated the break and quickly claimed another to go 4-1 ahead with a backhand winner which landed on the baseline, Lasicki briefly contemplating a challenge but realising it would be futile.

Safina was still far from convincing however, serving three double faults in a row from 40-0 before holding serve to lead 5-1, but another break gave the scoreline a rather flattering look in favour of the top seed.