Tennis: Serena close to grand slam milestone

Serena Williams is through to her eighth final. Photo: Reuters
Serena Williams is through to her eighth final. Photo: Reuters

Serena Williams has reached an eighth Wimbledon final with a superb 6-2 6-4 victory over Maria Sharapova, her 17th win in a row over the Russian.

The five-time champion is one match away from reinforcing her stranglehold on the women's game by holding all four grand slam titles at the same time - a feat she will achieve for the second occasion if she beats 20th-seeded surprise finalist Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, in Saturday's final.

"I got a bit nervous because it was a semi-final and it's a long time since I've been this far," said Williams, who last reached the Wimbledon final in i2012. 

"I'm excited to get through it. Maria played well and when she stepped up, I managed to step up. It wasn't easy, it was interesting."

Sharapova could not deal with the ferocity of the Williams return on Thursday, her serve crumbling as the American increased the pressure. The Russian is one of the game's most powerful hitters, but looked overawed at times in the face of Williams's sledgehammer game.

Double faults are a familiar flaw for Sharapova, but three in the opening game handed an early break and the initiative to her opponent. It was then one-way traffic as a cool-headed Williams set about savagely dismantling her opponent.

The world No 1 launched an attacking barrage, breaking twice in the first set, which she clinched in 33 minutes with a scorching backhand winner. The second set was closer as Sharapova ditched all caution and came out swinging, but when Williams broke for a 3-2 lead, the outcome seemed inevitable.

Sharapova saved one match point on her own serve, but the reprieve lasted just one game as Williams brought up another match point with an ace and thundered down a huge serve to clinch a one-sided victory.

Milestone for Muguruza 

Garbine Muguruza became the first Spanish woman to reach the final in London since 1996 as Agnieszka Radwanska was left rueing a botched Hawk-Eye challenge in the last game of her 6-2 3-6 6-3 Centre Court loss on Thursday.

As an enthralling duel neared its conclusion the 21-year-old Muguruza was serving at deuce, 5-3 and thumped a deep drive that Poland's Radwanska scrambled back before stopping mid-rally to challenge after hearing shouts of "out" from her coaching team.

The Hawk-Eye screen showed Muguruza's shot had actually landed on the outer portion of the dusty baseline and even though the Spaniard's next shot was out, the point was already hers as Radwanska had put her fate in the hands of technology.

Radwanska glared towards her box, Muguruza punched the air in relief and seconds later was celebrating victory after swinging away a volley to end the thriller game.

It was an unusual conclusion to a match which had looked like being a quickfire win for Muguruza in her first major semi-final. "It was a 50-50 decision but it wasn't a very good decision," Radwanska, beaten by Williams in the 2012 final, told reporters.

Murray ready for Federer

A lot has happened to Andy Murray in the three years since he choked back the tears on Centre Court after a four-set defeat that handed Roger Federer the Wimbledon trophy for a seventh time.

As the home fans trooped away disappointed from a soaking wet All England Club that day, many were wondering whether the Briton, who had just lost a fourth successive major final, had what it took to get over the line when the real pressure was on.

With the pair set to meet again in Friday's Wimbledon semi-final, however, there is no doubt who has enjoyed the better fortune since that encounter in 2012.

A short summary of the intervening period for Murray reads two grand slam titles and one Olympic gold medal, but more importantly, he has shifted a monkey from his back that had threatened to weigh him down for his whole career.

Federer, who clinched a 17th grand slam title that day, has never again tasted major success and with every passing year knows he may never get a better chance to add to his record tally of grand slams.

It is not that the Swiss has plummeted down the rankings. He has stayed at the top of the men's game and is seeded and ranked ahead of Murray heading into Friday's clash. But the modern game is becoming increasingly punishing on the body and at 33 years old the clock is ticking on the Swiss maestro.

His recent record against Murray is superb. He has beaten the Briton in their last three meetings, including a humiliating 6-0 6-1 victory in their last encounter at the ATP finals in November.

That was their last meeting in London, but Murray may prefer to remember their last match on grass - three one-sided sets that secured the Olympic gold medal on Centre Court just weeks after their Wimbledon final.

In their 23 matches, Federer leads the head-to-head 12-11 and in the six times they have faced each other on British soil, Murray trails 5-1.

The prize on offer for the winner is likely to be a final against holder and world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who faces unfancied Frenchman Richard Gasquet and his majestic backhand in the other last four clash.

Gasquet has only ever appeared in two previous grand slam semi-finals, losing them both, and has spent the most time on court of the four semi-finalists at 11 hours 13 minutes.

Barring a testing fourth round clash against big-serving South African Kevin Anderson, Djokovic has looked in fine form on his run to the last four. He has also proved to be a nemesis to Gasquet throughout his career.

The 21st seeded Frenchman has won only one of 12 meetings against Djokovic and that sole success came eight years ago in 2007.

"I think Gasquet's backhand (is one of the) best one-handed backhands in the world," Djokovic said.

"That's his weapon. He has a variety. He can play really well from defence and offence. I think he's also very skilled on the net. He improved his serve. He's an all-around player."

 

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