WIMBLEDON, England ? Lleyton Hewitt is going to the Wimbledon final for the first time and Tim Henman is going out as a semifinal loser for the fourth time.

The top-seeded Hewitt overwhelmed Henman in straight sets Friday to close in on his second Grand Slam title, and ended the British player’s latest attempt to become the first homegrown champion since 1936.

On another day of rain delays, the Australian played a nearly faultless counter-punching baseline game and won 7-5, 6-1, 7-5.

It was a masterful performance by the world’s top-ranked player, who mixed powerful ground strokes, flashing returns, topspin lobs and all-court hustle to beat Henman for the sixth straight time.

Henman, who faded after the first set, has now lost in the semifinals in four of the past five years. This tournament had been considered his best chance of ending Britain’s Wimbledon curse and becoming the first male champ since Fred Perry 66 years ago.

But “Henmania” is finished for yet another year. And Queen Elizabeth II, who had been expected to attend Sunday’s final in her 50th jubilee year if Henman made it that far, can make other plans.

Hewitt will be an overwhelming favorite in the final, where he’ll face the winner of the other semifinal between relative unknowns Xavier Malisse and David Nalbandian.

That match was interrupted by rain with Nalbandian leading 7-6 (2), 4-2. Malisse twice called for a trainer and, holding his chest or stomach, left the court for a medical time-out which lasted eight minutes.

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams will meet in the women’s final Saturday.

Hewitt finished with an ace – his fourth – on his second match point. He leaned backward, dropped to his knees and let out a shout. He pumped his right arm in an uppercut motion and pointed to his friends and family in the guest box.

Several times during the match, Hewitt lived up to his self-styled “Rocky” image, thumping his heart with his fist.

The statistics told the story: Hewitt had 41 winners and only nine unforced errors; Henman had 13 winners and 33 unforced mistakes.

Hewitt had 18 winners on passing shots and lobs and seven on returns.

“I played incredibly well,” he said. “Tim came at me all the time and I was able to raise the bar when I had to.”

Referring to the second set, he said, “I got on a roll. The ball seemed to be as big as a football out there. It was hitting the middle of the racket. It was a pretty good feeling.”

Hewitt offered sympathy to Henman.

“It’s an incredible effort what Tim has done the last six years,” he said. “I feel sorry for him. We’re good mates on the tour. We play a lot of doubles together. There’s always next year.”

The match began nearly 2 hours late following morning showers, and was suspended by rain for 53 minutes with Hewitt leading 3-0 in the second. But the delays didn’t bother Hewitt, whose relentless game never wavered.

The first set featured outstanding play by both players, including an amazing point in the fifth game when they exchanged lobs, drop shots and great gets. But, in a pattern repeated through the match, it was Hewitt who won the point, as Henman hit an overhead wide.

Hewitt broke Henman for the first time to go up 5-3. He hit a defensive lob which Henman misjudged, sending an awkward half-overhead long from the baseline.

But, with Hewitt serving for the set, Henman broke right back at love. Three games later, Hewitt made a brilliant run which turned the match in his favor. He hit four clean winners – topspin forehand lob, crosscourt backhand pass, forehand pass, and crosscourt forehand return – to break and win the set.

After that, Henman’s game and energy level sagged, while Hewitt continued to apply pressure. He broke in the second game of the second set and, when he held for 3-0, pointed and thumped his chest.

The match was the halted by heavy rain.

When the match resumed, Hewitt picked up where he left off, running off three of the next four games to go up two sets to love.

Henman, still unable to raise his game, double faulted on break point to give Hewitt a 2-1 lead in the third set. Hewitt faltered briefly while serving for the match at 5-4 and was broken at love.

But Hewitt broke back in the next game with one of the shots of the match – hitting a perfectly placed topspin forehand lob which sailed over Henman, landed near the baseline and kick-bounced beyond his reach.

After shouting “Come on” and doing another chest-thump, Hewitt served out the match at 15.

The 21-year-old Hewitt won the U.S. Open last September for his first Grand Slam championship.

Saturday’s women’s final will be the third all-Williams title match in the last four Grand Slams.

Both previous Sister Slams failed to live up to expectations, with Venus winning easily 6-2, 6-4 at the U.S. Open in September and Serena taking her turn 7-5, 6-3 in an error-filled match at last month’s French Open.

The siblings, so close off the court, have had trouble bringing out the best in each other on the court. They have seemed uncomfortable on opposite sides of the net, rarely playing their best tennis at the same time.

Venus holds a 5-3 edge in career matches against her sister, though Serena has won three of the last four.

Asked to sum up their meetings, Venus said, “Just a lot of unforced errors basically.”

Serena, who hasn’t dropped a set, crushed Amelie Mauresmo – who had looked so strong in beating Jennifer Capriati in the quarterfinals – 6-2, 6-1 in Thursday’s semis. Venus brushed off Justine Henin 6-3, 6-2.

Serena’s victory ensured that she will replace Venus as No. 1 in next week’s rankings. Serena said she “shed a few tears” upon learning of her rise to the top.

“I worked really hard,” she said. “I deserve it.”

It will be the first all-sister Wimbledon final since 1884, when Maud Watson beat Lilian Watson 6-8, 6-3, 6-3.