Serena, Radwanska reach final
Serena Williams is one win from her fifth Wimbledon singles crown.
Share This Story
WIMBLEDON, England
Serena Williams had an ace up her sleeve on Centre Court, and she used it a Wimbledon-record 24 times.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion reached her seventh Wimbledon final on Thursday, smacking 24 aces to beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the semifinals.
2012 Wimbledon
- Federer wins 7th title
- Serena wins 5th title
- Williams sisters win dubs
- British man wins doubles
- Photos: Men's final | Women's final | Men's semis | Late rounds | Early rounds | Celebs
- Recaps by day: 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1
- Draws: Men | Women
- Follow the US players
- Traditions at Wimbledon
The final point of the match was, fittingly enough, the record-breaking ace.
''I've been working so hard, and I really, I really wanted it,'' said Williams, a four-time Wimbledon champion who lost in the first round of the French Open in late May. ''I got a little tight in the second set. I couldn't relax. I was like, looking too far in the future and she came back. But I'm glad I was able to get through.''
The previous Wimbledon record of 23 aces was also set by Williams, but in a three-set victory over Zheng Jie in the third round of this year's tournament.
Williams controlled the play against Azarenka in the first set with her service game, winning 20 of the 24 points she started. She then went up an early break in the second set, but Azarenka responded to make it 3-3.
They held the rest of the way, and Williams picked up her final three aces in the tiebreaker.
Williams will face Agnieszka Radwanska in Saturday's final. The third-seeded Pole beat Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
In the men's semifinals Friday, defending champion Novak Djokovic will face six-time winner Roger Federer, while Andy Murray will take on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
For Radwanska, it was a steady hand - or steady backhands and forehands actually - that put her into her first Wimbledon final.
She won five straight games to take the first set, and then held on after taking an early lead in the second.
''This is a dream from when I was kid,'' the 23-year-old Radwanska said. ''I'm playing tennis almost 18 years, and of course everybody's dream is to play the final of a Grand Slam.''
Radwanska is the first Polish woman to reach a major final since 1939, when Jadwiga Jedrzejowska lost in the French Championships.
Playing on Centre Court, both Radwanska and Kerber started well but soon started to show their nerves.
Each held at love in their opening service games, but Kerber broke for a 2-1 lead when Radwanska's backhand drop shot went wide.
It was one of only six unforced errors for Radwanska.
''We both were a bit nervous in the beginning,'' Radwanska said. ''Of course this is the semifinals, so you really want to try your best, but sometimes too much, and your hands a little bit shaking.
''After a couple of games, I just relaxed a little bit. I was really focusing on every point.''
The second set was more even, but Radwanska took a 3-2 lead by making it 3 for 3 on break points and then held the rest of the way.
Kerber finished with 26 winners, six more than Radwanska, but had 14 unforced errors.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
50th Super Bowl goes to Bay Area
The 50th Super Bowl will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area. -
Sergio: I don't need Tiger as a friend
Sergio Garcia says he doesn't need Tiger Woods as a friend. -
Nats lose Mattheus to broken hand
Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus has broken his pitching hand punching a locker in fr... -
Romo to miss at least three weeks
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will miss at least three weeks of offseason workouts af... -
Golf adopts new anchor putting rule
Golf's governing bodies have adopted a new rule that outlaws the putting stroke used ...
Tennis Videos
Remarkable Moments: Olympics Day 9
Posted: Aug 05, 2012
Bryan Clay talks about Day 9's remarkable moments with Laura Okmin.
Bryan Clay talks about Day 9's remarkable moments with Laura Okmin.
London Now: Redemption for Murray
Posted: Aug 05, 2012
Andy Murray wins gold over Roger Federer at Wimbledon and more.
Andy Murray wins gold over Roger Federer at Wimbledon and more.
London Now: Murray's golden opportunity
Posted: Aug 05, 2012
Andy Murray has two shots at Olympic gold and more.
Andy Murray has two shots at Olympic gold and more.
Tennis Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/118804/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_118000/FF_118804_xl.jpg&w=100 | 249.95 | Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey |
| adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Chicago_Bulls/browse/featuredproduct/173568/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173568_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/177922/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177922_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball.. |
| adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/177923/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177923_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket.. |
| adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey - Gold | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/177924/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177924_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketbal.. |
| adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/178326/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178326_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Bas.. |
| adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Philadelphia_76ers/browse/featuredproduct/178582/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178582_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman.. |
| adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Houston_Rockets/browse/featuredproduct/178773/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178773_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.