Williams Sisters Final Today, Federer to Play Philippoussis in Wimbledon Final

ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW
Roger Federer out-aced, out-hit, out-worked, and generally out-classed Andy Roddick in the first Wimbledon semifinal appearance for both players Friday at Wimbledon, with the Swiss showing the American what superior net play can do for you on grass, picking apart Roddick's backhand and shaky net game. A-Rod had a set point in the first-set tiebreak, but after a big serve resulted in a short return, the American hope netted an easy mid-court forehand, eventually going on to lose the match 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-3. "Five-setters are better for the crowd," said Federer, who threw down 17 aces to just four for Roddick. "But true tennis fans love to see sometimes fast and good matches like today, because I really played great. I served extremely well. To raise my game like this for such a big match is incredible." Roddick is now 0-2 in grand slam semifinals, and 0-4 versus Federer. The American came out looking tight on the serve, only putting in 58% of his first serves, and was also 0-2 in converting break points. The other semifinal between Mark Philippoussis and Sebastien Grosjean was a snoozer, with the Frenchman failing to consistently get the serve back as he did so well against the weak delivery of Tim Henman in their quarterfinal contest. Flipper rode 11 aces to a straight-set 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-3 win, moving into his second career slam final after losing at the US Open five years ago. "I don't think Sebastien played his best tennis today, and I took advantage of that," Philippoussis said. "I volleyed well and tried to keep the pressure on."
In the men's doubles semis, (1)Bhupathi/Mirnyi beat (5)Paes/Rikl in four sets in the Indian grudge match (Bhupathi and Paes pretty much despise each other), and defending champs (4)Bjorkman/Woodbridge beat the unseeded Israel Davis Cup team of Erlich/Ram in four sets.

WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
Another sisters final, another unwatchable hour of tennis. "It's not easy for me to play someone I care so much about," said Serena, who has never successfully defended a slam title. "Venus is playing really well. She's played extremely well throughout the two weeks." This rematch of last year's final could be a short one considering Venus' strained abdominal muscle, an uphill climb for the older sister. By reaching the final at Wimbledon for a fourth straight year, Venus becomes only the third woman in the Open Era to appear in the women's final four or more consecutive times. Venus has lost the last four finals to Serena. Serena leads the head-to-head 6-5. Enjoy.
In the women's doubles semis you've got the dream No. 1 vs. No. 2 final, with (2)Clijsters/Sugiyama beating back (4)Davenport/Raymond after losing the second set 6-0, and (1)Ruano Pascual/Suarez outlasting (15)Dementieva/Krasnoroutskaya in three.

ATP CHAMPIONS RACE UPDATE
1st Ferrero,Juan Carlos/ESP 537
2nd Federer,Roger/SUI 485 (545 for title)
3rd Agassi,Andre/USA 472
4th Coria,Guillermo/ARG 372
5th Roddick,Andy/USA 370
6th Schuettler,Rainer/GER 349
7th Moya,Carlos/ESP 319
8th Philippoussis,Mark/AUS 245 (305 for title)

WOMEN'S REPEAT FINALS
For only the fifth time in the Open Era there is a repeat women's final at Wimbledon:
1978-79 Martina Navratilova d. Chris Evert both times
1984-85 Martina Navratilova d. Chris Evert both times
1987-89 Martina Navratilova d. Steffi Graf (Graf reversed result in '88 and '89)
1995-96 Steffi Graf d. Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario both times
2002-03 Serena Williams d. Venus Williams in 2002

TOUR NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
More than 20 players have signed the petition to slow down the game with smaller racquets -- the issue is due to be debated at the second ITF International Congress on Tennis Science and Technology in London on July 28, under the heading 'Tennis and the modern racket; small is beautiful?' Nice title...Believe it or not, bra manufacturer Berlei chipped in $66,800 Thursday to make the women's purse at Wimbledon equal to the men's...Former player and Roger Federer coach Peter Lundgren illustrates how nice it is to be able to retire and put on 100 pounds...John McEnroe is not too high on Tim Henman's chances for ever winning the Wimbledon title: "Will he win it? It's pretty doubtful at this point."...Roger Federer's win over Andy Roddick had him overtake Andre Agassi and move to No. 2 behind Juan Carlos Ferrero on the 2003 ATP Champions Race; Fed will move to No. 1 by beating Mark Philippoussis...If you're a mover and/or a shaker in the tennis industry, tell someone about Tennis-X, we're getting to the point where we need real jobs, real funding, not just fake stock in the company...Mark Philippoussis has hit 164 aces in six matches...Serena Williams will hang on to her slim lead at No. 1 over Kim Clijsters when the WTA Tour Rankings come out on Monday...Billie Jean King let Lindsey Davenport have it for speaking to the media first about her unhappiness about Fed Cup instead of speaking to her: "You talked to the media for two to three days and didn't have the courtesy to sock it to me," King said she told Davenport, according to ESPN, with resulting silence from Lindsey. "I was very unhappy and she knew it, about airing her feelings with you (the media) and I told her that she truly hurt my feelings by not picking up the phone." Keep those kids in line BJ...Roger Federer is the first Swiss Grand Slam finalist...Following their Thursday wins, the Williams sisters will out until 3am partying...Andy Roddick says all credit goes to Federer: "I got a drubbing from Andre (Agassi) once pretty bad and felt kind of helpless. But I don't think I have been beaten that convincingly when I felt like I went into the match thinking 'I'm playing well'."...Mark Philippoussis' dad Nick had cancer three times, and six years ago was told he had six months to live, but he currently coaches his son: "My father said 'Don't listen to what they said, some doctors can be very negative'," Philippoussis said about being told me could never play again. "My family is the number one priority in my life and not my tennis. Obviously when everyone in your family is healthy, that's the biggest blessing you could have."...Australia has now had a finalist in the men's singles at Wimbledon in each of the last four years...Grosjean only served 51% first serves against Philippoussis, a breakdown in serve after coming into the semis with more aces than Andy Roddick...Bad look for A-Rod when you're getting pounded so badly you have to change your game and go to the net, only to show the world how bad a volleyer you are -- listening Brad?...Roger Federer is also a former junior champ at Wimbledon...NBC says "Venus will meet Serena in a final that should be of the highest quality" -- Have they seen any of their other finals? Idiots...Can NBC's Ted Robinson stop fronting his poor tennis knowledge, like asserting that Grosjean is an exception in the French always doing poorly at Wimbledon? Idiot…Philippoussis is the sixth unseeded player to reach the Wimbledon final in the Open Era…On the men's side, this will be the seventh straight Slam with a different Slam winner…Roger Federer has won 9 consecutive sets over Andy Roddick…WEATHER: Cloudy start, but should be okay…STAT OF THE DAY: Six of the last eight slams finals have been all-Williams.