15 July, 2017
"In many ways I would say that Garbine Muguruza is the favourite to win the title". I think it's wonderful to have the opportunity to play well and to be strong and have experience.
Venus Williams powered her way to the semifinals at the Championship with a 6/3, 7/5 domination of reigning French Open Champion and rising star, Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia. The competition keeps you growing.
Somehow, at age 37, she's done that.
The encounter had ended on a freaky note after Halep stopped playing when a woman in the crowd let out a scream on match point.
"The first one was 20 years ago?"
Jo said of her win: "It's a little bit surreal". I was like, no, this time you do it for yourself. The Williams sisters also have six doubles titles at Wimbledon.
When sister Serena, the defending champion, announced her pregnancy earlier this year, most thought it would be a chance for someone new to step up and fill the vacuum.
Virginia Wade, the last British women’s victor here, was 31 when she finally achieved success, having twice lost in the semi-finals and made a first quarter-final appearance ten years previously. "She's got the better of me the last time we played, so I'm really looking forward to playing her".
Williams revealed in 2011 that she was diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, which can sap energy and cause joint pain. As time went on, there were questions about whether she might retire, especially after a half-dozen first-round losses at major tournaments. "It won't be a given but I'll give it my all", Williams said. "That's all I felt like".
The five-time Wimbledon victor advanced to the women's finals Thursday for the first time since 2009, beating Great Britain's Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 before a full house at Centre Court. I just wish she was here and I wish she could do this for me.
Down two break points at 4-4, Williams produced a serve out wide, backhand victor combination.
On No. 1 Court, Garbine Muguruza will face Svetlana Kuznetsova and Magdalena Rybarikova will meet CoCo Vandeweghe. Muguruza was the French Open champion a year ago.
Susan walked off Centre Court disappointed - she had backed Konta to defeat Venus Williams but she nodded when her daughter Jane said the atmosphere had lacked the joy they used to feel when Tim Henman was busy saving match points.
Rybarikova had never been past the third round in her 35 previous career majors, including seven opening-round exits in a row at Wimbledon from 2008-14.
Then as millions of TV viewers watched on she accepted a welcoming arm from 72-year-old John, helped him twist his phone into position for the best photo and posed for a snap. "They're fighting right alongside me". Williams did not drop a point on her way to 6-5 set and match victory, over a period of one hour and 13 minutes. "I'm sure to a certain extent, definitely", Konta said. I tried to do the things she would do.
On the men's side, former victor Rafael Nadal was stunned in the third round Monday by Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
