London: Seven-time champion Serena Williams is just two wins away from equalling Margaret Court’s Grand Slam titles record of 24 but she wobbled several times in her Wimbledon quarter-final against Alison Riske on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old, who recorded her 97th success at Wimbledon to move second on the women’s all-time list, came under enormous pressure from her fellow American before prevailing in an engrossing contest, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in just over two hours.
Williams will play either Britain’s French Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta or Czech veteran Barbora Strycova in Thursday’s semi-finals which will be her 12th at the tournament.
It says a lot about the unpredictability of the women’s game compared to the men’s that Williams was the only player in the last eight who reached the same stage last year.
“It was really satisfying,” said Williams, whose clay court campaign was affected by a knee injury. “I wouldn’t have won that match a couple of weeks ago.” Also joining her in the last four was Romania’s former world number one Simona Halep, who fought back from 4-1 down and three break points in the first set to beat China’s Zhang Shuai 7-6 (7/4), 6-1. For Halep — who aside from Williams was the only player in the quarter-finals to have won a Grand Slam, taking the French Open last year — it is her second Wimbledon semi-final.
Halep will play Elina Svitolina, the Ukraine eighth seed, after she came back from a break down in each set to beat Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-4. It will be the 24-year-old Ukrainian’s first Grand Slam semi-final.
Williams, whose total of 97 Wimbledon match wins compares to the 82 combined of the other seven quarter-finalists, will look back on her victory with some relief. Riske converted all five of her break points while Williams succeeded with just six of her 16 opportunities.
However, she relied on her power to keep her in the match. In doing so she managed to avoid the fate that befell world number one Ashleigh Barty at the hands of Riske on Monday. “I’m glad that I was able to come through,” said Williams. “She beat so many great players. She was really so close to taking the win today.” Williams was constantly cajoling herself and letting out roars of come on during the match. Having sealed the match she turned to the players box where she was supported by older sister Venus and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and yelled, pumping her fists. “I was really pumped, it was for a place in the semis at Wimbledon — that doesn’t happen every day and it’s a long, arduous road,” said Williams.
“I just had to just button up and play hard. She was playing her heart out and she had nothing to lose. I fought hard in the first set, even if I was down 4-1,” said 27-year-old Halep.
On the other hand, Roger Federer can rack up his 100th win at Wimbledon on Wednesday and set-up a blockbuster semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
In a quarter-final line-up which features five players over 30, there is a growing anticipation of a potential 40th career match-up between the sport’s two most successful players. If it does happen, it will be their first at the All England Club since 2008 when Nadal triumphed in what is widely regarded as the greatest final ever played at the tournament. However, before they reach that stage, eight-time champion Federer has to get past Kei Nishikori while Nadal, a two-time winner, tackles big-hitting Sam Querrey. Whoever battles through that side of the draw is likely to find defending champion and four-time winner Novak Djokovic waiting in the final. (AFP)
