This year, in her 19th Wimbledon and 71st Grand Slam appearance, the seeming infinity of Williams’ career has been in evidence. Surprised to see Vesnina make it this far at a major? “Venus is such a tough opponent I want her to win so bad – not in the final if I am there, but if I’m not, I do”. But for it to really happen and to come true, it’s just a completely different emotion. “I played her in Australia so, either way, I look forward to it”.
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“It’s easy to be afraid, ” Venus says, “but you have to let fear go”.
A rare long forehand from the American gave her a glimmer of hope on her own serve.
Ominously, Venus is eight from eight in Wimbledon semi-finals, with Serena eight from nine – her only defeat coming at the hands of her big sister back in 2000. Smart money is on her finding more success if she can keep up her strong play after her Wimbledon exit.
Serena Williams was totally dominant from the outset, sealing victory against the world number 50 in 49 minutes on Centre Court.
“Kerber stunned Serena to win her maiden Grand Slam crown in the Australian Open final in January and the 28-year-old again stands in the way of the world number one’s bid to win a record-equalling 22nd major”. Sentimentalists may be willing one last all-Williams final but Kerber playing her best grass court tennis will be hard to beat. “I’ll be ready for it”.
Both players struggled to hold their serves in the opening exchanges of the first set but it was Kerber who took the initiative to race into a 5-2 lead. Angelique Kerber is bidding to make it five when she takes on Venus Williams on Day 10. Then we would be guaranteed to have a Williams on the trophy.
That proved a crucial moment as she pressed home her advantage with a fourth successive break. Another lesson is you just have to believe in yourself, you just have to.
Kerber said that wearing down her 36-year-old rival was part of her strategy.
Kerber, 28, lost her only previous Wimbledon semifinal in 2012, but she enjoyed a victory over Venus at the same venue in the Olympics just weeks later.
“I’m very happy. I was really focused today”. Serena said, “Venus has always been my inspiration, right from the beginning when I started playing”.
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Williams’ serve was in fine form, reaching 123 miles per hour and producing 11 aces against the 50th-ranked Vesnina, who was participating in her first major semifinal and trying to become the first unseeded woman to reach the title match at the All England Club in the Open era.
