Serena Williams admits she is shocked to be on
the verge of meeting sister Venus in the
Wimbledon final seven years after they last
slugged it out for a Grand Slam title.
For the first time since 2009, both Serena and
Venus have made it to the Wimbledon semi-finals
and the All England Club is abuzz with nostalgic
chatter about the potential for a surprise
showdown between the American stars in
Saturday’s final.
To make the dream match-up become a reality,
defending champion Serena must beat Russian
world number 50 Elena Vesnina on Thursday,
while world number eight Venus plays Australian
Open champion Angelique Kerber.
Between 2000 and 2010, Serena and Venus won a
combined nine Wimbledon titles and made a
total of 14 appearances in the final, with four of
those being all-Williams affairs in 2002, 2003,
2008 and 2009.
But, just when it seemed the Williams’ duopoly in
south-west London would never end, in 2011
Venus was struck down by Sjogren’s syndrome,
an illness that causes fatigue and joint pain, and
Serena’s win over her sister at Wimbledon in
2009 remains their last title clash.
Venus refused to contemplate retirement and
gradually learned how to manage her illness
alongside reviving her stalled career.
Now, at an age when most of her contemporaries
had long since called it quits, the 36-year-old has
willed herself back into contention for an eighth
Grand Slam crown.
It is a renaissance that makes Serena proud, but
even the 34-year-old didn’t expect to still be in
which a chance of contesting the sport’s top
prizes with her sister at this advanced stage of
their careers.
“I’m surprised of the longevity of it. That kind of
definitely took me by surprise,” Serena said.
“When you’re younger and you have a dream
and you say it and you believe it, that’s one
thing. But for it to really happen and to come
true, it’s just a completely different emotion.
“It means Venus has a lot of perseverance. She’s
a real fighter. Like I always say, it’s super
inspiring for me. It’s really great.
“With everything she’s been through, I think it’s
built a ton of character in her, and in me just by
being around her.”
– Inspired –
World number one Serena, bidding for a record-
equalling 22nd major title and seventh
Wimbledon crown, appears to have the easier
draw against first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist
Vesnina, having won all four of their previous
encounters.
But five-time champion Venus, who last won a
major at Wimbledon in 2008, has a much tougher
task against Kerber.
Kerber defeated Serena to win her maiden Grand
Slam crown in Melbourne in January and holds a
3-2 edge in her meetings with Venus.
Venus, the oldest women’s Wimbledon semi-
finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994,
expects an equally inspired display as the
German fourth seed targets a first Wimbledon
final.
“Well, clearly it was one of her best days on the
court,” Venus said of Kerber’s win over Serena.
“I imagine that she will try to recreate that. Who
wouldn’t?”
Kerber, 28, lost her only previous Wimbledon
semi-final in 2012, but she enjoyed a victory
over Venus at the same venue in the Olympics
just weeks later.
“I played against her a lot of tough matches.
She’s always dangerous on grass, especially here
in Wimbledon. She has a lot of confidence right
now,” Kerber said.
“But I’m playing like in Australia,really high-
class tennis. I will just try to play aggressive.”
If Vesnina beats Serena, it would count as one of
the all-time great upsets, but the 29-year-old
sounds more like an adoring fan than a player
who believes she can spring a surprise.
“Nothing can be better than playing against
Serena in a semi-final at Wimbledon,” she said.
“Serena, I’m admiring her. She’s best player in
the world. It will be big challenge for me.”
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