Serena Reaches Wimbledon Semis – Sharapova Up Next

Her strength was, as usual, the moment she picked to hit winners.

“I think they might have had a little too many Pimm’s or whatever”, said the ex- world number one.

Azarenka, who had not dropped a set in these championships, also knew she has never won against Williams on grass.

“I think that’s actually making me play better, which is mad”.

LONDON – The heavy hitting shook the ground and the volume would have raised the Centre Court roof, had it been closed, as Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka traded blows like a couple of prizefighters at Wimbledon on Tuesday. She lost in the fourth round of the Wimbledon a year ago.

Sharapova is in her fifth Wimbledon semi-final, and her first since 2011, thanks to a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 last eight victory over Coco Vandeweghe.

There’s a new name in the other semi-final tomorrow with Garbine Muguruza reaching her first Grand Slam last four.

On the men’s side of the draw, defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals after completing a customarily gutsy comeback from two sets down to beat South African opponent Kevin Anderson.

Sharapova remains a one-time Wimbledon victor, while Williams has taken the trophy five times.

Top seed Djokovic survived some anxious moments and roared his frustration in the direction of a startled ball girl before edging his way to a 6-7(6) 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4 7-5 – only the fourth time in his a career he has recovered from a two-set deficit. She had 46 winners to Azarenka’s 20, and she had her foot on the gas pedal the entire match. “The first four I played quite well and got the job done in two sets”. The Russian’s muscle game is not on a par with that of Azeranka, while her serve can be an Achilles’ heel.

“Both women on the court were trying their hardest and giving everything, and they make noises”. At 2-1 down, Azarenka needed 25 minutes and saved three breakpoints before holding.

And It seemed just as probable that the Russian’s rivalry with Serena Williams, the woman she beat in that final, would blossom into one of the game’s great antagonisms. She would crush another ace at deuce and finish the match on the next point.

Sharapova needs to counter Williams’ powerful aces- she shot 55 off them this tournament so far in comparison with Sharapova, who could only manage 15.

Serena Williams proved that she still has the grip and power in tennis.

A happy personal life equals a unsafe junior Williams sister, and if her 2015 performances are anything to go by, all is rosy off court.

Five times Wawrinka held serve to stay alive. Cheered on by a full house that included Prince William, his wife the Duchess of Cambridge and ex- England football captain David Beckham, Murray broke serve in the third game of the match and was leading 3-1 when light rain forced a suspension of play. “That’s why I spoke to the umpire”.

“She (the umpire) said she didn’t believe she was doing it during the motion”. The young American directly accused Sharapova of gamesmanship and moving around while she was in the middle of her serve action.

American youngster Madison Keys was unable to unlock the defences of 2012 runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska, though, losing 7-6(3) 3-6 6-3 with the Pole now facing Muguruza.

Federer advanced to his 10th semifinal match at the All England Club by beating Gilles Simon of France 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

Williams avoids talking about the possibility of a calendar-year grand slam but with the Australian and French Opens already secured and just two more wins required to clinch the third leg of the sport’s ultimate feat.