So Serena Williams is into her ninth Wimbledon final and she’s one win away from her 22nd grand slam title. There was no doubt about this one. Elena Vesnina was no match for the world No1. But who will be waiting for her in Saturday’s final? Her older sister? Or her conqueror in the Australian Open final? Why not find out with Bryan Armen Graham’s coverage of Venus Williams versus Angelique Kerber. Thanks for reading. Bye.
Serena Williams wins 6-2, 6-0!
Serving for the match and a place in the final, Williams moves into a 30-0 lead thanks to a lovely backhand volley. I’m sure Vesnina is looking forward to facing Serena in the doubles later. An 11th ace brings up three match points. A smash seals the win. After 48 minutes, it’s all over. They embrace at the net. Vesnina smiles graciously. She might as well. What else could she have done?
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Second set: Williams 6-2, 5-0 Vesnina* (*denotes server): Vesnina just wants to get off this court now. An attempt at a drop shot fails miserably, the ball dropping into the net for 0-30. She’s barely moving as Williams pings a backhand out of reach to earn two break points. She stands on the baseline in despair, hanging her head, her shoulders slumped. Williams can’t take the first. She does take the second, racing on to a volley and whipping a forehand down the line. It’s her 25th winner of the match.
Second set: Williams* 6-2, 4-0 Vesnina (*denotes server): Williams holds to love with minimal fuss.
Second set: Williams 6-2, 3-0 Vesnina* (*denotes server): It’s a surprise when Williams misses now. At 0-30, she gifts a point to Vesnina, overthinking and sending a forehand long. An ace from Vesnina makes it 30-all. Yet Williams earns a break point with a dismissive backhand pass and Vesnina double faults. She challenges but the second serve was nowhere near.
Second set: Williams* 6-2, 2-0 Vesnina (*denotes server): Williams consolidates the break to love, finding a ridiculous angle with a forehand from right to left on the final point. Blink and you’ll miss it. This is flying by for Vesnina. When she wakes up, she’ll be back in the locker room.
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Second set: Williams 6-2, 1-0 Vesnina* (*denotes server): The belief seems to drain visibly from Vesnina as Williams works over and goes in for the kill with a wrongfooting forehand. Here come two break points. Vesnina nets a forehand. Williams leads by a set and a break. Can we have her as prime minister?
Serena Williams wins the first set 6-2!
Serving for the first set, Williams moves into a 30-0 lead with a precise backhand down the line. She’s on it today. It’s not that Vesnina’s playing badly – she’s just not being allowed to play. Williams earns three set points and takes the first with an ace down the middle.
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First set: Williams 5-2 Vesnina* (*denotes server): Vesnina holds to 15. Williams will have to serve for the match.
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First set: Williams* 5-1 Vesnina (*denotes server): Williams has been untouchable on serve. It’s hard to see how she could be playing better. She holds with her sixth ace.
First set: Williams 4-1 Vesnina* (*denotes server): A roar of encouragement goes up from the crowd when Vesnina sends a forehand down the line for 15-0. They’d quite like to see a proper match. By the way, Vesnina has the most preposterous grunt. She sounds like Ness from Super Smash Bros. Still, she saves a break point with an ace, and holds to stay in the first set.
First set: Williams* 4-0 Vesnina (*denotes server): Williams skates into a 40-0 lead thanks to another ace down the middle. This is outstanding tennis. It’s utterly brutal, utterly merciless, a total destruction. She holds to 15.
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First set: Williams 3-0 Vesnina* (*denotes server): Williams guides a backhand from left to right, pulling Vesnina out of position, and she’s perfectly placed to ease a forehand into the opposite corner for 0-15. She’s got too much power for Vesnina at the moment. She wallops a forehand down the line, past a statuesque Vesnina, to earn two break points. She can’t take them, though. She loses her footing as she nets a backhand on the run and Vesnina makes it deuce with an ace. Yet Williams earns another chance with a crashing forehand return and Vesnina drops her serve again when she nets a backhand. A blistering start from the world No1.
First set: Williams* 2-0 Vesnina (*denotes server): Serena Williams is focused and resolved, grabbing a 40-0 lead with a 95mph ace out wide. She holds to 15, serving well.
First set: Williams 1-0 Vesnina* (*denotes server): The first women’s semi-final begins with Elena Vesnina serving and she’s probably a bit nevous. John Whittingdale’s there, after all, and she starts edgily, losing the first two points to make it 0-30. A coruscating forehand makes it 15-30 but Williams earns two break points, pounding a backhand from left to right, forcing Vesnina to net. Williams only needs one, Vesnina netting a forehand. The tone is set.
Tok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up.
This has been bugging me all week. Are we absolutely sure she’s not called Angela Leadsom?
The players are out. So’s the sun. Kate Middleton’s here. So’s John Whittingdale. I’m starstruck It’s the perfect setting for some world class tennis.
This is ominous. Elena Vesnina has never taken a set off Serena Williams and has lost to her four times. It will be a major shock if she wins today. But shocks do happen. Remember Roberta Vinci?
I wouldn’t bother reading this. It’s written by a charlatan.
Preamble
Hello. The world No1 meets the world No50. The world No1 has won 21 grand slam titles. She’s the defending Wimbledon champion. The world No50 is in her first grand slam semi-final. She’s 29. She’s a doubles specialist. What’s the fuss? Serena Williams is the fuss. Drama’s never far away when she’s around. Fear for Elena Vesnina. And despite all available logic, maybe put a fiver on Elena Vesnina.
Play begins: at 1pm.
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