Serena Williams of the United States makes a return to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Tuesday July 7, 2015.
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Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova meet for the 20th time in their career when they face off in the Wimbledon semi finals this Thursday and it is a matchup Serena has dominated.
Sharapova is in her fifth Wimbledon semi-final, and her first since 2011, thanks to a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 last eight victory over Coco Vandeweghe. She won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 – her 17th victory over the Belarusian in 20 matches – under skies as gloomy as her prospects were until after an hour of the most intense struggle had passed on Centre Court, but the title looks hers to lose.
Victoria Azarenka claimed that women players are unfairly pilloried for their on-court shrieking and grunting and blasted boozy Wimbledon fans for mocking her as well as rivals Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. The American regained some of her composure to hold her serve for the just the second time in the match in a game that included a scorching backhand victor off her racket, but Azarenka was not put off and fired back a similarly quick hold of her own.
Radwanska got the better of Madison Keys 7-6 3-6 6-3, while Spain’s Muguruza beat Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets, prevailing 7-5 6-3.
Azarenka was in trouble in a lengthy fourth game in which Williams had three break points, but thwarted the top seed to draw level at 2-2 in the second set of a thrilling contest.
“I think they might have had a little too many Pimm’s or whatever”, said the ex- world number one.
Williams tallied 14 aces over the final two sets, including three in the match’s final game. “We’ll see what happens, I’m just happy to be here”.
Wimbledon 2015 women’s quarterfinals match is going to be one of the toughest in the tournament.
“When that moment is over, it will be over”, she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“I feel really vulnerable”.
She is closing in on a fourth consecutive major title for a self-styled Serena Slam, which she already accomplished in 2002-03.
“I’ve been really enjoying it: I think that’s why I’ve been able to have this opportunity to play well”, said Williams.
But as she did at the Australian Open, French Open and last week at the All England Club, the world No. 1 prevailed to move within two matches of achieving the “Serena Slam” for the second time in her record-breaking career. Soaking it all in during her first Grand Slam quarterfinal it was Sharapovas 23rd Vandeweghe repeatedly waved her arms after significant points, motioning to spectators to make more noise and be less, well, genteel.
For all of Azarenka’s endeavour, it was hard to picture any other victor but Williams now. The American trailed her opponent by a set, before storming back strongly into the match to win it in her quintessential confident style.
Serena Williams won’t talk about her current run toward the ultimate in tennis success, but her game continues to speak volumes.
Djokovic has earn a date with reigning US Open champ Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals.
“When I felt like it wasn’t being reciprocated, that’s when I spoke with the umpire for her to deal with it”.
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Serena has won all four of her semi-final meetings with Sharapova and defeated the Russian in their previous Wimbledon clash in the last 16 in 2010.
