July 1 (Bloomberg) -- Venus and Serena Williams are one match away from repeating last year’s women’s final at Wimbledon. Standing in the way are two Russians.

Dinara Safina, the women’s top seed, faces defending champion Venus Williams in one semifinal tomorrow, while Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva plays second seed Serena Williams in the other.

Both sisters and Dementieva eased into the next-to-last round yesterday while Safina struggled.

In men’s quarterfinals action today at Wimbledon, five-time champion Roger Federer plays Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic and Britain’s Andy Murray faces Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain on Centre Court. On Court No. 1, Germany’s Tommy Haas meets Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Lleyton Hewitt plays Andy Roddick of the U.S.

Serena Williams, the 2002 and 2003 champion, eased past Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 on Centre Court yesterday. The American fired 26 winners, including nine aces, past the No. 8 seed.

Her older sister defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the eighth time in 10 years. Venus Williams, who won the first of seven Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2000, produced 29 winners, including five aces.

While Safina, 23, may be the top seed in the women’s draw thanks to her No. 1 ranking on the WTA Tour, the 29-year-old Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion, brings a record of playing in big matches.

“She has the top ranking, but I have more the experience in this tournament and more success,” said Venus Williams, who leads the Russian 2-1. “I’ve been playing a little longer. So if she keeps playing longer, too, then maybe she has the opportunity to have lots of success here, too.”

Underdog

Safina, who struggled in her quarterfinal, sees herself as the underdog.

“This is her best surface,” the Russian told reporters. “She loves playing here in Wimbledon. I just want to go out there. I have nothing to lose.”

Dementieva, 27, also is counting on experience to get past Serena Williams. The Russian has lost five of the eight times she’s played the 27-year-old American.

Their one meeting on grass was in 2003, when Williams won in straight sets and went on to win the title. Things have changed since then.

“I think I improved as a player,” Dementieva told reporters after she dispatched Italy’s Francesca Schiavone in straight sets in the quarterfinal.

Save Energy

The Russian, who has conceded only 20 games in her previous rounds, is expecting a tough match.

“I think it was good to win all these matches in two sets and save some energy for the big moment, a semifinal,” she said. “But I’m sure it’s going to be a difficult match. It’s going to be a fight for every point, every game.”

Serena Williams isn’t thinking about playing her sister in the final.

“Right now I am focused on my next match,” she said. “Elena gets a lot of balls back, she’s playing really well on grass.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Danielle Rossingh at the All England Club through the London sports desk at drossingh@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 30, 2009 19:00 EDT