Serena Williams has moved a step closer to equalling Steffi Graf’s record, as she powered her way through to the Wimbledon semi-finals after she took apart Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-4.
Williams like the player she is took complete control of the game never having to face a break point of her own and not allowing the Russian to have any sort of mini victory.
Power and pressure help seize the win
The classic Williams serve was on point making it harder for her opponent to return, who was playing in her first ever Wimbledon quarter-final and so the inexperience was clearly outclassed by the experience.
The American appeared to be more frustrated on Centre Court as her usual big shots went wide and long, missing the easy chance, Williams screamed in anger to the clear bright blue sky.
Williams turned up the pressure to another level watching the Russian start to crumble before her that is what champions are made off.
Pavlyuchenkova found herself on the receiving end of the American’s known powerful groundstrokes and Williams earned three break points. With double faults becoming a problem Williams was allowed to win the next service game to close out the first set.
Crumbling on centre stage
It was pretty much the same story in the second set, with pressure lifting the bar every game the Russian cracked in the ninth game. Williams wrapped up the match up in the following game with her perfected ace.
In previous matches, Williams seemed to be at war with herself especially during the match against Christina McHale in the second round but seemed to put it behind her to be on course for a possible showdown with her older sister in the final on Centre Court come Saturday.
To reach the final, the American must first meet another Russian, the unseeded Elena Vesnina. She had beaten Slovakian 19th seed Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 in the prior round. World number 50, carved her career on the doubles circuit, will face Williams in her first grand slam semi-final.