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 No. 4 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 in 2 hours, 19 minutes.

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.

"I played incredibly well,'' Hewitt said. "Tim came at me all the time and I was able to raise the bar when I had to.''

Said Henman: "He is the best in the world. And again today, he proved it.''

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; the last British finalist was Bunny Austin in 1938.

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.

The 21-year-old Hewitt, who won the U.S. Open last September for his first Grand Slam title, will be an overwhelming favorite in the final. He'll face the winner of the other semifinal between relative unknowns Xavier Malisse and David Nalbandian.

Their semifinal was suspended because of darkness with the players tied at two sets apiece. Nalbandian won the first two sets 7-6 (2), 6-4, and Malisse the next two 6-1, 6-2. The match will resume Saturday.

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.

"I've been hitting the ball great for the past four weeks,'' Hewitt said. "I was prepared to lay it all on the line out there today. I like playing in big occasions, the big matches.''

Hewitt said he spoke by phone before the match with Pat Rafter, the Australian who lost in the past two Wimbledon finals and is on an extended break from the game. He said he also drew inspiration from the "sweet memories'' of his U.S. Open win.

Hewitt paid tribute to Henman.

"It's an incredible effort what Tim has done the last six years,'' he said. "I feel sorry for him.''

The match began nearly 2½ 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 that 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 then 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.

"I got on a roll,'' Henman said. "The ball seemed to be as big as a football out there.''

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.

"I tried different tactics, different variations,'' Henman said. "The bottom line is he's the better player. I couldn't have tried any harder. That's good enough with me. I'm sure to others that won't be good enough.''

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.

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