There was some consolation for Venus when she and Serena beat Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (1) 4-6 6-2 to book their place in the women’s doubles semi-finals.
Advertisement
The women’s singles final is a rematch of this year’s Australian Open final, when Kerber stunned Serena in three sets to win her first Grand Slam title, a match Williams called “remarkably fun” at the time. The defending champion could face Venus in Saturday’s title match for the fifth time at Wimbledon and ninth time at all four majors.
She was a half-step slow to some balls, was breathing heavily after longer points, and wound up with 21 unforced errors, 10 more than Kerber.
“I feel good. I felt great in other tournaments, as well”.
For her part, Williams continues to strike fear in the hearts of most opponents.
“That’s why I will go out there, try to enjoy the final, and not thinking about the pressure and everything around”.
Since failing to complete a calender Grand Slam a year ago, Serena has repeatedly had her hunger for more success questioned.
It was the first time that Serena had lost two Grand Slam finals in a row.
“Yeah, I have no hunger anymore”. “But right now I can handle it better [than Australia]”. For me, it’s not enough.
Djokovic later apologised for his comments however, saying ‘I don’t make any differences between the genders.
“It’s been very, very hard for me, especially being the younger sister”, Serena said.
The German jumped in the nearby River Yarra after shocking Williams to win her maiden Grand Slam in January.
“My goal has never been 22”.
“She was always an idol for me, I have watched a lot of matches, on YouTube sometimes”, she said.
“I love what I do”.
When a reporter asked what she makes of it when others talk about her as one of history’s greatest female athletes, this was the reply: “I prefer the word, one of the greatest “athletes” of all time”.
Serena said that when she’s playing her sister, “I don’t look at her”.
Serena could wipe the floor with Kerber, yet it wouldn’t totally surprise if the tables turned and Kerber sent Serena packing in quick time.
“You have to admit, she was just better”, said Vesnina, who was more matter-of-fact than deeply disappointed. “Now I’m just a little bit more calm”. “I know I can trust my tennis”.
But in a warning to Serena, she made it clear that will mean nothing unless she finishes as the champion. I will try to go out and win it, of course. “But I will try to take the experience from Australia”.
Advertisement
Yet the 34-year-old says she is more confident and composed than she has been before some of her big matches in the past 12 months, as Graf’s record has remained so tantalisingly out of reach.
