ANGELIQUE KERBER BEATS VENUS WILLIAMS 6-4, 6-4 for a spot in the finals of Wimbledon 2016!
She will play Serena Williams in the finals. It’s the second time the two will meet at the finals of a Grand Slam, and we all know how the last time went...but Serena is by far the superior player on grass, so that’ll be an interesting contest.
Tonight, Venus committed far too many unforced errors – 21 to Kerber’s 11, and simply lacked consistency. Nevertheless, a spirited effort from the 36-year-old, who did not go down without a fight.
Set 2, Game 10 – Kerber* This is the German’s chance to close things up. A couple of errors from the brilliant but inconsistent Venus Williams quickly take Kerber to match point – and a winner gets her over the line! Angelique Kerber wins the set 6-4.
Set 2, Game 9 – Williams* The American has looked rather patchy tonight but shows flashes of her brilliance every couple of games. This is one of them. A couple of winners and an aggressive forehand off the racquet of the 36-year-old keeps her in the match! Kerber 5-4 Williams
Set 2, Game 8 Kerber* – With Williams now on the back foot as Kerber leads 4-3, the German double faults – twice! Sadly for the American she commits a bunch of errors and makes it easier for Kerber. Game Kerber 5-3 Williams!
Set 2, Game 5 Williams* – A tight game this time round! Williams has suddenly found another burst of energy, but she’s committed three times as many unforced errors as Kerber today. Nevertheless, after two deuces, she’s finally won that game. Kerber 3-2 Williams!
Set 2, Game 4 Kerber* – The German is hitting winners left, right and centre, and an error-strewn game from Williams means Kerber’s powerful service is going to good use. Up a break in the second, Kerber leads 3-1.
Set 2, Game 3 – Williams* and Venus looks like she’s found a sudden burst of energy! She holds her second service game to love. Can she manage to keep this going to meet Serena in the finals? Kerber 2-1 Williams
Set 2, Game 2 Kerber* – Venus is unable to return too well and she’s been netting a lot of shots lately. Kerber holds for a 2-0 lead.
Set 2, Game 1 Williams* – Venus has lost a bit of momentum, and her forehand is uncharacteristically all over the place today. Her first serves have been slow and laboured, and she loses the first game with Kerber up a break. Kerber 1-0 Williams in the second.
Angelique Kerber wins the first set 6-4!
Set 1, Game 10 – Kerber* has got her mojo back, it would seem. Venus is patchy again and moving across the court is becoming a bit laborious for her. She’s missing some easy points – and Kerber holds for a game and set win! Kerber 6-4 Williams
Set 1, Game 9 – Williams* on serve and finally she’s held! 5-4 to Kerber, who yet again will serve for the set!
Set 1, Game 8 – Kerber* serves for the set but Williams isn’t done quite yet! ACE! And then another! And now she’s broken Kerber. Kerber 5-3 Williams!
Set 1, Game 7 – Williams* is now on the back foot with Kerber building on her break! New balls out and she’s committing errors all over the place. Can she stay in this? Kerber breaks to lead 5-2!
Set 1, Game 6 – Kerber* is looking lethal tonight and now it’s Williams who’s flagging a bit on the energy now. A couple of unforced errors and Kerber finally holds a service game! She leads 4-2...
Set 1, Game 5 – Williams* and yet again, Kerber breaks! She’s a bit more athletic than her older competitor today, and in the end comes breaks her. Not a single service game has been held in this match so far...
Set 1, Game 4 – Kerber* commits two errors – and now DOUBLE FAULT! Venus is running away with the points here, and Kerber nets it. It’s game Venus as the American breaks back! Williams 2-2 Kerber
Set 1, Game 3 – Williams* sees Kerber run away with the first couple of points but the classic Venus game is on display today. She’s hitting the ball in all directions and her forehand is powerful as ever today. This is a long game, though, and it‘s going back and forth. 2-1 Kerber!
Set 1, Game 2 – Kerber* wants to hold now to take an early lead but Venus declares herself with a winner! Kerber can’t hold and Venus breaks right back! Williams 1-1 Kerber
Set 1, Game 1 – Venus Williams* is back in this. Can she take another victory at the grounds she’s been so successful at? Kerber capitalizes on a couple of unforced errors and a bit of patchy play – breaks Williams and it’s Kerber 1-0 Williams!
After Serena Williams completely cleaned up in her match against Elena Vesnina of Russia on Centre Court, it is the turn of older sister and five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, the eighth seed, to play her own semi-final against Germany’s Angelique Kerber. The pair have played each other 5 times in the past, with Kerber winning on 3 occasions. The only time the two have played on grass in the past, it is Kerber who has come out on top – that was at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Williams did not go down without a fight, though, taking the German to tiebreaks in both sets. Kerber was also the victor in the pair’s most recent Grand Slam match, at the US Open of 2012, although Williams managed to take a set off the German.
Fourth seed Kerber won her first and only Grand Slam title so far the 2016 Australian Open, beating tournament favourite Serena Williams in a shock upset and preventing the American from matching Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slams. Serena, currently at 21, will look to match the German’s record after missing out on titles at the last 3 slams.
Venus has enjoyed a stellar return to form after a break from tennis, plagued by injury and autoimmune disease. Dealing with the little-known Sjogren’s Syndrome, for which there is still no known cure, the 36-year old returned to the top 10 at the end of last year, and made her first Grand Slam semi-final in 4 years. The oldest player in the 2016 Wimbledon main draw, seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams, five of whose titles are on the grass courts of Wimbledon, beat two seeded players en route to the semifinals today.
She comes into this match on the back of a straight sets victory over Kazakh player Yaroslava Shvedova, with her match against Daria Kasatkina going to three hours.
Despite Kerber being in stellar form and having won a Grand Slam title this year, many are favouring the older Williams sister to take victory today. The German’s own entry to the semi-finals came courtesy a straight sets win over fifth seed Simona Halep, and despite 28-year-old Kerber seeing a decline in form following her Australian Open victory, she appears to have come back, telling spectators and rivals ahead of the match that she was “playing like Australia.”
Fans are hoping for an all-Williams final at Wimbledon this year, which is a possibility given both sisters’ form. With Serena having taken an absolutely decisive win over Elena Vesnina, one half of that pairing has been decided. Could Kerber throw a spanner in the works of an all-Williams final?
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