Muguruza wins 1st set in Wimbledon semifinals

Her game in high gear, history in the offing, Serena Williams is perfectly content to let everyone else talk about what a victory in the Wimbledon final would mean.

“Nothing to do with Sharapova”, said Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Here’s all you need to know about the newest Wimbledon finalist. “It’s like a dream, like a present after the hard work”.

Williams has won two out her three matches against Muguruza, but the Spaniard beat her 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the French Open past year.

Most figured the talented youngster would reach this point eventually, but she has defied the timeline by reaching the final just a few years into her career. Muguruza was just 4 years old when Serena first played here in 1998, and growing up was inspired by the Williams sisters. “It’s true. She’s dominating the game for a long time”. I think I’m doing good. “I was able to improve a lot”.

But with rackets in their hands, this has been a one-way street: Williams has won 17 of their 19 career meetings, including the past 16 in a row.

Radwanska, 26, was the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2013 and will be participating in her fourth major semifinal; it’s the first for Muguruza, 21.

Muguruza expects her family to fly to London to see the final after telling them to stay away in the earlier rounds so as not to jinx her progress. Post shoulder surgery in 2008, the serve hasn’t been the same.

The Venezuela-born 20th seed led by a set and a break only for 13th seed Radwanska to respond with six straight games and force a decider.

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates as she defeats…

Muguruza has a promising future. Radwanska has combined for four aces and 45 winners in her last two matches.

On the previous point, Radwanska held up her racket in the middle of the point to challenge a shot from Muguruza that landed near the baseline.

Muguruza got into the zone for the business end of the tournament by watching the film “Silence of the Lambs” and once she finished with her heavy hitting at the All England Club on Tuesday, it was Bacsinszky who had stopped screaming. Radwanska was also pushing to break the six-footer late in the third, but Muguruza dug in and finished her off. Imagine your mouth is full of marbles while saying her last name and you might get it. (I still can not.). “She does always come up with great tennis”. If she could rediscover her form, Radwanska would find it difficult.

The Pole finally began to move her 6ft opponent around, testing her more vulnerable forehand and drawing her into the net with sliced backhands.

Radwanska had one final opportunity, however, holding two break points at 3-5. On the first, a big serve from Muguruza paved the way for a drive volley victor.

A couple of foot-faults will not have helped her concentration and she had one break point to save as Radwanska refused to give in.

Her guile and varied approach will mess with Muguruza’s equilibrium and test the strength of her commitment to the surface she once loathed.

Agnieszka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza will attempt to improve their head-to-head series against each other when they square off in the semifinals of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships.