Six-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is back in the semifinals at the All England Club.
Advertisement
Six-time champion Serena reached her 10th semi-final at the All England Club with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Federation 21st seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Williams will next face either Dominika Cibulkova or Elena Vesnina.
Five-time champion Venus, seeded eight, enjoyed a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan’s world number 96 Yaroslava Shvedova to reach her first Wimbledon semi-final in seven years.
Standing in the way is surprise semifinalist Elena Vesnina, the world No. 50 who is into a major semi for the first time in her career at the age of 29. After the two battled through a hard-fought first set that featured 10 break-point chances, 33 unforced errors (24 from Shvedova) and a number of critical points that reshaped the match, Venus caught fire in a nearly flawless second.
The American finished the match with an 11th ace. Williams is seeking an elusive 22nd grand slam to equal Steffi Graf’s open-era record.
Serena Williams battered Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-4 in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time), seizing on moments of weakness from the Russian to ram home her advantage.
“We don’t really talk too much about it but we are playing doubles later, so we are just happy to be in the semi-finals”, she continued.
Eighth seed Venus, at 36 the oldest Grand Slam semi-finalist for 22 years, beat unseeded Shvedova 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. I was very low, but I think it’s an experience every tennis player must go through.
“Of course, this is great for both of us but when you’re a player, you’re so focused on the next match and that’s what we’re both focused on”.
“You can t always have these big moments. That kind of definitely took me by surprise”, said Serena. Her opponent, 96th-ranked Yaroslava Shvedova, was playing her first. Everyone plays well.She could have easily won that match, as well. I was lucky, Privileged, to have a such great opportunity here at Wimbledon. I think I am playing my best tennis.
It will be Kerber’s second appearance in the Wimbledon semi-finals after defeat by Agnieszka Radwanska in the last four in 2012.
Venus and Serena Williams are back to their old ways, dominating on the tennis courts side by side.
“It would be great”, Serena told ESPN about facing her sister in the final.
However five years ago Williams was struck down by auto-immune disease Sjogren’s syndrome a punishing condition that causes intense fatigue and affects the joints.
But five-time champion Venus, who last won a major at Wimbledon in 2008, has a much tougher task against Kerber.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will pay homeboy, Andy Murray, while the last quarter-final tie is between Tomas Berdych and Lucas Pouille.
Advertisement
Following their singles wins, the sisters returned to the court to beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4 and move into the next round of the women’s doubles.
