At 18-17, Roddick, furious with Maria again, snapped at him: “I’m surprised you can count to 18.” The men played on Neither would budge. Every point was an intense battle, every lost point an agony Roddick accompanied his serves with primal screams. The tennis was still first-class.Finally, an exhausted El Aynaoui surrendered the break, and Roddick finished things off at 12.50am. “Strategy was out of the window,” he said, “it was just pure fighting.”Sch?er reached the semi-finals by dismissing David Nalbandian 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0. In the women’s draw, Serena Williams beat Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 6-2, while Kim Clijsters defeated Anastasia Myskina of Russia 6-2, 6-4. Serena and Clijsters meet in one semi-final today, while Serena’s sister, Venus, and Clijsters’ fellow Belgian, Justine Henin-Hardenne, play in the other.Five other epic court encountersBy John Roberts1980 WIMBLEDON Final: Bjorn Borg bt John McEnroe 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 8-6 The last of Borg’s five consecutive Wimbledon triumphs is best remembered for an epic tie-break in the fourth set, won, 18-16, by the Swede’s American rival. During the 20-minute cameo, Borg had five championship points and saved six set points as McEnroe, on the tie-break’s 34th point, levelled the contest.

Borg won all but three of his service points in the fifth set.1969 WIMBLEDON First round: Pancho Gonzales bt Charlie Pasarell 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9 Before the introduction of the tie-break, two Americans played the longest match in Wimbledon history: 112 games. Play began late on Tuesday afternoon and was suspended overnight because of bad light. The 41-year-old Gonzales saved seven match points, and twice recovered from 0-40 in the final set, before beating an opponent 16 years younger after 5hr and 12 min.2002 DAVIS CUP Final (Paris): Mikhail Youzhny bt Paul-Henri Mathieu 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 Russia’s first Davis Cup triumph was secured by a substitute, the 20-year-old Youzhny replacing Yevgeny Kafelnikov and becoming the only player ever to come back from two sets down to win the fifth rubber of a final. Youzhny had not previously won a “live” match in the Davis Cup, and his 20-year-old French opponent was making his Davis Cup debut in the final.1989 FRENCH OPEN Fourth round: Michael Chang bt Ivan Lendl 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 The 17-year-old Chang became so badly affected by cramp in the fifth set that he resorted to serving under-arm. Lendl responded with utter confusion, exchanging moonballs instead of going for the kill, and losing his temper with spectators who cheered his errors. Chang went on to become the first American for 34 years to win the men’s singles title at the French Open1995 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Quarter-finals: Pete Sampras bt Jim Courier 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 At the end of the fourth set, after Sampras had fought back from two sets down for the second consecutive match, a spectator shouted: “Do it for your coach, Pete!” This reminder that Tim Gullikson had been diagnosed with brain cancer caused Sampras to weep and he could barely serve through his tears in the third game of the final set before completing an emotional victory. Serena Williams moved within one win of her “Serena Slam” when she advanced to a fourth consecutive Grand Slam championship match against older sister Venus.

“I’ve just got to pull something out of my back pocket to be able to go onto the next level.”Their winning celebrations were similar Thursday but had a different tempo.Venus flashed a jubilant smile and did a quicker–version of her victory pirouette before she ran to the bleachers to link hands with her mom, Oracene.”It’s so exciting. You know, I’ve struggled and failed, done everything but get this close to winning the Australian Open,” said Venus.”I’m a fighter,” said Serena, who won despite her amazing 65 errors. “I didn’t come all these miles to lose.”It’s the first time in the final at Melbourne Park for each of the Williams girls.Serena withdrew last year after injuring her ankle in a warmup tournament and Venus was ousted in the quarterfinals.Serena is aiming to be the first woman to hold all four major titles at once since Steffi Graf nine years ago Graf also had a close call, at the 1993 Wimbledon final. Jana Navotna led Graf 4–1 and 40–30 in the third before she double faulted herself out of the match.The Williams sisters later combined ombined to reach the women’s doubles final, beating Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond 6–2, 6–2.Between now and Saturday’s singles final, talk in the Williams camp won’t center on tennis.”I don’t like to bring my work home,” Serena said.Trailing 1–5 in the final set against Clijsters, Serena held serve and then saved two match points – one with a swinging volley winner to end a long point.”I really didn’t think I’d win it at that stage .. I just kept fighting, one point at a time.