WIMBLEDON, England - Venus Williams is just about the perfect older sibling: She supports Serena endlessly, protects her fiercely, and even lets her pick which bedroom she wants when they are on the road.

Where does Venus draw the line? In Grand Slam championships.

Today, the sisters face each other again in a major final, meeting for the Wimbledon title for the fourth time.

"I'm happy for her to be in the final, but I have to face her and defeat her," Venus said after reaching her eighth final at the All England Club by routing top-ranked Dinara Safina of Russia, 6-1, 6-0, on Thursday. "I don't necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win."

After their showdown, the sisters will defend their doubles championship against Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs.

Third-seeded Venus, who won her fifth Wimbledon singles title by beating Serena in last year's final, is trying to become the first woman to win a third consecutive championship since Steffi Graf did so in 1993.

"Even if she's not playing her best, just that fight she has, you're facing that," Venus said. "So there's so much to face when you play her."

Serena showed her fight in the semifinals, saving a match point against fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia before winning, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6.

In the final, the No. 2 seed faces an opponent who has won 20 consecutive matches on Wimbledon's manicured lawns, the last 17 in straight sets.

"You know, it's not the easiest opponent on grass," said Serena, who at 27 is two years younger than Venus. "I hope I win. Obviously, if I do, I'll be really, really excited."

Off the court, the sisters often share an apartment for Wimbledon, and sibling rivalry doesn't really come into play when it comes to choosing the better room.

"I always defer," Venus said. "She picks first. It makes me happy."