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Serena Williams won her 22nd grand slam title at Wimbledon on Saturday night (AEST), defeating Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
» Read today’s Wimbledon wrap!
Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber will square off for the second time this year as they go head-to-head for the Wimbledon crown. Can Kerber win a second grand slam, or will Williams take the top prize for the first time this year? Join The Roar from 11pm (AEST) for live coverage.
Serena Williams is on the cusp of making history as she aims for her seventh title at Wimbledon.
A tournament win would put her equal with Steffi Graff on seven titles behind only Martina Navratilova with nine to her name.
It would also see Williams claim her 22nd grand slam title, equal with Steffi Graff and behind only Australian Margaret Court with 24.
The American has dropped only one set on grass this season.
She breezed through her first round matchup with Amra Sadikovic 6-2, 6-4 before hitting a bump in the road against compatriot Christina McHale, going down in the first set but finding a way to win in the end 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.
It set her up with Annika Beck whom she beat emphatically 6-3, 6-0 before earning a massive victory to launch her into the quarter-finals over Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-0.
Williams then knocked over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-4 before booking her place in the final with a fast win over Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0.
The reigning Wimbledon champion hasn’t lost in a final at the tournament since back in 2008 however, she has gone down at the final hurdle two times this year with losses to Kerber at the Australian Open and Garbine Muguruza at the French Open.
2016 has been Angelique Kerber’s break-out year with the 28-year old leftie having claimed her first grand slam title earlier in the year at Melbourne Park.
Kerber is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon despite a tough road to the final.
The German kicked off her tournament against Brit Laura Robson 6-2, 6-2 before sending Varvara Lepchenko packing 6-1, 6-4.
Carina Witthoeft was next in her sights, going down 7-6, 6-1 before Misaki Doi was trumped 6-3, 6-1 in the fourth round.
Simona Halep gave Kerber a real challenge however, the Romanian was unable to defeat her as she climbed to a 7-5, 7-6 victory before a tussle with Williams’ sister Venus in the semifinals 6-4, 6-4.
Kerber has now won eight of her last ten matches following a first-round exit at the French Open earlier in the year and a third round loss to Carla Suarez Navarro at Birmingham.
She will go into this match as the outsider, however, she should not be underestimated with Serena staring down the possibility of failing to win a grand slam title in a full-rotation for the first time since 2011-12.
The pair have met on seven occasions with Williams winning five of those.
Their most recent encounter came during the 2016 Australian Open final when Kerber claimed her first grand slam title in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
They have never played each other on grass.
Prediction
Serena Williams has a tough task on her hands but will come through with a hard-fought win.
Williams in three sets.
Join The Roar from 11pm (AEST) for live coverage.
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You can find Riley on Twitter @rileypettigrew.
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