Serena Williams is just one win away from a record-equalling 22nd grand slam title as the American marched into a ninth Wimbledon final with victory over Russia’s Elena Vesnina.
Two-time grand slam doubles champion Vesnina looked overawed from the outset losing the first four games handing two break points to the six-time Wimbledon champion.
Serena Williams has lost her last two grand slam finals
image: manandwomen.net
The world number 50 managed to settle down to hold serve but the damage had been done and Serena took a one-set lead after just 28 minutes against the Russian.
Things just got better for Serena in the second as 29-year-old Vesnina was unable to deal with Serena’s powerful serving as she won all six games in the second set to score a bagel and comfortably book her place in the final with a 6-2 6-0 victory.
She will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber on Saturday in a repeat of this year’s Australian Open final after the fourth seed prevented an all-Williams final with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Venus Williams.
Venus Williams looked fatigued from the offset in her first Wimbledon semi-final since 2010 and dropped her serve four times but the German also started off slowly with the first five games going the way of the receiver.
It wasn’t until the ninth game that 36-year-old Venus managed to hold serve to trail 5-4 and Kerber broke the American to win the first set as Williams dumped a forehand into the net.
Angelique Kerber aims to become Wimbledon’s final German winner since Steffi Graf in 1996
image: rte.ie
Venus Williams dropped serve in the opening game of the second set and Kerber would not allow the American to find a way back as sealed victory with a sizzling cross-court forehand pass as she aims to become the first German Wimbledon champion in 20 years.
You can check out more results from day nine, including the latest doubles action, at this link.
Balls and Brawls 