LONDON, July 7, 2016
In the fastest semi-final at Wimbledon since Lindsay Davenport beat Alexandra Stevenson in 1999, Serena Williams cruised past Elena Vesnina, winning 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday afternoon.
The world number one sealed victory in only 48 minutes with a typically ruthless overhead smash. Vesnina has had an excellent run at Wimbledon this year, but, as so many other players have discovered in the past, it is exceptionally difficult to unsettle Serena when she is playing at this remarkable level. The 34-year-old from the United States won 25 out of 43 points on Vesnina’s serve, while her opponent won only three out of 31.
“I felt like I had no chance today, first of all,” Vesnina told. “I felt like Serena was playing really good. She was in a great mood, and serve was working really well for her. She had a really high percentage of the first serves. She was placing it amazingly. I couldn’t say that I was a bit fast with my legs today. I would prefer to be a little bit faster, you know, to defend a bit better. But she was just better all over the court.”
“I’m very happy. I was very focused today because we’ve had a lot of tough matches before and I knew that on this surface she could really bring it to me. It’s never easy out there. Every point you have to fight for so it’s never easy. It’s weird. I can’t believe I’m in the finals again. Obviously I’m 0 from two [in major finals this year] so determined to get one.”
On prospect of facing her sister in the final, she stated: “It would be great to get a Williams on the trophy. Obviously I want her to win and do well.”
Venus Williams, however, was without a chance against Angelique Kerber, who played nerveless tennis to advance to her first Wimbledon final. The reigning Australian champion won 73% of her first service points and converted five of her 11 break points to seal a 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 11 minutes.
“It’s just amazing. To beat Venus in the semis is always really tough, she’s a champion and has won so many times here – that’s why I’m really happy with my game. I was trying to just go for everything, moving really well and the last pont was a amazing. I knew she was playing really well. I was trying to go for it and it worked, just a really good feeling. Right now I have a lot of experience from my last few years on tour. I am playing the best tennis and have a great team around me,” Kerber was happy afterwards.
Kerber and Serena Williams will meet for the eighth time with the world number one leading 5-2 in head to head records. Yet, the German got the better in their last encounter at final of the Australian Open in January.
