We’re going to wrap this blog up now. Well played Serena Williams, and commiserations to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who fought hard, and looked relatively comfortable, until it all began to unravel. Les Roopanarine has more on the Cibulkova-Vesnina match, and you can follow that here:
Thanks for reading. See you later.
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Serena speaks!
On today’s match
“It’s good, I’m excited to get through. It felt really good.
On a possible final with Venus:
“I knew Venus was up, and then they showed the score [that she’d won], and I was like: yay!
“[But] I’m just trying to win my match, as well as my semi-final. I’ve learned this year us to focus on the match and not get carried away.
On inter-family relations
“We don’t really talk too much. We’re actually playing doubles today, and regardless, we’re just happy to play in the semi-finals.
“Obviously I want her to win so bad. I desperately want her to win if I’m not there [in the final].”
The second set mirrored the first almost completely. It was pretty even through eight games, with no break points proffered, but then Williams broke Pavlyuchenkova at 4-4, and served out the match without fuss. It was probably closer than the score suggests, but Williams played well, and her serve, one or two double faults notwithstanding, looked to be working really well.
So Williams is safely through, and she’ll play Dominika Cibulkova or Elena Vesnina in the last four.
Serena Williams beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-4
Second set: Williams 6-4 6-4 Pavlyuchenkova
So here we go again. Williams breaks in the ninth game of the set, and now she’s serving for the match. Off to a solid start for 15-0, and how did Pavlyuchenkova not win that point? Excellent defence from Williams after Pavlyuchenkoa unleashed two ferocious groundstrokes from the backcourt. Double fault again from Williams, and it’s 30-15, but she regains her cushion, and it’s two match points: but Pavlyuchenkova saves the first!
40-30 now, and Williams finishes it with an ace! Her serving has been superb all day, and that’s game, set and match Serena Williams!
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Second set: *Williams 6-4 5-4 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
This was the moment in the first set when it all began to unravel for Pavlyuchenkova, and this is a worry: Williams showed excellent mobility just then to move Pavlyuchenkova around the court and make it 15-30. And now this is big: Williams absolutely clobbered a weak second serve for 15-40, and two break points, and Pavlyuchenkova can only find the net! Williams breaks again!
Second set: Williams 6-4 4-4 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Ooh, that’s lovely from Pavlyuchenkova, hitting cross-court for a fine winner, and reduce Williams’ lead to 30-15. Then a strange moment, as everyone seemed to stop. Was the ball out? Umpire says no, and it’s 40-15. Some deserved luck for Pavlyuchenkova: a lucky net cord goes in her favour and it’s 40-30. But that’s a disappointing end: Pavlyuchenkova was in control of that rally, until she slammed a regulation forehand into the net. Grr. Game Williams.
Second set: *Williams 6-4 3-4 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
Pavlyuchenkova has been really impressive in this second set. There’s been hardly anything to choose between them, and she goes to 30-0 after Williams can’t quite put away her volley at the net. But that’s a spectacular two-handed backhand from Williams to cut the deficit: she really got up on top of the bounce. 30-15, and now 30-30. Big moments, these, for Pavlyuchenkova: she needs desperately to not give this game up.
That’s a good start: 40-30 after Williams nets. And Williams nets again! “Come on!” shouts Pavlyuchenkova, and she moves 4-3 ahead.
Second set: Williams 6-4 3-3 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Williams is back into her stride, and serving bullets: she moves to 30-0 with ease. Inexplicably, she throws in another double fault, her fourth, is that?, and is 30-15. Now 30-30! Outside chance for Pavlyuchenkova? Whoa, what a point! Applause all round, and Williams just about makes her drop volley to move to 40-30. And that’s an excellent work to wrap up the game! Boris Becker-style acrobatics at the net.
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Second set: *Williams 6-4 2-3 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
Oh, that’s poor luck for Pavlyuchenkova: she was in control of the rally at 15-15, but the line judge called a forehand out when it was clearly on the line. The umpire overruled, so the point has to be replayed. Fortunately, Pavlyuchenkova makes it count, and we’re at 30-15. Then Serena hits the top of the net with a zany two-handed backhand. 40-15. And a super winner! Down the line from Pavlyuchenkova, and it was clearly in! Great tennis. Game Pavlyuchenkova.
Second set: Williams 6-4 2-2 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Williams has won 89% of points when she’s got her first serve in. Pavlyuchenkova is at 68%, but that drops to 33% on her second. She needs to maintain that high first service percentage, otherwise Williams will pick her off.
It’s 15-15, and then Williams sends down a 117mph ace. And another! 111mph this time. 40-15. But what a shot that is from Pavlyuchenkova! Brutal first serve from Williams, but Pavlyuchenkova just stepped into it and crunched it down the line. 40-30, and then Williams throws in a double fault. Deuce, and a chance for Pavlyuchenkova.
“Come on!” shouts Williams after Pavlyuchenkova can only find the net after being sent wide on the first serve. But that’s another double fault! Deuce again.
But how about that: an 118mph ace, and it’s advantage Williams. And another ace, down the line! What a strange game: four aces, two double faults, but Williams gets out of a minor jam, and we’re level at 2-2.
Second set: *Williams 6-4 1-2 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
Lovely down-the-line ace, 102mph, and Pavlyuchenkova goes effortlessly to 30-0, and now 40-0. She’s mixed these serves up well. And Williams is long with a floated backhand slice. That’s an impressive hold to love from Pavlyuchenkova.
Second set: Williams 6-4 1-1 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Pavlyuchenkova has stemmed the tide, at least, and she draws level at 15-15 after Williams tries too hard with a regulation cross-court forehand. Slight bit of luck from Williams, the ball clipping the top of the next and bouncing kindly. 30-15, and now 40-15 after an unreturnable serve. And Pavlyuchenkova hits a drop shot into the net. Serena holds.
Second set: *Williams 6-4 0-1 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
Pavlyuchenkova had stayed with Williams for eight games, but then just fell apart: she lost those final two games to love.
This is better, though, and she moves to 30-15 with a couple of booming first serves. Serena can’t return another well-hit first serve, and it’s 40-15, but a beautiful down-the-line winner from Williams reduces the deficit. 40-30, and now deuce, but it shouldn’t have been! Pavlyuchenkova had all the court to aim at, moving forward at half-court, but could only find Williams at the net.
Pavlyuchenkova needs to find a way here, and she nudges ahead, but Williams pegs her back. Second deuce. Advantage Pavlyuchenkova, and that’s an extremely important hold after Williams’ return is long. The 21st seed needed that.
Williams wins the first set 6-4!
First set: Williams 6-4 Pavlyuchenkova
The world No1 wants to finish this first set quickly. 15-0 turns into 30-0 after a couple of high-intensity first serves. Now 40-0, and Williams has three set points. She needs just one, and Williams takes the first set in 32 minutes.
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First set: Williams* 5-4 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
A poor start from Pavlyuchenkova, and we’re suddenly at 0-30. Maybe this is Williams’ chance. And now 0-40! Pavlyuchenkova can only find the net after a punchy exhcange, and Williams has three break points. Which she takes at the first attempt! That game seemed barely to last a minute. 5-4, and Williams will serve for the first set.
First set: Williams 4-4 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Nice start from Serena, moving forward and putting away a forehand winner after a wide serve took Pavlyuchenkova out of the game. Serena really looks like she’s timing these groundstrokes well, and she moves to 30-0, but that’s a lovely response from Pavlyuchenkova: right on the line with a two-handed backhand for 30-15. Serena re-establishes her two-point cushion, but then throws in a double fault, her first. 40-30. No worries: she responds with an ace, her third of the game, and it’s 4-4.
First set: *Williams 3-4 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
This has been a watchable match so far. Pavlyuchenkova hasn’t buckled, either, and she moves ahead to 30-0. Williams pegs her back to 30-15, but a lovely forehand winner from Pavlyuchenkova takes her to 40-15. Williams wins the next point by moving forward and picking off a feeble lob, but Pavlyuchenkova wraps it up when Williams can only feather a first service into the next. Seven games in, and we’re still on serve.
First set: Williams 3-3 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
The sun’s come out, and a chance here for Pavlyuchenkova at 0-30. But that’s some good, aggressive tennis from Williams, moving to the net and smashing a volley that Pavlyuchenkova can’t return. Now 40-30, and that’s the game after Williams successfully challenges a 133mph ace that was originally called out. The tiniest sliver was on the line, so the challenge was good.
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First set: Williams* 2-3 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
An anguished scream from Williams after she fails to put away an easy forehand winner with Pavlyuchenkova out of the picture. 15-0, and now 30-0. Pavlyuchenkova’s serve has held up, but she’s finding it hard from the baseline when Williams cranks up that forehand. 30-30, and both players trade missed forehands, so now we’ll have deuce.
An ace from Pavlyuchenkova! 107mph, and she has the advantage, and Williams then nets a second service return. Hold for Pavlyuchenkova.
First set: Williams 2-2 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Maybe just a loss of concentration on that last point, but it’s better from the start here: an inch-perfect drop volley that has Pavlyuchenkova scrambling, and it’s 15-0, and a mighty forehand winner that she nearly hit the cover off to go ahead 30-0. Now 40-0, after a 91mph second serve, and what a winner that was! The forehand’s looking good so far. Game Williams.
First set: Williams* 1-2 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
Nice volley at the net from Williams to draw level at 15-15, but some nice hands from Pavlyuchenkova: first a drop shot, and then a snowflake-soft lob to move to 30-15. Serena draws level, and again! Deuce. Lovely confident winner from Williams, taking it at the top of the bounce and crunching it cross-court.
Bud that’s a bad error, and Pavlyuchenkova has the advantage, and then Williams misses an easy volley! Inexplicable. She had all the time in the world, and the whole court to aim at, and dragged it wide! Game Pavlyuchenkova.
First set: Williams 1-1 Pavlyuchenkova* (denotes next server)
Williams is into her service stride early, tossing down an ace for 30-0. But that’s a superb, clean winner from Pavlyuchenkova, using all the pace of the serve. Slightly sloppy from Williams next up – she failed to put away an easy volley, but Pavlyuchenkova’s return was long. No matter, though: she takes the next point confidently to hold to 15.
First set: Williams* 0-1 Pavlyuchenkova (denotes next server)
A couple of unforced errors from Williams in that first game, and an easy hold for Pavlyuchenkova. Good start from the Russian.
The players have knocked up, and we’re about ready to go. Pavlyuchenkova to serve first. Play!
Venus Williams wins!
A 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 victory over Shvadova. So that confirms the bottom semi-final: Venus Williams will play Angelique Kerber on Thursday. The winner of today’s match will play Dominika Cibulkova or Elena Vesnina, which starts shortly on Court One.
Venus Williams is in good shape for a semi-final spot: she took the first set against Shvedova 7-6, and she’s now serving for the match at 5-2 in the second.
Williams and Pavlyuchenkova just walked out on to the Centre Court grass. We should be under way shortly.
Angelique Kerber is into the semi-finals. She beat Simona Halep in straight sets, and will play the winner of Venus Williams and Yaroslava Shvedova. Catch up on how it happened here:
Another day, another match for Serena Williams. The world No1 played on Sunday and Monday, and now she’s back again, facing Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals for a place in the last four. Williams has found the going reasonably tough so far at SW19, but she looked to be moving through the gears in her 7-5 6-0 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova yesterday, and she’s the hot favorite to win today in her 12th Wimbledon quarter-final. For now, the Venus-Serena dream final remains on.
The younger Williams sister isn’t fazed by playing for a third straight day, though. “In order to win a tournament you have to win the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final back to back to back,” Williams said, noting the regular schedule for a WTA event. “So for me it’s an easy transition. I thought to myself, ‘Serena, you’ve done this 70 times, you can do this.’
Pavlyuchenkova, the 21st seed, beat the American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3 to book her spot in the last eight, but her record against Williams is poor, as she acknowledges herself: “I think I have only won one set [French Open 2010] against her in the five times we have played,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “Everyone knows what she is like. I have to go out there and bring out my best whoever is on the other side of the net.”
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s how Serena got on yesterday at Wimbledon:
Serena Williams, on the eve of her last-16 match against Svetlana Kuznetsova here, described every defeat she suffers as “major international news”. It was ultimately a case, then, of nothing to report. Move on, please. Focus on something more interesting than the champion simply grinding another opponent into the dust.
That may be somewhat harsh on Kuznetsova, who before the rain delay that forced the players to leave Centre Court for close to half an hour was well and truly in this contest, even breaking Williams to lead 5-4 in the first set. But after the pair returned under the roof, with the score at 5-5, Williams simply stepped up a gear and dominated until the finish, winning 7-5, 6-0 to set up a quarter-final against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Tuesday afternoon.
Williams should triumph against what will be her second Russian opponent in two days and for neutrals there remains the tantalising prospect of an all-Williams final after Venus also won on Monday. The five-times champion, located in the bottom half of the draw, overcame the Spaniard Carla Suárez Navarro 7-6, 6-4 in a match that was also halted because of rain and next faces Yaroslava Shvedova, of Kazakhstan, in what will be the 36-year-old’s first quarter-final appearance at this championship since 2010.
The sisters have faced each other in four previous Wimbledon finals, with Serena winning three times, in 2002, 2003 and 2009, and Venus triumphing in 2008. The prospect of a fifth encounter between not only the two oldest females left here but also the only American ones after a generally bad Independence Day for those from the other side of the Atlantic, was something Serena declined to discuss after victory over Kuznetsova. There was plenty of praise for Venus, however, with the 34-year-old describing her elder sister as “my toughest opponent”.
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