Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean shattered Briton Tim Henman’s Wimbledon dream for another year on Thursday when he completed a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 quarter-final victory on Centre Court. A vengeful Serena Williams butchered Belgian rival Justin Henin-Hardenne 6-3, 6-2 in their grudge rematch to reach her second successive Wimbledon final on Thursday. In a display of brute force that left Centre Court gasping, the defending champion buried the memory of her bitter French Open semi-final defeat by the Belgian with a barrage of ferocious winners. On court one, the bookmakers’ favourite for the men’s title, American fifth seed Andy Roddick made light work of experienced Swede Jonas Bjorkman in their men’s quarter-final. Play on all courts was delayed by two hours, 40 minutes due to rain but Roddick was unflustered as he booked his first Wimbledon semi-final against either Swiss fourth seed Roger Federer or Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Two sets to one up overnight, 13th seeded Grosjean wrapped up a deserved victory with some scintillating shots to deflate an expectant Centre Court crowd. Henman, seeded 10, had been hoping to reach his fifth Wimbledon semi-final in six years but the host nation’s hopes of a first men’s champion since 1936 were left in tatters by some sublime shot-making from Grosjean. The Frenchman will play his first Wimbledon semi-final against either German Alexander Popp or Australian Mark Philippoussis, who like Popp is unseeded. Grosjean is only the third player from France to reach the semi-finals of the men’s singles at Wimbledon since the game turned professional in 1968. Meanwhile, Serena will face either sister Venus or Belgian Kim Clijsters in Saturday’s final. ‘‘I played really well today — I was really focused, I had to be,’’ said the 21-year-old American, who had accused Henin of ‘‘lying and fabricating’’ in their bad-tempered game at Roland Garros last month. This time she was all smiles, adding: ‘‘I’m just happy to be in the final of Wimbledon again, I’m really excited. It’s a great feeling. I just have another opportunity to have another go at another championship here.’’ The Federer-Schalken match was due to be completed on Thursday together with British 10th seed Tim Henman’s quarter-final with Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean. Groejean will now face either German Alexander Popp or Australian Mark Philippoussis, who were level at two sets all, 2-2 when wet conditions caused their quarter-final to be suspended on Wednesday. (Reuters)
