Elena Dementieva has tried to repair the damage she did by suggesting that the Williams girls would fix their women's final tomorrow.

'For sure it's going to be a family decision,' said the Russian after her semi-final defeat by Venus.

But a press release in the name of Dementieva, issued by the WTA last night, later sought to try and clarify the issue.

"I do not think for one second that matches between Serena and Venus Williams are family decisions," she stated.

"What I meant was it is a unique situation for a family to be in - to be playing for a Grand Slam title."

But it was not the first time that the Russian had questioned the motives of the American sisters.

In 2001 at Indian Wells, after losing a quarter-final to Venus, the Russian was asked to look ahead to the semi-final against Serena.

"I don't know what Richard (Williams) thinks about it," she replied, referring to the pair's father.

"He will decide who's going to win tomorrow - it looks like Serena - she will be in the final."

Dementieva revealed at the time that matches involving the Williams sisters had been the talk of the locker room and described a previous meeting at the Lipton Championships as 'so funny'.