LONDON - WORLD number one Dinara Safina reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time on Tuesday with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1 win over unseeded German teenager Sabine Lisicki.

Despite losing the first set by double-faulting on a tie-break, the top-seeded Russian recovered to beat the world number 41 in two hours, 28 minutes on Centre Court.

Safina, who has never won a grand slam despite her ranking, faces defending champion Venus Williams, the third seed, for a place in the final.

'I'm happy that I am in the semi-final. I had the chances in the first set and didn't take them,' she said. 'I was hanging there. I was tough mentally, I think that was the key. I think I was Santa Claus today serving so many double faults. It's not going to be easy playing against Venus. She likes playing on grass and I have nothing to lose,' she added.

Lisicki, 19, had an impressive run to the quarter-finals. She knocked out 32nd seed Anna Chakvetadze in the first round, French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round and ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki on Monday. The emerging youngster had never been beyond the third round of a Grand Slam or the first round at Wimbledon before.

Safina, 23, beat the 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round, in the first match to be played under the new Centre Court roof.

Lisicki broke in the third game of the first set, which then went with serve, leaving Safina serving at 5-3 down. The Russian held on, then had three break points in the next game and broke when Lisicki hit the net. Both players then held serve, taking the set to a tie-break.

Lisicki broke Safina twice for a 4-1 lead and then had three set points at 6-3 up. But despite having the next two serves, the German lost both points, leaving Safina serving at 5-6 down. However, the Muscovite double-faulted, leaving her fuming and earning a warning from the umpire after slamming her racquet into the turf in anger.

In the second set, Safina broke on a deuce to make it 4-3. With the Russian serving at 5-4 ahead, Lisicki had a break point but Safina took it to deuce and though she wasted one set point, she took the set at the next attempt when the German hit the net.

The first three games of the third set went against serve, with Safina then holding serve and breaking again for a 4-1 lead. Lisicki then called for the trainer who worked on her right calf, allowing Safina time to work on her serve. The Russian duly held serve to leave Lisicki serving to stay in the match. Safina had match point on a deuce and won it when the teenager fired wide. -- AFP