Serena Williams will face sister Venus for the third time in a Wimbledon final after bringing Zheng Jie's incredible run to an end with a 6-2 7-6 (7-5) win.

The sixth seed took advantage of a nervy start by the Chinese wildcard to take a 5-2 lead in the first set before a shower forced the players off.

On their return, Williams took the set but the tenacious Zheng battled back and had a point to level the match.

However, the two-time champion edged a tight tie-break to seal victory.

Zheng pushed Williams all the way to the end, battling back from 5-2 down in the tie-break to 5-5.

But Williams' serve, impressive throughout, got her through, an ace setting up match point before Zheng's challenge ended disappointingly with a double fault.

"She definitely pushed me," Williams told BBC Sport.

"She played a great game and she played like she had nothing to lose and it's always fun to play an opponent like that.

"I didn't want to go three sets. I just wanted to close it out and hit some big serves."

Williams is through to her first Grand Slam final since the Australian Open last year and the first against her older sister since Wimbledon 2003.

"I'm just happy to be back in a Grand Slam final but I want to do more than make the final," she said.

"Venus is a tough opponent, probably the toughest I've played."

(BBC)

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