'Just brutal': Serena Williams makes tennis history in Wimbledon thrashing
Serena Williams has sent the tennis world into a frenzy after taking less than an hour to march into the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Williams is one tantalising win away from securing a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles crown after blasting past Barbora Strycova to move into her 11th Wimbledon final.
The seven-times champion will play fellow former world No.1 Simona Halep for the title on Saturday after casting aside unseeded Strycova 6-1 6-2 in a 59-minute semi-final mismatch.
Already the oldest grand slam champion in the open era, Williams is now also the oldest woman to make a major final.
Turning 38 in September, Williams is 33 days older than nine-times All England Club champion Martina Navratilova was when the Czech-born American qualified for her 12th decider in 1994.
"It definitely feels good to be back in the final, especially after my year," said Williams, who only played 12 matches during an injury-ravaged 2019 season before arriving in London.
"I just needed some matches and every match I know I keep improving.
"Now I'm feeling good, I can do what I do best, and that's play tennis."
Despite her advancing years, Williams is outwardly showing no signs of slowing down in her obsessive pursuit of Margaret Court's 24 slams, a magical mark that has stood for 46 years.
But inside, she says, Williams isnt feeling the same pressures as she did before losing last year's Wimbledon and US Open finals to Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka respectively with Court's record also within touching distance.
"Looking back, to even be in those two finals last year was unbelievable," she said.
"Now I'm in a different place. Like I just am more calm. Instead of having nothing to lose, I feel like I have things to lose, but I also have nothing to lose. It's like I'm in the middle.
"I really want to do it. I'm in a different place because I wasn't really playing a month ago, like, at all. So it's all kind of coming together. I can't really put how I'm taking it.
"I wake up every morning and I get to be fit, play in front of crowds. Not everyone can do that. I love what I do, it's just a remarkable experience."
Serena played unbelievable today. Best I've seen in a long time. It's gonna be a tough final. Halep might take it, probably not tho. #Wimbledon
— KLEVAKEYS (@KlevaKeys) July 11, 2019
Serena is just brutal... less than an hour she’s done with her opponent 6-1 6-2 #Khutdammit
— Lucas Emjay (@Lucas_Emjay) July 11, 2019
Most Grand Slam Finals - Women's Singles
34 Chris Evert
32 Serena Williams
32 Martina Navratilova
31 Steffi Graf
18 Evonne Goolagong
16 Venus Williams
13 Monica Seles— Luis. 👸🏾🐐 (@serenapower_) July 11, 2019
At 37 years, 291 days old, Serena Williams is the oldest women’s major finalist in the Open Era.
It's her 13th straight year reaching at least 1 major final, and her 4th straight Wimbledon final overall. pic.twitter.com/zjaoBfevaU— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 11, 2019
Since the turn of the century, there have been 20 #Wimbledon competitions.
With Serena’s win today, it means a Williams sister has been in the final of 16 of the 20 women’s finals.
On 4 occasions, they played each other for the title.
12 times either Venus or Serena has won it— Matt Dowell (@TheMattDowell) July 11, 2019
Serena Williams just made it to her 11th Wimbledon final, becoming the oldest woman to make a Grand Slam final.
If she wins, she'll tie the record for the most Grand Slam singles wins. pic.twitter.com/AMPZGdHS6V— AJ+ (@ajplus) July 11, 2019
Serena Williams (Tennis player) has reached a Grand Slam final in:
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Sheer class. pic.twitter.com/eB7lGYLou2— Mr TweeTer.@ (@JmNiaze) July 11, 2019
Serena is like, THE GOAT in sports. Her stats are insane, and she carries herself so well on and off the court. I dont fw people that talk bad about Serena - it’s a red flag.
— Rayre (@ImRayre) July 11, 2019
List coo. I’m just for Serena at number 1. That level of dominance is insane https://t.co/UioD2A87R4
— Morpheus (@KampaignCelly) July 11, 2019
Another great win for @serenawilliams. She is headed for the phenomenal 24/8 angle on Saturday. #24 overall in majors and #8 at the storied courts of #Wimbledon She is playing unbelievable tennis. Continue to have your light shining brightly Serena.
— ronabarbar (@ronabarbar) July 11, 2019
Serena chasing more history
Williams will be contesting her 32nd grand slam final in all - and third since the birth of her daughter Olympia in September, 2017.
As well as all the records she's hunting, the ageless champion has the chance to follow Australian legends Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley and become only the third mother in half a century of professional tennis to win Wimbledon.
The American was pregnant when she won the most recent of her 23 slams at the 2017 Australian Open.
With Williams off the scene, Halep made the final at Melbourne Park the following year before finally shedding her tag as the game's best player without a major at the 2018 French Open.
The Romanian credits that breakthrough in Paris for allowing her to play with newfound freedom and a "nothing to lose" attitude against hot favourite Williams.
The seventh-seeded Halep advanced to her maiden Wimbledon final with an equally impressive 6-1 6-3 win over world No.8 Elina Svitolina in Thursday's first semi-final.
with AAP