Serena Williams advances to Wimbledon final with serving clinic against Victoria Azarenka
Playing a day after teaming with sister Venus in a pair of doubles matches, Serena Williams performed in the Wimbledon semifinals today as if she were fresh and energized. Using her booming serve and deft touch, Serena Williams advanced to the women’s championship match on Sunday with 6-3, 7-6 victory over Victoria Azarenka.
Williams blasted a Wimbledon record 24 aces in route to the win. She will face Agnieszka Radwanska in the final after she handled Angelique Kerber, 6-3 6-4 in the earlier semi-final match.
“I’m excited,” Williams said. “I’ve been working so hard. I got a little tight in that second set and she came back. I’m so glad I came through. I’m just so glad to get through that tie-break. She [Radwanska] is doing unbelievable, she’s going to be getting every ball back. Regardless, I’m so happy to have (gotten) this far.”
Williams ended the match with an ace, giving her two dozen for the match. She was weary at the end, though, having to play on her day off. She and Venus Williams were finally able to complete their second-round match against Maria Kirlenko and Nadia Petrova that started on Saturday but was suspended by rain. It picked up in the third set Wednesday, with the Williams sisters winning 3-6, 6-3, 9-7.
They returned to the court a few hours later to beat fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sania Mirza of India 6-4, 6-3 and move into the quarterfinals.
Now, Serena goes for her fifth Wimbledon singles title on Saturday.
