Williams sisters take final stage again

But yesterday, each found a new way of leaving her imprint on the game, as Serena emerged victorious from the longest women’s semifinal of Wimbledon’s modern era, while Venus triumphed in the most lopsided.

The result was a Williams family dream come true. For the eighth time, the sisters will meet in the finals of a Grand Slam event, with the All England club providing the setting tomorrow for a second consecutive year.

Said Venus, Wimbledon’s five-time and defending champion, “If she didn’t win, or if I didn’t win, then the dream doesn’t come true that we’re both playing in the final.’’

Serena, 27, had the far tougher road, fighting off match point against Russia’s Elena Dementieva before prevailing, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 8-6, in a match that lasted 2 hours 49 minutes.

Venus, 29, wasn’t tested on any level by Dinara Safina, routing the reigning world No. 1 and top seed, 6-1, 6-0, in 51 minutes. The match was over as soon as it started, with the Russian painfully ill at ease on the grass that only accentuates Venus’s rare power and pace.

Venus won the first 10 points, faced a break point only once and committed just one unforced error in the match.

Still, she flung the verbal equivalent of a sister’s protective arm around Safina during her news conference afterward, which was peppered with questions about how the Russian could be deemed No. 1 when she had just been eviscerated on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

“She is so talented and has played so consistently in the last year,’’ Venus said of Safina, 23, who has yet to win a major title. “I went out there and was able to stay focused. I have so much experience on this court, it helps a lot.’’

But such questions are sure to continue in the wake of yesterday’s results and the sisters’ dominance at Wimbledon this year.

On one hand, their accomplishments - over the last two weeks and the 14 years that preceded them - can hardly be overstated.

Serena has won 10 major titles; Venus, seven.

Tomorrow’s Wimbledon final will mark the eighth time they’ve faced each other in the finals of a Grand Slam event. Serena has won five majors at Venus’s expense (the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 2002, and the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2003); Venus has won two against Serena (2001 US Open, 2008 Wimbledon).

But the ease with which each advanced this year, with Venus yet to lose a set and Serena not challenged until yesterday, underscores the gulf in ability between the sisters and the rest of the women on the pro tour.

And that, in turn, raises questions about the health of women’s tennis.

Venus bristled at a reporter’s suggestion that Safina’s lopsided loss was “embarrassing’’ for the sport.

“I respect Dinara Safina, and I think you should, too,’’ Venus replied, adding, “I think women’s tennis is fantastic.’’

Still, only one player mounted a worthy challenge to a Williams at Wimbledon this year: Dementieva, who came within one point of derailing the Fourth of July all-American final.

Serena looked unbeatable entering the semifinal. She hadn’t lost a set through five rounds of play and arrived at Wimbledon as titleholder of two of the last three majors (2008 US Open and 2009 Australian Open).

But Dementieva had upgraded her fitness and overhauled her chronically shaky serve in the offseason. And she didn’t flinch in the face of Serena’s power, prevailing in a tiebreaker to win the opening set.

Serena jumped to a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Dementieva reeled off the next three games.

Serving at 5-5, Dementieva missed two forehands - both tripped up by the net cord and sent wide - and was broken.

But even for Serena, who boasts the best serve in the women’s game, serving out the set wasn’t easy. She fought off four break points before drawing even, at one set each.

Dementieva was the better mover as the third set wore on, while Serena was a step slow to the ball. But she compensated by playing the crucial points better.

“It’s quite difficult to play against her on grass because of her serve and because of the groundstrokes that she has,’’ Dementieva said.

“But there is no one unbeatable, I think, if you play very aggressive [and] if you believe in your heart you can do it. Because today was a very close match.’’

Safina couldn’t say the same after being steamrolled by Venus.