Wimbledon ladies’ quarters: Serena Williams on a date with destiny

Serena Williams is just one match from a dream final and a chance at a record 24 grand slams, the most in the history of the sport. England was hoping to have another grand slam champion with Johanna Konta, but the British player wilted against Barbora Strýcová.

Serena Williams has been handling double duty at the Wimbledon Championships this year, playing singles and mixed doubles with Andy Murray. The 23-time slam champ has played a light schedule this year, and when she has played, she’s suffered several early-round losses, including a third-round one to compatriot Sofia Kenin at the French.

However, at the grass slam, the 37-year-old has turned things around and is now just one match away from making the Wimbledon final two years in a row. The working mom had to dig deep to eke out the win over fellow American Alison Riske, who has won the most grass matches this season, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

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Getting down to ‘business’ and the power of a bun

The seven-time Wimbledon champion started out in command, but got into trouble in the second set. She decided to dig deep. Also, she got her hair out of the way.

"“Well, today [my hair] was just in my way, and the wind. I was missing a shot because it’s in my face. I was like, ‘this is not happening.’ I just needed to get it out of the way, put the business bun up and just get to business.”"

The quarterfinal match moved the legendary tennis player ever closer to tying Margaret Court’s record 24 grand slam titles. Williams owns the Open Era record with 23 slam titles, having surpassed Steffi Graf’s 22 with her 2017 Australian Open. Serena is also gunning for an eighth Wimbledon title, which would equal Roger Federer’s record at the slam, and one shy of Martina Navratilova’s nine singles titles there.

The world No. 10 turned around right afterwards and won her second-round mixed doubles match with Murray, 7-5, 6-3. Serena also owns six SW19 doubles titles with her sister, Venus. If she clinches the mixed doubles trophy, she will add a second title there as well.

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She even took out time to pen an apology letter to Naomi Osaka for her outburst at the U.S. Open final last year, a touching gesture.

England’s hopes dashed as Konta lost focus after starting out in the lead

Next up for Serena is the ouster of Great Britain’s expectations, Barbora Strýcová, who defeated home-court favorite, Johanna Konta, 7-6(5), 6-1. You could practically feel the energy go out of Center Court as the British player lost momentum, letting her game deflate as she began the second set. The nerves set in as the errors flew off her racquet. The deplorable state of the second set stood in sharp contrast to the lead the 28-year-old began the first set with.

“I was disappointed,” said a blunt Christ Evert, commentating for ESPN. “Jo Konta, I gotta tell you, I watched her in the semi-finals in the French, and she was looking good enough to win there. Then she comes out here and she froze. Strýcová broke up her rhythm.”

The two top seeds will battle each other

The remaining semifinal will be between the only other seeds left, seventh seed Simona Halep and eighth Elina Svitolina. There never has been a question about Halep’s talent, but her confidence can often leave her and many times her poor attitude will strip her of a victory that her tennis gifts should allow. However, the fight and mental fortitude against China’s Zhang Shuai secured the two sets victory, 7-6(4), 6-1.

Ukraine’s Svitolina powered through the quarter match over 22-year-old Karolína Muchová, ending her Cinderella story, 7-5, 6-4. At age 24, Svitolina has broken through to her first grand slam semifinal.

“I think in the end, this fighting spirit really helped me to find my game and to get back in the match. First set for sure was the key,” said the Ukrainian, who had boyfriend Gael Monfils cheering her on in the stands.

Another famous name in the crowd? Golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

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The men’s quarterfinals get underway on Wednesday, July 10. Perhaps you’ve heard of them? Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will each be playing separate matches. Figuring out who to put on Center Court must have been fairly complicated for the event organizers (Fed’s and Nole’s matches are there, Rafa’s is on Court 1). Oh, Guido Pella and Roberto Bautista Agut will also play Court 1.

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