Serena and Venus Williams in action in the women’s doubles semi final against Julia Goerges and Karolina Pliskova during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 08 July 2016. Top seed Serena Williams will take on her 14th seeded rival Angelique Kerber in quest of a 22nd Grand Slam title.
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1st round: Amra Sadikovic 6-2, 6-4; 2nd round: Christina McHale 7-6 (7), 6-2, 6-4; 3rd round: Annika Beck 6-3, 6-0; 4th round: Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-0; Quarterfinal: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-4; Semifinal: Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0.
Whatever happens in Saturday’s final, Williams will retain her number one ranking while Kerber will move onto her shoulder into second spot, from fourth.
Since failing to complete a calender Grand Slam past year, Williams has repeatedly had her hunger for more success questioned. “I mean, I think for anyone else reaching the final would be a wonderful accomplishment”.
Although she has won only two of seven meetings against Serena, her victory in the Australian Open will give her tremendous confidence.
“I don’t know if I watched this match, but I watched a lot of Wimbledon finals from her”, Kerber said.
54 – Percentage of unreturned first serves (122/226) off the racquet of Serena Williams thus far this fortnight.
“I would like to see people the public, the press, and other athletes in general just realise and respect women for who they are and what we are and what we do”.
The women’s final at Wimbledon has started with defending champion Serena Williams serving first to Angelique Kerber.
But she then dumped a forehand into the net on Kerber’s second set point, and it looked a long way back from there.
Yet she was off her game and Kerber did enough, without needing to be at her best, to take a 6-4 6-4 victory in an hour and 13 minutes. But I feel a little different.
“It’s been incredibly hard not to think about it (Graf’s record)”, a smiling Serena said on court as she clutched the Venus Rosewater Dish. She has a great engine, is a lefty and will force Williams to play heavy ground strokes or she will return them. I spent a few days there in Las Vegas with Andre and Steffi. “That was always a dream for me to being one day on the Centre Court, the last day and playing the final”. “That’s what makes Serena”.
“I will just try to (go) out there like in Australia”, Kerber said, “trying to show her, ‘OK, I’m here to win the match, as well.’ I know that I have to play my best tennis to beat her in the final”. I know that she will go out and try to beat me, especially because she lost against me in Australia.
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The 36-year-old had won all eight of her previous Wimbledon semi-finals dating back 16 years to her maiden appearance in the last four when she defeated Serena.
