Reigning champion Venus Williams powered into the Wimbledon final with a hard-fought win over Lindsay Davenport.

In a re-run of the 2000 final, big-hitter Williams again emerged the triumphant American, this time winning in three sets.

Williams breezed through the first set, lost the second in a tie-break, and eased to victory in the third.

She will meet Belgian teenager Justine Henin, who earlier ended Jennifer Capriati's Grand Slam dream, in Saturday's final.

After sealing the win, Williams breathed a sigh of relief and waved jubilantly at the Centre Court crowd.

Williams said afterwards she was satisified with her performance.

"I think I played very well, although I lost serve a couple of times," she said.

Second seed Williams, whose sister Serena was knocked out by Capriati in the quarter-finals, came out firing against the 1999 winner Davenport.

With serves approaching a top speed of 120mph, Williams had an early edge over the third seed.

Williams broke her opponent's serve twice as she took the first set 6-2.

An early break put Williams clear in the second set. Davenport broke back and almost went clear, but could not make a break point count at 4-4.